Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grazing Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Grazing plan for Shenandoah solar site requires water, soil testing and long-term maintenance
Summary
County conditioned the approved solar permit on an approved Grazing Plan that must include a livestock water supply, soil and nutrient management, temporary fencing sketches, verification of forage establishment before building permits, and ongoing maintenance for the life of the facility.
The Board’s approval of the solar Special Use Permit included a detailed set of requirements for an on-site Grazing Plan designed to enable rotational grazing beneath and around solar arrays while protecting site integrity.
Staff enumerated required Grazing Plan components: at least one centrally located frost-proof waterer and permanent/temporary water lines to support grazing; a soil and nutrient management plan to improve soil quality and establish forage prior to solar installation; identification of an animal care area outside the solar-panel footprint; sketches showing temporary cross-fencing and paddock layouts to support rotational grazing; and verification (including possible soil testing) of soil preparation and initial forage establishment before any building permit is issued. The plan must be maintained for the life of the solar facility; failure to implement or maintain it may be enforcement action under Chapter 165.
County staff also specified a buffer planting requirement to provide year-round visual screening, with evergreens planted at a minimum 6 feet tall and deciduous trees at a minimum 1" caliper or 15-gallon, spaced no further than 15 feet apart. Staff recommended these plans be submitted and approved by the Zoning Administrator as part of the site-plan and permitting process.
