Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solar Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission pauses final action on commercial-scale solar zoning changes after extended public hearing
Summary
After staff and consultant presentations and more than a dozen public commenters offering divergent views, the Sedgwick County Commission voted to defer final action on proposed commercial and industrial solar zoning amendments to Aug. 14 to allow more time for review and public input.
Planning staff and the Berkeley Group consultant presented proposed amendments to the Unified Zoning Code addressing commercial and industrial-scale solar: scale-based definitions (small/medium/large), urban growth-area prohibitions for large projects, project-size caps, separation distances, decommissioning and groundwater-testing requirements, application components, and financial assurance requirements.
Scott Wedel, director of planning, summarized the package and said the alternative amendments incorporate many Berkeley Group recommendations but adjust language for county needs. "The alternative proposed changes incorporate many of the concepts and recommendations articulated by the Berkeley Group," Wedel said. Consultant Michael Zayner reviewed best-practice considerations including setbacks, decommissioning, construction mitigation and bonding.
Public comment ran for hours and included a range of views: farmers and residents urged restrictions or a moratorium citing water use, visual impacts and taxes (Amy Seiple: "I would like to stand today to testify in support of a permanent moratorium on commercial solar"), while developers and landowners argued for permitting flexibility, waivers and grandfathering for projects in process (Mitch Lucas, Invenergy). Industry and economic-development speakers emphasized potential capital investment and negotiated contribution agreements during the 10-year tax abatement period.
Commissioners pressed staff and legal counsel for clarifications about urban-growth-area effects, the 2-mile separation rule between project area boundaries, decommissioning bond calculations and groundwater testing frequency. Legal counsel and staff pointed to provisions that require environmental assessments to EPA standards, baseline and periodic groundwater testing, and a requirement that applicants submit collection, storage and removal plans for damaged panels.
After extended questions and additional public input the board voted unanimously to defer final action to a date certain: Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, to allow commissioners time to further review the alternative amendments and hear additional public input. The deferral preserves multiple procedural options including adopting the MAPC recommendation (3 of 5 votes) or approving alternative amendments and overrides (4 of 5 votes).
