Dorchester County Council tables solar zoning bill after public hearing

Dorchester County Council members voted Oct. 15 to table a proposed rewrite of the county zoning code that would define and regulate accessory, small-scale and utility-scale solar energy systems until a Nov. 4 meeting.

Irene Barnes opened the public hearing on Bill No. 2024-8, and Susan Webb, Director of Planning & Zoning, provided a brief overview of the draft ordinance, which would repeal and reenact §155-50(LL) of the county code and amend the table of permitted uses by zoning district to address multiple scales of solar installations. Public comments were received from Adam Dubitsky of the Maryland Land & Liberty Coalition and Leah Meredith, Mid-Atlantic senior manager at the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Councilman Mike Detmer moved to table the bill and Councilman Ricky C. Travers seconded; the motion passed 4-0 (William V. Nichols was absent). The council did not adopt any ordinance language on Oct. 15 and set the item for further consideration at the Nov. 4 meeting.

Why it matters: The proposed changes would create distinct regulatory categories for accessory, small and utility solar arrays and add definitions and siting rules to the county zoning code, affecting property owners, developers and solar companies operating in Dorchester County. Advocates and industry representatives were given an opportunity to comment at the hearing; the content of those comments was recorded as public record but the council opted to postpone action to allow further review.

The council’s tabling of the bill means no zoning changes take effect until the council acts at a future meeting. The item will return to the agenda Nov. 4 for additional deliberation and possible votes.