Board postpones vote on 14‑MW Remington/Bealton solar proposal to sync siting agreement and special exception

The Fauquier County Board of Supervisors voted Dec. 12 to postpone consideration of a proposed 14‑megawatt utility‑scale solar facility near Remington until January to allow staff time to align the solar siting agreement with the special exception package. The postponement was moved during an open public hearing after planning staff summarized the application and recommended conditions.

Planning staff said the project would occupy about 93 of the 161 acres on the site, with roughly 47 acres of panel bays and about 18 acres covered by panels in a horizontal position; the applicant described minimal grading, stormwater controls, pollinator habitat plans and a decommissioning bond to ensure removal at the end of the project’s life. Staff noted the Planning Commission previously found the proposal generally in conformance with the comprehensive plan and recommended a list of conditions addressing setbacks, screening, native plantings, underground utilities, decommissioning and emergency access.

Speakers during the public hearing included a SunTribe representative who summarized site studies (wetlands, cultural resources, visual simulations) and the landowner’s representative, who said the local, family‑owned landholding sought an interim use prior to mining. A county climate change group member said solar development at the site could be appropriate and pointed to the relative ease of restoring the land at project end. The board kept the public hearing open and moved to postpone action up to 60 days to negotiate the siting agreement and consider the applicant’s updated financial offers; the motion carried unanimously.

The postponement gives staff and the developer time to incorporate final financial terms, refine mitigation and screening commitments, and ensure the siting agreement and special exception are considered together in January.