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Charlotte County board pauses new solar CUPs until Jan. 1, 2024 and asks Planning Commission for study
Summary
The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors voted Aug. 8, 2022 to stop accepting new conditional-use permit (CUP) applications for solar facilities until Jan. 1, 2024 (or until the Planning Commission recommends changes) and approved a referral and up to $10,000 for a consultant to study future limits and zoning changes.
On Aug. 8, 2022, the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution declaring the county will not accept new conditional-use permit applications for solar facilities prior to Jan. 1, 2024 or until the Planning Commission makes recommendations and the Board acts.
The board’s action followed extended debate about the pace and scale of solar development in the county and a public-comment period in which some residents asked for a pause and others urged continued development. Supervisor Garland H. Hamlett Jr. argued the county should “stop and evaluate” the effects of large solar projects on water runoff, county resources and other uses of agricultural land. Hamlett voted against the moratorium resolution; the final vote on that resolution was 4–2 in favor (Supervisors Robert L. Shook Jr., Tony Reeves, Walter T. Bailey and Vice Chairman Will Garnett Aye; Hamlett and Supervisor Hazel Bowman Smith No).
The board also approved a separate referral motion directing the Planning Commission to study and report back on: whether the county needs limits on future solar developments; methods to balance solar facilities with other land uses; specific metrics to guide CUP review in the Comprehensive Plan; whether existing zoning rules accomplish the desired balance; and to allocate up to $10,000 for a third‑party consultant to help the commission. That referral passed 5–1 (Hamlett No). Supervisor Walter T. Bailey moved the referral; Supervisor Tony Reeves seconded.
The resolutions note that the county has already approved several large solar projects, including Moody Creek, Courthouse, Randolph and Tall Pines projects. The board separately adopted a resolution expressing its intent to use proceeds from those projects to reduce the real‑estate tax levy and to support the school system and volunteer fire and rescue, and to direct any remaining proceeds toward economic development; that resolution passed on a recorded vote (6–1, Hamlett No).
Next steps: the Planning Commission will study the items identified by the board and deliver recommendations. The board can extend, shorten or rescind the moratorium or adopt comprehensive‑plan and zoning changes based on the commission’s advice.
Votes at a glance: the referral to the Planning Commission passed 5–1; the moratorium resolution not to accept new solar CUPs until Jan. 1, 2024 passed 4–2; the proceeds‑use resolution passed 6–1.
(Reporting note: the board discussion included a failed motion to pause applications until Jan. 1, 2026 that received no second.)
