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Residents raise noise, light and drainage concerns at Foster Falls solar site; battery plan time‑limited, staff says
Summary
The county engineer updated the commission on Foster Falls solar construction and said a battery plan approval is time‑limited; a resident complained of bright lights, transformer noise and drainage onto Castleton Road and asked the county to investigate.
The Wythe County Planning Commission heard an extended county engineer report March 2 on construction and stabilization work at the Foster Falls solar site and other county projects. County Engineer Mr. Kinser said panels at the site appear to be mostly stabilized and that stormwater management ponds were in place, but that the proposed battery system has been put on hold; he added a battery installation had been approved previously but that approval carries a time limit and staff would check how long it remains valid.
A resident who spoke during the engineer’s report said the site has several bright lights that “point right directly into the back of my house” and described a “piercing” noise from transformers. “I have to keep the curtains closed because of how bright the lights are,” the resident said, and asked whether the battery plan will need to return to the Planning Commission for approval. Mr. Kinser said he was not aware of lighting at the site and would look into the drainage complaint on Castleton Road; he acknowledged transformers can make noise and said he would check the specific complaints.
Mr. Kinser also described related work across county projects — repair of railroad ties at Progress Park, Barrett Mill Road water-line connections and ongoing erosion control — and said inspectors will review stabilization work in the coming week.
Why it matters: The Foster Falls solar project affects nearby residents through lighting, noise and stormwater flows; staff said they will investigate the drainage complaint and confirm the time limits and status of the battery approval. The county also noted new state reporting requirements tied to solar projects (staff said the county may be required to report denials to state agencies under recently passed legislation once the procedural guidance is available).
The commission did not take a regulatory vote on the Foster Falls site at this meeting; staff committed to follow up on drainage, lighting and the status/duration of battery approval.
