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diminishment in value. There is normally something you would point to, such as a use that is <br /> going to cause a lot of noise, or something that's going to bring an odor, or something that's <br /> going to bring an awful lot of traffic to that area. But, the solar farm is not going to have any of <br /> those things. It's silent. I've visited over 25 of these farms so far, and I have never heard <br /> anything outside the fence. I have never smelled anything. I've never experienced anything <br /> that would suggest to me that there was an issue. The one issue that folks come up with and I'll <br /> point out, is appearance, you know, they don't like the way it looks. I've looked and included in <br /> there — I've shown pictures of greenhouses, which is the most similar use I can think of other <br /> than —well it's the most similar other type of development use I have found. I take pictures of <br /> greenhouses all the time now. Again, they are very similar, very compatible use, which makes <br /> sense. A greenhouse really is just trapping solar energy also. And again — proximity to <br /> greenhouses—there has never been anything to suggest that has ever been a problem either. <br /> So, for all those reasons, it is my professional opinion that the proposed solar farm is going to <br /> have no impact on adjoining property values. I also looked at the question of harmonious use, <br /> and I've broken down a list of the adjoining uses on a number of the solar farms I've looked at, <br /> and it shows that most of the adjoining uses where these are going are residential or agricultural <br /> in nature. Most of these are not being located in industrial areas necessarily. There certainly <br /> are some examples where they are in those transition areas, but most of these solar farms are <br /> being located in areas where agricultural and rural uses are transitioning into more residential <br /> suburban areas. That is one of the other reasons I'd conclude that this is a harmonious use, <br /> and so it is my professional opinion that this is a harmonious use for that. <br /> Dave Neill: Mr. Kirkland, I have here under tab 4 in the Board and commission's package, the <br /> affidavit of Richard C. Kirkland, MAI. Are you familiar with that document and its contents? <br /> Rich Kirkland: I am. <br /> Dave Neill: And they are truthful? <br /> Rich Kirkland: Yes <br /> Dave Neill: And that is your signature, given under oath? <br /> Rich Kirkland: It is. <br /> Dave Neill: We would offer tab 4, the affidavit of Mr. Kirkland, as our last exhibit of evidence for <br /> this matter for our case. Unless there are questions from members of the Board, or from the <br /> commission, we would offer to the Board, our application and ask for your support, as I know <br /> the seat still has to go before the planning board and back to the commission later on. We <br /> believe that we've provided competent material and substantial evidence of the requirements <br /> and compliance with the requirements of the special use permit, a class A special use permit, <br /> and we stand ready to answer any additional questions and would also welcome questions or <br /> comments from others who are here this evening who may have competent evidence to offer. <br /> Buddy Hartley: Are there any questions or comments from the Board? <br /> Commissioner Rich: I have a question about the noise, or lack of noise. I met with someone <br /> today that is not—that is going to be a neighbor to another proposed solar farm, not this one, <br /> and they are concerned about the noise. It's just that hum. Their property backs into where the <br /> proposed farm is going to be. So, can you just talk a little bit about— I mean I understood what <br /> he said, that you can only hear it if you are close to it. But, if your property actually backs into <br />