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Commission postpones proposed solar-farm zoning rules for two months to allow more review
Summary
After staff presented new Unified Development Code provisions for solar farms — including large setbacks, noise limits, and a full decommissioning bond — the commission voted to postpone the item for two months so staff, developers and utilities can resolve timing and practical issues.
St. Tammany Parish planning commissioners voted to postpone consideration of proposed zoning changes for solar energy systems and battery storage after staff, developers and commissioners raised questions about feasibility and timelines.
Staff summarized a broad package of revisions intended to update definitions and safety, noise, buffering and decommissioning standards for larger solar facilities. Key elements presented included a 50-foot perimeter buffer, a 300-foot setback (500 feet in some cases) where the site abuts residential or nonresidential structures, a 60 dBA noise limit measured at the site perimeter, and a required decommissioning plan with a bond or letter of credit equal to 100% of the estimated decommissioning cost, reevaluated every five years.
An industry/developer representative urged caution, saying the changes contain provisions that could conflict with regional interconnection timelines and practical financing structures. The representative noted the MISO interconnection queue can take four to six years, and warned that a proposed three-year permit window and an upfront 100% decommissioning bond could make projects impractical. “We would like the opportunity to sit with staff and to digest this a bit more and to come back to you,” the representative said.
Commissioner Seager moved to table/postpone the solar-related amendments to allow additional discussion with staff and stakeholders; following a brief procedural exchange, the motion to postpone for two months carried.
The postponement preserves the status quo (the parish has not yet adopted the new language) and gives staff and stakeholders time to reconcile the proposed standards with technical, financing and interconnection realities before the commission takes a final vote.
