Chester County planning director outlines solar-farm vision, says draft ordinance coming

Chester County Planning Director Jeremy Ward told the council at a March 9 workshop that the county supports landowners' ability to install solar on suitable rural land, brownfields and rooftops while prioritizing protections for neighbors.

Ward said county staff can legally site solar at the county airport under Federal Aviation Administration rules and noted, "about 20% of U.S. airports already have some sort of solar panels or solar farms on their property." He told council that since 2019 Chester County has approved five solar farm projects totaling 2,509 acres — "about 0.66% of the county's total land area" — and that none of those approved projects were yet under construction.

Ward also reminded council of an existing zoning requirement that calls for a 1,000-foot setback where poultry houses or other confined animal feeding operations adjoin residential property. He said staff will prepare a draft ordinance to address the community's major concerns, including visual impacts and tiered setbacks, and will present that draft to Council before the planning commission workshop.

Why this matters: Council members are weighing how to balance property owners' opportunities to develop solar with neighbors' concerns about visual impact, setbacks and site selection. The draft ordinance will be the vehicle for codifying protections such as tiered setbacks and visual-impact standards.

Council did not take formal action on solar zoning at the workshop. The meeting packet notes the draft vision statement and an upcoming draft ordinance; staff indicated more detailed regulatory language will follow for Council review and for the planning commission workshop.

The workshop adjourned at 5:29 p.m. following a 7-0 motion to adjourn.