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Developer and attorney ask Dinwiddie supervisors to reconsider solar rezoning denial
Summary
Representatives for Flowers Solar asked the board to revisit a recent denial, saying the prior decision relied on incorrect facts about panel proximity and expansion plans; county staff said applicants may refile and no immediate board action was required.
Attorneys and company representatives for a proposed solar project urged the Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 17 to reconsider a rezoning denial from a prior meeting, arguing the earlier decision relied on inaccurate information.
Steve Romine, an attorney for Greenville and Flowers Solar LLC, told the board the denial on Aug. 20 was based on “mistaken facts,” including incorrect distances reported between home sites and planned solar arrays. Romine said the nearest residential property lines to the panels are several hundred feet (he cited distances of roughly 200–400 feet and higher for other parcels) and provided a handout to correct the record. "The board took less than 4 minutes to approve a motion, disapprove the rezoning request based on mistaken facts," Romine said, urging reconsideration.
Vadim Ovchinikov, identified as a company executive, also disputed statements made at the earlier hearing about nearby neighbors and said the company has no current plans to expand in certain directions reportedly discussed at the previous hearing. He said physical and regulatory barriers (railroad crossings and wetlands) make extensive commercial expansion in the contested direction unlikely.
County planning staff responded that applicants may return with corrected materials; the county code imposes no firm deadline for re‑filing. Staff said no board action was required at the Sept. 17 meeting to initiate reconsideration and that the matter could be re‑heard once the applicant submits corrected materials.
Public comment at the same meeting included a separate speaker urging the board to strengthen local ordinances to limit large industrial solar projects and to protect historic and agricultural areas.
Status: The board accepted the presentations; the applicants were advised they may reapply or request reconsideration in accordance with county procedures. Planning staff will process any new application or request for rehearing in line with standard timelines.
