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Rockingham planning commission recommends code changes to speed solar projects, revise large-solar standards
Summary
On Feb. 3 the Rockingham County Planning Commission voted 3-0 to recommend two staff-drafted amendments: one aligning the county—ode with Virginia law to allow three years to commence approved solar and energy-storage projects, and another updating supplemental standards and the land-use table for large solar facilities.
On Feb. 3 the Rockingham County Planning Commission recommended approval of two staff-drafted ordinance amendments intended to clarify the timeline and siting rules for solar development in Rockingham County.
Planner Julia Cottrell presented Ordinance Amendment OA26-0033, a staff proposal to amend Section 17-1003.02 of the Rockingham County Code to allow three years for the commencement of solar projects, energy-storage projects and residential projects approved by special-use permit. Cottrell said the change aligns county code with recent updates to the Virginia State Code. Chairman Jordan Rohrer opened the public hearing; with no speakers the hearing was closed and the Commission approved the recommendation by roll call vote, 3-0 (motion by Commissioner Kevin Flint; second by Commissioner Keith Sheets).
Deputy Zoning Administrator Daniel Barnett then presented Ordinance Amendment OA26-0034, a staff-generated change to Table 17-606 and Section 17-607 that would amend supplemental standards for the use "Large solar energy facility" and alter the land-use table entries for large solar. Commissioners asked whether the ordinance should specify a required time window for community meetings; Barnett said the proposed language would give staff discretion to determine appropriate meeting timing, and Zoning Administrator Kelly Getz was identified as the official who would make that determination. Commissioners also sought confirmation that acreage approved in industrially zoned (I-1) districts would not be counted toward the County—ode—,800-acre aggregate cap; Barnett confirmed it would not.
Kim Sandum, representing the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, asked whether the ordinance should explicitly require inclusion of infrastructure such as stormwater facilities when calculating the area occupied by a solar facility. Barnett and Director of Community Development Rachel Salatin said the proposed language clarifies how parcel areas are considered but intentionally leaves specific inclusions to staff and the Board for site-specific discretion.
The Commission recommended OA26-0034 for approval by the same 3-0 roll call (Flint moved; Sheets seconded). Both recommendations were recorded as advisory actions from the Planning Commission to the County's decision-making process.
The changes proposed in OA26-0033 would extend the time developers have to begin construction to three years for the specified project types, reflecting a state-law update. OA26-0034 focuses on how the County defines a facility—ootprint and applies supplemental standards for large-scale solar projects countywide rather than limiting changes to a single zoning district.
The meeting record shows the Commission carried both recommendations unanimously; no votes against or abstentions were recorded. The amendments, as recommended, move forward as formal recommendations dated Feb. 3, 2026.
