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Dade County holds first reading of ordinance amending special-use permitting to address commercial solar farms
Summary
Commissioners held a first reading of Ordinance 04-02-26 amending the county's special-use permit ordinance to explicitly cover commercial-scale solar energy systems, add a county clerk as secretary of the special-use board, set a minimum 30-foot setback and require vegetative buffering and decommissioning language; a public hearing is scheduled before the next reading.
Dade County commissioners on March 5 conducted a first reading of Ordinance 04-02-26, an amendment to Ordinance 06-03-21 that adds explicit standards and processes for commercial-scale solar energy generation systems and makes administrative changes to the special-use permit board.
County counsel explained the amendment clarifies that the ordinance applies to commercial-scale, ground-mounted solar energy generation systems (not rooftop residential panels). The proposed changes would: (1) state the ordinance applies to commercial solar generation systems; (2) require a minimum 30-foot setback from property lines; (3) authorize vegetative buffers such as evergreen plantings; (4) restore the county clerk as the board's secretary to ensure proper advertising and minutes; and (5) include decommissioning and restoration language for removal of equipment and site restoration after termination of operations.
Commissioners and staff discussed buffer definitions and density standards (how many trees per foot/percentage of coverage) and asked the special-use board to provide suggested language for buffer density. The county attorney and staff said the moratorium on solar-related applications will allow the special-use board time to adopt application guidelines and review processes; the moratorium is expected to lapse after the board completes its work and the ordinance completes a required second reading.
The chair said a public hearing will be scheduled approximately 30 minutes before the April meeting to give neighbors a chance to comment before the ordinance's second reading. The item was added to the consent agenda as a first reading; no final action or adoption occurred at this meeting.
What happens next: staff will draft more specific buffer-density language and an updated application, advertise the public hearing within statutory notice periods, hold the public hearing before the April meeting, and return to the commission for a second reading and vote.
