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County board approves commercial solar farm near Rio; developer will build and retain project
Summary
Knox County Board approved ZBA Case CU-01-26 to allow a commercial solar energy farm filed by Wataga Solar LLC (Navisun affiliate) near County Highway 37/2500N and Route 150; ZBA had no opposition and the board vote was unanimous.
The Knox County Board on Feb. 25 approved ZBA Case CU-01-26, permitting a commercial solar energy farm filed by Wataga Solar LLC, a subsidiary of Navisun, and owners James H. and Rebecca Harrell. Assessor and meeting speaker Sonia Hochstetler told the board the zoning board of appeals approved the facts and findings and that there were no mail-in objections; the board voted 11–0 to approve the special use request.
Hochstetler said the project is sited north of town off County Highway 37, 2500N and Route 150 and that the developer plans to both build and maintain the facility rather than sell it after construction. Nathan Knapke, representing Navisun on Zoom, was unable to be heard by the meeting audio but was introduced as the company contact. Hochstetler said nearby property owners who are adjacent to the site will be provided with plantings to screen the array from view.
The motion to approve the zoning request was made and seconded under the chair because the committee lacked a quorum earlier in the month. Vice-Chair Brian Friedrich recorded the unanimous roll-call vote. The approval references Appendix F — the Knox County Commercial Solar Facility Siting Ordinance — as the siting standard reviewed by the ZBA.
