Agenda - 05-08-2014 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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35 agricultural zoning, which we're going to talk about later. But, I didn't realize Strata was her proposing one of these, and I actually was one of the first — our farm was one of the first sites that Strata put a solar farm on, probably was it like six years ago on Pickards Meadow. It's been three or four, I don't know, it's been awhile, and it's been wonderful. They come quietly and take care of whatever needs to be taken care of. We usually don't even notice that they come. They take care of the grass. The grass is beautiful there. It's better than it is in our pastures. The solar panels are gorgeous and it's actually a place of pride for us and for our neighborhood, that, you know, North Carolina was maybe lagging in renewable energy development before Strata came in, and now, you know if we have the choice between any of the choices we have for energy, be it hydro fracturing or coal or nuclear, this is by far and away the one that we want to support, Orange County. So, please give them every courtesy. Thanks. Commissioner Gordon: I just wanted to ask a technical question, because Johnny Randall was sworn, but we didn't enter into the record what his credentials are to make those statements. I don't know if that's important, but he does have credentials. You might want to enter those into the record. Johnny Randall: I am a professional biologist, plant ecologist, and botanist — Master's, PhD in botany and plant ecology. A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Price to: 1. Refer the matter to the Planning Board with a request that a recommendation be returned to the County Board of Commissioners in time for the May 8, 2014 BOCC meeting. 2. Adjourn the public hearing until May 8, 2014 in order to receive and accept the Planning Board's recommendation and any submitted written comments. Commissioner Rich: Commissioner Dorosin brought to my attention that we have two recommendations on the back of the presentation and only one recommendation in the packet. Is the recommendation in the packet the one that we're going with? Chair Jacobs: On the sheet that I'm operating from, there is only one. Michael Harvey: If I may - We have a recommendation in the packet to take this, essentially to adjourn your public hearing to May 8 and submit this to the planning board for them to move forward. As I discussed with Chair Jacobs and Mr. Hartley, given some of the comments we received from adjacent property owners via email, we suggested if the Board had additional questions or comments, that there was an alternative that this Board could conceivably engage in, with respect to adjourning this hearing to a day and time specific if they felt additional testimony was necessary. Which is why, Commissioner Rich, you are seeing this on your PowerPoint presentation; but the motion obviously was to go with staff's recommendation as it is currently contained in the abstract. Chair Jacobs: So, is it your intention to ask for a substitute motion, or are you satisfied with the motion? Commissioner Rich: No, I just think for me it would have been good to have both of these here, so I would have known what we were doing. It's fine. I'm fine with that motion.