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Dearborn County commissioners back citizen advisory committee as staff updates solar-ordinance review
Summary
Planning director Nicole Daily said staff have compiled public comments, created draft maps and held workshops as the Plan Commission prepares to review solar ordinance options; commissioners voted to back forming a citizens advisory committee to help draft solar, battery-storage and data-center rules.
Nicole Daily, Dearborn County planning and zoning director, told the commissioners the county has gathered public comments and technical data as it prepares revisions to a moratorium-era solar ordinance.
Daily said staff have compiled comments on the existing ordinance and proposed drafts, are creating maps including a prime-farmland layer with input from Purdue Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District, have performed noise testing and visited operating solar farms, and plan online workshops and summer outreach ahead of a Plan Commission meeting scheduled for the 27th. "We've collected a lot of information," she said, and staff will post an update after the Plan Commission meeting.
Why it matters: commissioners and members of the public voiced concern that county departments — building, health/environmental and emergency response — need a short runway to prepare technical standards and procedures before commercial projects arrive. A public commenter asked for specific guidance on battery-cooling systems, panel composition and storm-damage cleanup procedures that could affect approvals.
In discussion following the staff report, Commissioner Kevin said the county should help coordinate department readiness and proposed a two-part motion to increase citizen involvement. He moved that the commissioners notify the Plan Commission of their support for forming a citizens advisory committee to assist in amending the solar ordinance and in drafting battery-storage and data-center ordinances, and that if the Plan Commission does not form such a board the commissioners would form one themselves. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.
The meeting record shows no roll-call tally; the board recorded the motion as approved. Nicole Daily said staff are preparing the resolution paperwork and draft contact lists if the board decides to proceed.
The next procedural step is the Plan Commission meeting at the end of May; staff said they will post updated materials and workshop dates on the county website after that meeting.
