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Charlotte County pauses new utility-scale solar applications through 2023, asks Planning Commission for policy recommendations
Summary
The Board of Supervisors adopted resolutions pausing utility-scale solar applications until Jan. 1, 2024, authorized $10,000 for a consultant, and asked the Planning Commission to recommend limits and plan/zoning updates; commissioners voiced concerns the timeline is too short to inspect existing projects. Tall Pines Solar approvals and a tabled CUP were also reported.
The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 8 adopted resolutions placing a pause on new utility-scale solar applications until Jan. 1, 2024 and asked the Planning Commission to review and recommend any limits or updates to the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance, county staff told the Planning Commission at its Aug. 23 meeting.
Monica Elder, assistant county administrator, told commissioners the Board also authorized $10,000 to hire a consultant to assist the Planning Commission in its review and that County Attorney Russell Slayton was working with staff and commissioners to identify any potential conflicts of interest related to the review and consultant selection.
Commissioners raised concerns about the timing and feasibility of the review. "The timeline provided was not adequate to allow Commissioners to observe and evaluate the construction of the projects that had been approved by the Board of Supervisors," several commissioners said during the meeting, noting inspection and fact-finding would take time.
At the same meeting, staff reported recent Board actions relevant to solar permitting: the Board approved a siting agreement and a conditional use permit for Tall Pines Solar following public hearings on Aug. 2. Staff also reported the Board held and tabled Love Over Crisis, LLC's conditional use permit at its Aug. 8 meeting. Staff said developers who had discussed potential projects with county staff were notified of the Board's consideration of the solar resolutions and of the resulting pause in applications.
Citizen P.K. Pettus presented maps from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's "Conserve Virginia" webpage that Pettus described as showing "conservation-worthy land," and a separate map of parcels included in existing solar applications or recorded solar options. Pettus urged commissioners to consider conservation constraints in reviewing solar proposals.
Staff said three potential consultants had been identified and that standard procurement policy would be followed; an evaluation team had not yet been selected. County Attorney Russell Slayton was reported to be assisting with conflict-of-interest checks for commissioners and consultant candidates.
Next steps: the Planning Commission is expected to review the Board's direction, vet potential consultants under county procurement rules and prepare recommendations on solar policy and land-use regulation. No formal Planning Commission vote on policy was recorded at the Aug. 23 meeting.
