Orange County NC Website
13 <br />(2) The use will maintain or enhance the value of contiguous property (unless the use is a public <br />necessity, in which case the use need not maintain or enhance the value of contiguous <br />property), <br />Because the Binks Solar project will have landscaping and natural buffers shielding the project from view, <br />the project will not impact the value of contiguous property. <br />In 2013, David Massey was commissioned to perform an analysis on solar farm impacts on adjacent <br />property values within Guilford County Mr Massey is a State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser by <br />the State of North Carolina and a Licensed Real Estate Broker Mr Massey's practice consists of <br />residential and commercial appraisals in Guilford, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Randolph, Chatham and <br />Caswell Counties of North Carohna <br />Mr Massey's study was performed to address the impact on adjacent property values related to two <br />similar sized solar projects that Sunlight Partners was permitting in Guilford County In the study <br />(Attachment C) Mr. Massey concludes that, "My professional and expert opinion is that the two <br />proposed Solar Farms that will not be visible will have no impact on the market values of the surrounding <br />properties The Solar Farms with the proposed landscaping buffers and natural buffers will not create a <br />negative externality for the surrounding properties as they will not be visible " <br />(c) The location and character of the use, if developed according to the plan submitted, will be in <br />harmony with the area in which it is to be located and the use is in compliance with the plan for the <br />physical development of the County as embodied in these regulations or in the Comprehensive Plan, or <br />portion thereof, adopted by the Board of County Commissioners <br />The proposed location for the Binks Solar project is designated as Rural Buffer According to the Land Use <br />Element of the Comprehensive Plan, Rural Buffer is defined as "Land adjacent to an urban or transition <br />area which is rural in character and which should remain rural, contain very low - density residential uses, <br />and not require urban services during the plan period." The Binks Solar project will be in harmony with <br />the area and will be in compliance with the plan for the physical development of the County due to the <br />fact that project will not increase the population density within the Rural Buffer area, will not require <br />urban services, will not decrease the level of service on existing roads, and views of the Binks Solar <br />project will be shielded by natural and landscape buffers <br />Specific Standards <br />In addition to the general standards stated in Section 5 3 2(A), the following specific standards shall be <br />addressed by the applicant before the issuance of a Special Use Permit <br />(1) Method and adequacy of provision of sewage disposal facilities, solid waste, and water <br />a. Sewage Disposal Facilities- The Binks Solar project is an unmanned facility, with no regular <br />employees located on -site Because the site is unmanned, not sewage disposal facilities will <br />be required <br />