Charlotte County supervisors weigh pausing new solar projects, set Tall Pines public hearing
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Summary
After public concern about environmental effects, the Charlotte County Board discussed options to pause or limit future solar projects and voted to schedule a public hearing on the Tall Pines siting agreement for Aug. 2, 2022.
The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors discussed taking steps to pause or limit future utility‑scale solar projects and scheduled a public hearing on the Tall Pines Solar siting agreement for Aug. 2, 2022.
At the July 11 meeting, Administrator Daniel N. Witt told the Board that Randolph Solar’s CUP and siting agreement had been approved at a July 5 hearing and outlined options for handling new applications: remove solar as a permitted use, halt approvals, refer projects to the Planning Commission, allow seasonally timed application windows, or continue the current process. Witt recommended gathering additional information and said the county attorney advised against an immediate vote on a pause.
Public commenters raised objections to rapid solar development. PK Pettus presented a map she prepared and warned of "environmental impacts that solar projects will have on land and water in Charlotte County." Kay Pierantoni criticized behavior at the Randolph Solar hearing and questioned anticipated school revenue changes tied to payments from the company Solunesco.
Several supervisors said they wanted time to study options. "I don't think the County should remove it as a permitted use because it is so hard to restart," Supervisor Hazel Bowman Smith said, arguing for caution before making permanent zoning changes. Supervisor Garland H. Hamlett and others said they supported at least a temporary pause or delaying decisions until the Comprehensive Plan is finished; Witt noted the plan is expected by July 2023.
The Board voted to schedule a public hearing on the Tall Pines Siting Agreement and Conditional Use Permit for Aug. 2, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. (motion by Supervisor Smith; second by Supervisor Reeves). The roll call vote recorded Ayes from Smith, Reeves, Garnett, Bailey, Hamlett, Shook and Chairman Walker.
What happens next: staff will gather details on pause options and legal implications for the Board's consideration; the Aug. 2 hearing will provide a public forum specifically on the Tall Pines application.