Planning commission recommends draft ordinance to allow non-accessory solar projects, adds setbacks and notification requirements

Lincoln County planning staff presented a work-session draft ordinance to add non-accessory solar energy systems to the county's zoning regulations as a conditional use, and the commission voted to forward the draft to the Board of Commissioners for remand to a formal public hearing.

Toby Brown, planning staff, described the key changes: shielded outdoor lighting, a base setback of 750 feet with an additional 15 feet per acre for sites larger than 50 acres, a waiver process for setbacks, and a three-mile notification buffer for conditional-use hearings. "This proposed ordinance would add a land use of non accessory solar energy systems to the zoning regulations," Brown said, describing that the draft also adds the use to commercial and I-2 zoning districts.

Public commenters raised questions about on-site battery storage, decommissioning bonds and coordination with emergency services. Dwayne Carlson asked whether storage systems would be included and sought clarity on what “non accessory” means: "Has any, thought been put into the environmental aspect of this for are they gonna have stored battery systems on this site?" Carlson asked. Commissioners and staff replied that battery storage and emergency-response needs would be addressed through the conditional-use-permit process and appropriate permit conditions, including requirements for end-of-life removal and bonding.

The commission voted to recommend the work-session draft to the Board of Commissioners so the board can schedule a formal public hearing and, if desired, remit changes back to the commission for further work. Staff said that conditional-use review would allow staff and emergency-management officials to add site-specific conditions (training, funds, or equipment) during permit review.