Orange County NC Website
6 <br /> 1 We have submitted this to the State Clearing House, as we are obligated to do by our ordinance <br /> 2 for environmental review. We have gotten no negative comments back from the State <br /> 3 concerning this project. It goes without saying that, if approved, this project will have to go <br /> 4 through all local permitting, including: storm water, erosion control, zoning, building and what <br /> 5 not. There will be issues identified and addressed at those permitting stages to address various <br /> 6 independent issues. One concern that has been brought to our attention, and I would like to <br /> 7 address to the Board now and have Strata Solar expand on this answer if they feel necessary. <br /> 8 One concern expressed that this will create additional runoff problems in this portion of the <br /> 9 property and even here for the manufacturing use. What I would like to remind the Board is, per <br /> 10 our ordinance and consistent with State law, Strata Solar is obligated to basically insure and <br /> 11 maintain existing runoff that is predevelopment, post development; meaning once all the trees <br /> 12 are removed; the solar panels are erected, all the storm water generated from the site has to be <br /> 13 maintained and kept on the site consistent with how the property existed before it was touched. <br /> 14 The property, based on the contour data on your site plan, actually slopes in this general <br /> 15 direction. So, as development occurs, existing storm water patterns will be maintained, and <br /> 16 Strata Solar has informed staff you should not see any negative impacts on adjacent property. <br /> 17 Having said that, I will just remind the Board one last time, once they go through the storm water <br /> 18 process they are going to have to guarantee to the satisfaction of County staff and according to <br /> 19 our local regulations: 1. There will be no off site impacts; and 2. They are going to be <br /> 20 maintaining the storm water flow as currently exists on the property. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 With that, Mr. Chairman and members of the Board, what I would like to do is turn this over to <br /> 23 Strata Solar and let them present their application. I will get into staff's recommendation at the <br /> 24 appropriate time, and if you have any initial questions for me, I will be more than happy to <br /> 25 answer them. <br /> 26 <br /> 27 Buddy Hartley: Any questions or comments from the Board?Any questions or comments from <br /> 28 the planning board? <br /> 29 <br /> 30 Commissioner Price: On the storm water runoff, how much land disturbance will there be? <br /> 31 <br /> 32 Michael Harvey: I'm going to let Strata Solar answer that question, but what I will tell you quite <br /> 33 candidly is that there will be sufficient disturbance on this site to require a storm water permit. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 Buddy Hartley: Would the applicant want to make the presentation to the Board? <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Dave Neill: Thank you Chairmen, members of the Commission, members of the Planning <br /> 38 Board. My name is Dave Neill. I am an attorney with the law firm of Smith, Moore, <br /> 39 Leatherwood, 434 Fayetteville Street, Suite 2800, Raleigh, NC, and I have the pleasure of <br /> 40 appearing before you today on behalf of Strata Solar and the Stout Family Farm, under which <br /> 41 we have negotiated a long term ground lease for the —for the site that's been referenced by Mr. <br /> 42 Harvey. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 This evening, we lawyers don't get to put on —we don't get to provide the evidence, but we do <br /> 45 get to play ringleader or ringmaster and provide those who can provide that evidence that you <br /> 46 need to render your decision. Let me give you a preview of the four witnesses that we would <br /> 47 bring for your information this evening. First, Louis Iannone, and I'll ask—sneaking up behind <br /> 48 me— Louis, immediately at my six o'clock — Project Director and site acquisition for Strata Solar, <br /> 49 who will speak about Strata Solar, its background, and its overall plans for this site, to the extent <br /> 50 that information has not been already provided by staff. Behind him in second will be Brent <br /> 51 Niemann, Public Engineer, with a focus in civil engineering, who is also employed by Strata and <br />