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45 <br /> STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA BEFORE THE BOARD OF <br /> COMMISSIONERS AND PLANNING <br /> BOARD <br /> COUNTY OF ORANGE <br /> SPECIAL USE PERMIT ) <br /> APPLICATION FOR A ) AFFIDAVIT OF <br /> SOLAR FARM ) PHILIP N. POST,PE,PLS <br /> NOW COMES the undersigned Affiant, who, being first duly sworn,deposes and says: <br /> 1. I am over eighteen (18)years of age and competent to testify to the matters set <br /> forth in this Affidavit. <br /> 2. I am a licensed North Carolina professional engineer. I am a principal with the <br /> engineering firm of Philip Post& Associates, Inc. <br /> 3. The property owner proposes to construct a solar farm on 53.31±acres of a 122± <br /> acre parcel owned by the Bradshaw Family Partnership. I am familiar with the proposed . <br /> solar farm use, including the special use permit request. I have personally toured the <br /> property and specifically inspected the location of the proposed project. <br /> 4. The solar farm will contain rows of Photovoltaic cell set in the ground by hand to <br /> minimize grading. The site will be constructed in one phase. The solar cell <br /> configuration contains no moving parts. <br /> 5. It is my professional opinion that the proposed solar farm will not materially <br /> affect the public health or safety. Access to the site will be from a new private gravel <br /> drive onto White Cross Road, an NCDOT maintained public road. The proposed solar <br /> farm will generate almost no traffic. The solar farm will not be staffed daily. Employees <br /> will visit the site weekly or less frequently to check and maintain the equipment. I am <br /> familiar with the principles of traffic engineering. The Institute of Transportation <br /> Engineers Trip Generation manual 8th Edition reports that the average single-family <br /> housing unit will produce an average of 9.57 trips on a weekday. The proposed solar <br /> farm will generate far fewer daily trips than one average single-family detached home. <br /> 7. The creation of solar energy is virtually silent. The only sound is the quiet hum of <br /> equipment converting and conveying electricity to the power grid during daylight hours. <br /> Similar facilities are already located in residential neighborhoods to deliver power to <br /> homes. Solar panels are designed to absorb rather than reflect light. <br /> 6. The area beneath the solar panels will be planted with grass or alfalfa to stabilize <br /> the soil. The active area of the solar farm will be enclosed by a six foot(6')high fence <br /> topped with a three strand barbed wire to prevent unauthorized access to the site. <br />