Board adopts Lunenburg Solar Facilities Ordinance; Red Brick CUP deferred pending siting agreement

The Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors voted Sept. 9 to adopt a new Solar Facilities Ordinance intended to regulate large-scale solar development in the county. The solar-facilities committee and the Planning Commission reviewed the draft ordinance; County Attorney Frank Rennie said a table of contents had been added to improve navigation. The Board approved the ordinance by roll-call vote (five yes, two absent).

Several residents spoke in support of solar development but urged adjustments — particularly to density and buffer requirements — and asked for case-by-case review of projects. Speakers included Alan Bagley, Meri Paige Spencer, David Wells and Tom Delafield, who noted community considerations that they said warrant flexibility in the ordinance.

The Board also heard a presentation on the Red Brick Solar, LLC Conditional Use Permit application from Francis Hodsoll of SolUnesco. The solar committee and Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions, but County Attorney Rennie said revenue-sharing, siting agreement compensation and payments under siting agreements remained unresolved. The Board voted to remove further consideration of the application from the table to allow additional negotiations on a siting agreement and deferred final action on the CUP.

Next steps: County staff and the solar committee will continue negotiations with the Red Brick applicant on siting and compensation terms; any final CUP vote will occur after the Board receives a completed siting agreement and updated recommendations from the Planning Commission or committee.