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Land use, zoning regulations amended by county

The county zoning regulations have been amended to both expand housing opportunities and regulate solar farm development.

The solar farm development has been in the works for months and meets with the approval of the county’s Planning Commission.

While the zoning ordinance only applies to about half of the county, the solar regulations are part a subdivision and land use ordinance that is “applicable to the entire county,” Zoning Officer Michael Lyon said.

“This is being created preemptively,” he said, “due to inquiries we have … a few projects that are currently in process.”

These solar farms can take several years to develop, he added.

“They come to local authorities toward the end of the process.”

“This ordinance is primarily for commercial development,” Lyon said. “(This is) not going to cover the roof-mounted residential” solar resources.

Language in the ordinance is designed to address glare, noise generated as well as decommissioning, which Lyon called “the most impactful part of this.”

Regulations are broken into two categories – accessory solar energy systems limited to 600 square feet and 10 kilowatts as well as solar energy systems.

Lyon said that the latter category can reach 50 to “hundreds of acres” in size and are “typically… not for individual use” but rather “selling power back into the grid.”

Commissioner Tricia Durbin asked if, without this ordinance, if solar development could occur “without any limitations.”

“Correct,” Lyon said, sans regulations from the commonwealth.

Several other text changes were also presented for consideration.

One would define a “setback,” or the “distances required for meeting zoning requirements,” Lyon said.

On top of an additional text change relative to duplexes, the proposal would also amend the zoning ordinance to permit two single family homes on the same parcel in several districts if a parcel is at least 1.5 acres.

“We’re doing that to expand some housing options,” Lyon said, calling the change “pre-emptive.”

The commissioners approved the changes without discussion.

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