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Planning Commission votes to measure solar setbacks from occupied buildings, not property lines
Summary
The Whitman County Planning Commission voted to change draft code so the 1,500-foot setback applies to non-participating occupied buildings (reducible to 200 feet by written authorization), a move commissioners said will allow more siting options than measuring from property lines.
The Planning Commission voted to change the draft ordinance’s 1,500-foot safety setback so it is measured from non-participating occupied buildings rather than property lines, and to allow the setback to be reduced to no less than 200 feet with written authorization from the impacted property owner.
"This setback can be reduced to no less than 200 feet from any non-participating occupied building, if authorized in writing by the impacted property owner," said Chair Brian Davies while announcing the adopted substitution. Dean Kinzer moved the change and Weston Kane seconded; the motion passed with one 'nay' from Commissioner Bill Myer.
Assistant Planner Grace Di Biase said the change reflected an oversight in the mapping exercise, which had measured from existing structures rather than from property lines, and warned that measuring from property lines would be far more restrictive for lot-by-lot eligibility. Commissioners said the occupied-building measurement is more consistent with their intent to allow community-scale projects more sites to consider while preserving stricter protection for utility-scale projects.
