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Board approves 3‑MW Burkes Junction solar project with conditions but excludes planning‑commission waiver
Summary
The supervisors approved a 3‑megawatt Burke Junction solar special-exception application with voluntary project conditions and reduced setbacks; the planning-commission waiver requirement was excluded. The developer cited environmental protections and neighborhood outreach.
The Nottoway County Board of Supervisors voted to approve Hexagon Energy's 3‑megawatt Burkes Junction solar special‑exception application, subject to staff recommendations and the developer's voluntary conditions, while excluding the planning commission's suggested waiver requirement.
Esther Rekleman, Hexagon’s senior project developer, told the board the project would be sited on roughly 30 acres with significant vegetative buffers and erosion controls, and that the company had conducted door-to-door outreach and a community meeting. "We have maintained active community engagement regarding this project," Rekleman said, describing setbacks proposed at 400 feet from habitable dwellings and 150 feet from adjacent property lines and over 250 feet from delineated perennial streams.
Board members discussed a planning-commission condition asking for written waivers from adjacent property owners for any reduced setbacks. Staff and the developer reported certified mail and outreach but no formal written objections; the board concluded the waiver language required clearer county ordinance language before applying it as a universal condition. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Burkes Junction project excluding the waiver requirement; the chair announced the motion carried and staff will incorporate the developer's voluntary conditions into the final approval.
The approval includes the proposed voluntary project conditions and staff recommendations; board members emphasized that larger future projects may require fuller outreach and clarified ordinance language.
