The Carroll County Board of Commissioners is transferring ahead with a proposed six-month moratorium on giant photo voltaic farms, after listening to from residents who oppose them on agricultural land close to properties.
The board voted unanimously Thursday to direct the county legal professional to draft an ordinance for a six-month ban on the development of photo voltaic panels on agricultural land. Commissioners will current the ordinance language at their subsequent assembly on Jan. 26. A public listening to might be held three weeks later.
“We really feel these photo voltaic farms belong extra in industrial, business areas,” mentioned Mark Hamilton, a resident of Fannie Dorsey Highway in Sykesville. “They do not need to be deliberate for agriculture to borderline residential communities. That is what occurred in my case. They’ve a proposed photo voltaic farm going up throughout the road from me. It simply does not make sense.”
Stephen Roberts, a resident of Jasana Court docket in Sykesville, mentioned a few of the advantages of dwelling in Carroll County are the gorgeous open house and views.
“Most individuals should not in opposition to photo voltaic,” Roberts mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s not acceptable due to my home or anybody else’s. I am so glad you set a moratorium on it however imply ‘moratorium.’”
Roberts requested if the photo voltaic farms being constructed now could be pressured to cease development.
Christopher Heyn, director of the county’s Division of Land & Useful resource Administration, mentioned there are 10 deliberate photo voltaic farms in improvement assessment. 4 of them are in industrial property.
Heyn advised that these ought to proceed to undergo the assessment course of, as a result of they’re situated on industrial property, however mentioned that this proposed moratorium would have an effect on 5 out of 10 which might be on agricultural land.
In 2021, commissioners adopted a Group Photo voltaic Zoning Textual content Modification to the county’s photo voltaic code that permits photo voltaic power farms on sure parts of land zoned agricultural. Photo voltaic panels can solely be positioned on 20 hectares of parcels. After the group’s photo voltaic panels are constructed, the remaining property will go right into a everlasting conservation district. This was achieved to stop the growth of the photo voltaic facility.
“I feel the vital factor (is) to have a look at the change within the zoning textual content that was achieved previously, and why we did it,” mentioned Brenda Dinne, the county’s particular initiatives coordinator.
At the moment, there are about 22,000 acres within the county eligible for photo voltaic panels, however that does not imply all of the land is definitely appropriate, Dinne mentioned. Connections have to be near photo voltaic to work.
Thursday’s photo voltaic dialogue is meant solely as a briefing for commissioners of the agricultural land group’s photo voltaic power program.
Nonetheless, in a shock transfer, District 2 Commissioner Ken Kiler made a movement to have the county legal professional put together an ordinance that might set up a six-month moratorium on present and future submissions, opinions and processing. purposes for group photo voltaic power techniques within the county and directs the Planning Division to assessment the proposed ordinance, and if acceptable, make suggestions to switch photo voltaic power services in agricultural zones.
Kiler instantly received a second from a number of fellow commissioners.
Kiler mentioned he isn’t anti-solar, however needs to encourage photo voltaic fields in industrial and business districts or on rooftops, quite than on farms.
“Photo voltaic fields should not a great use of ag property, in my view,” he mentioned. “They’re additionally unfair to the neighboring residents. I feel high quality of life may be very crucial in Carroll County. That is what makes our province particular.
“Now’s the time,” he mentioned. “We won’t let it go any longer. That is the place I am from.”
District 4 Commissioner Michael Guerin agreed and mentioned after assembly with residents final spring against photo voltaic farms, he wished to look deeper into the problem.
