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Planning commission adopts solar siting policy, ordinance amendments as a package
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Summary
Buckingham CountyPlanning Commission voted unanimously April 27 to adopt a codified solar siting policy and related comprehensive-plan and zoning-ordinance amendments, citing new state bills (SB 347, SB 443, HB 711) that change local review and decommissioning standards.
The Buckingham County Planning Commission voted unanimously April 27 to adopt a package of solar-siting policy changes and corresponding comprehensive-plan and zoning-ordinance amendments.
Staff told the commission the package responds to recent state legislation (SB 347, SB 443 and HB 711) by providing a structured local review framework that adds objective ordinance standards, formal findings, and decommissioning requirements to guide utility-scale solar and associated battery storage projects. The staff presentation noted chapter updates to the county comprehensive plan (land use chapter 5 and chapter 7 goals/objectives) and a new renewable-energy siting policy in the executive summary.
David Ball, who identified himself as "District 2" and said he lives at 794 Main Street, asked the commission to give the policy a close review. Ball told commissioners he could not access a printed copy at the meeting and raised specific concerns about rules that could require large landowners to set aside extensive acreage beyond the actual solar footprint, and about long-term decommissioning and remediation obligations for sites he said can be sold to outside interests.
A commissioner confirmed the package would be considered as a single vote; the chair moved to adopt the package as presented and the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
The commission's action codifies the county's policy guidance for discretionary review of utility-scale solar and explicitly references decommissioning and battery-energy-storage considerations; staff said the changes will be reflected in zoning ordinance updates and comprehensive-plan amendments going forward. The commission did not record roll-call vote names in the transcript; the chair announced the vote as unanimous.
Next steps: staff will incorporate the approved language into the county ordinance and comprehensive-plan documents for subsequent processing and publication and will follow any additional procedural steps required by county code.
