Lunenburg planning commissioners find Dogwood Lane 4-MW solar project substantially in accord with county plan

The Lunenburg County Planning Commission voted unanimously March 3 to find that Dogwood Lane Solar LLC’s proposed 4-megawatt photovoltaic facility is substantially in accord with the Lunenburg-Kenbridge-Victoria Comprehensive Plan, the commission’s chairman said.

At a 15.2-2232 hearing required by state law before consideration of certain zoning amendments, Commissioner Walter Thompson moved and Commissioner Cecil Shell seconded the motion that the project meet the “substantial accord” test; the roll call vote was unanimous (James "Buck" Tharpe, Edward Pennington, Brenda Jennings, Cecil Shell, Tony Trent and Walter Thompson voting yes).

The finding does not itself approve a conditional use permit; it determines whether the project may proceed through the local review process. Chairman James "Buck" Tharpe read the hearing notice, which described the project as a medium-scale, 4 MW community solar array sited on two A-1 zoned parcels totaling 32.48 acres on Dogwood…