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York County zoning chief urges public hearings as solar and pipeline proposals arrive
Summary
Zoning administrator Chris Johnson told the commissioners the county has received proposed regulations addressing solar development and a carbon pipeline and recommended public hearings and a review of the 2015 comprehensive plan to update how the county manages energy-related land use.
Chris Johnson, York County’s zoning administrator, told commissioners on Aug. 23 that he is reviewing recently adopted zoning regulations and has received proposals specifically addressing solar development and the carbon pipeline proposed in the region. “I am still settling into my new role and going through the zoning regulations that have been most recently adopted,” Johnson said, adding that a number of energy-related proposals have been brought to his attention.
Johnson said the county should give residents a chance to review and comment on proposed changes. He recommended the zoning commission hold a public meeting “in the not too distant future” so the public can weigh in on any proposed solar or pipeline zoning rules. He also suggested the county consider updating its comprehensive plan, which was last adopted in 2015, noting that a 10-year cycle for comp-plan review is common and that “life is very different in 2022 than it was in 2015.”
Why it matters: Energy infrastructure and renewable-energy siting can substantially affect land use, property values and county services. Commissioners and staff framed the topic as proactive: they want a public process so changes reflect local experience and neighboring counties’ lessons. Johnson said he has been consulting zoning administrators in other counties that have adopted similar rules to learn what worked and what to avoid.
Commissioners discussed timing and workload for a broader plan update, noting the comprehensive-plan process requires multiple public meetings and significant staff and Planning Commission time. One commissioner observed that revising the comp plan is a major undertaking and cautioned against piecemeal changes that might require repeated reviews. The board did not adopt any immediate zoning regulation at the meeting; Johnson said his goal was to inform the commissioners and to prepare for a future public hearing and possible formal proposals.
Next steps: Johnson and staff will continue reviewing proposed regulations and coordinate with the Planning Commission on scheduling public meetings. The board flagged the matter for future public hearings and for inclusion in upcoming agendas so citizens can participate in any proposed zoning changes.
