Planning commission defers recommendation on Dogwood Lane 4 MW solar project to await Kenbridge input
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Summary
The Lunenburg County Planning Commission on June 2 deferred its recommendation on CUP-4-21, a proposed 4 MW Dogwood Lane solar array, after commissioners said the Town of Kenbridge needs to complete its review; the motion to defer passed unanimously.
The Lunenburg County Planning Commission voted June 2 to defer a recommendation on CUP-4-21, a conditional-use permit for a 4 megawatt Dogwood Lane solar facility, so the Town of Kenbridge can complete its review and advise the county on whether the project would affect the town's future expansion and infrastructure needs.
The motion to defer, made by Commissioner Pennington and seconded by Commissioner Drummond, passed on a roll-call vote with Commissioners Trent, Shell, Drummond, Jennings, Pennington and Chairman James Tharpe voting yes.
Andrew Hull of Apex, the applicant's representative, told the commission the overall parcel is about 32.48 acres and the project would use roughly 15 acres to generate 4 MW, a density he said was competitively positioned for the county and the town and is part of a shared-solar program. Hull also said the developer has a signed interconnection agreement with Dominion, plans to connect to the Kenbridge substation, and intends to preserve vegetation and avoid mass grading. "We did not have any malintent when we did this," Hull said in response to concerns that the developer contacted the town directly after county staff had indicated the county would handle town communications.
Clerk Taylor N. Newton told commissioners the Town of Kenbridge Planning Commission reviewed the site plan and staff report but had not provided a recommendation to the Town Council, saying it needed more information and wanted to see the county's decision. Chairman Tharpe and Ms. Newton said the developer had been advised repeatedly that county staff would handle communications with the town; that apparent direct contact prompted commissioners to pause action until the town completes its review. Property owner Dicky Harris, a former mayor of Kenbridge, said he had met with Apex and the town manager but was "not aware" of the procedural confusion and expressed displeasure about the issue.
County staff, represented at the meeting by Lindsay Edwards of Berkley Group, summarized the staff report covering site overview, compatibility with the comprehensive plan and the County Solar Facilities Ordinance, vegetation and buffering plans, decommissioning and options available to the commission: recommend approval with conditions, recommend denial, or defer. Commissioners asked about site efficiency after Chairman Tharpe questioned the project's reported 3.75 acres per megawatt figure, which he said other developers had not achieved.
Because the Town of Kenbridge has not yet issued a formal recommendation and county staff and the commission concluded the town's input is necessary to evaluate potential impacts on future town expansion and critical infrastructure, the commission deferred its recommendation to the board of supervisors pending the town's response. The commission noted the project's parcel is in A-1 agricultural zoning (tax parcel 035-03-0-2C) and that an air-quality review is in process.
Assistant County Attorney Drew DiStanislao also announced the Event Venue/Short-term rental ordinance draft is under review by County Attorney Frank Rennie and that a committee meeting would be scheduled once Mr. Rennie has provided input. Clerk Newton said commissioners must complete FOIA and conflict-of-interest training. The commission adjourned at 7:25 p.m.; the next meeting was announced for July 7, 2022.