Agenda - 09-04-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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34 1 compaction study are required as a part of the SUP Application. Although I have been 2 told by Planning Staff that a soils map was submitted, I can find no such soils report or 3 soil compaction study anywhere in the Binks Application materials included in the 4 Hearing Agenda. There is, however, a Geotechnical Note on the Site Plan that states: 5 "A geotechnical report will be produced following SUP approval. Report will be a 6 subsurface exploration utilizing soil test borings performed with a drilling rig in 7 accordance with ASTM D 1586 utilizing hollow stem auger drilling." 8 The following is an e-mail communication regarding the soil test requirement sent from 9 Mr. Mallett of the Planning Staff to Cascade Drive resident Robert Cantwell (who 10 forwarded to me Mr. Mallett's comments). Mr. Mallett stated: 11 "Yes, a reporting of the soils is a required component. This section is meant to 12 ensure that applicants are not proposing to build on alluvial soils and soil types 13 consistent with environmentally sensitive areas (e.g. wetlands). The submitted plan 14 has limited the request to upland areas and avoided the environmentally sensitive 15 streams. They have also mapped out the soil types and environmental features on 16 the properties. Staff feels this meets the requirement below, but is by no means the 17 end point. The Geotech notes refer to the fact that they will do additional borings 18 prior to construction. The common practice for this type of project would be to bore in 19 areas that would have a potential for weight load (e.g. the service road to ensure 20 soils will support vehicles) and avoiding major subsurface rock features. " 21 22 I have scoured the SUP Application in the Hearing Agenda for any document that 23 provides a soils report or the soils map that Mr. Mallett mentions, but have not found it. 24 My concerns are these: 25 The SUP Application Submittal Requirements are clearly stated, and requirement (d) 26 seems to plainly require a soils report and compaction study be submitted with the 27 Application (not after the SUP has been approved, as Binks proposes). I have found no 28 instance of any documentation related to soils in the Binks Application, nor have I come 29 across any provision in the UDO stating that the soils and compaction studies are an 30 optional component of the submission or that they are required conditionally, depending 31 on the nature of the site that is being developed. If I have overlooked anything in the 32 SUP Application or UDO contrary to what I have stated above I apologize, and I will 33 stand corrected. 34 A full geotechnical report should be required for this project for the following reasons. 35 This development calls for a large-scale 20 acre, 5 megawatt power installation requiring 36 the erection of 18,354 solar panels in 966 strings. Based on the site plan drawings, the 37 panels will be held up by relatively small supports along their length. The structures will 38 be subject to wind shear, soil-soaking rains and other stresses, so a full assessment of 39 soil properties is critical in order for planning staff to fully understand the site's suitability. 40 The report could well reveal soil compaction characteristics, subsurface rock features at 41 a shallow depth (as I do on my property about 125 feet away from the project boundary) 42 or other unknown but important features that would affect the Planning Staff's opinions 43 and recommendations, as well as State regulatory agency approvals. In addition, the 44 property owners affected by this project would then have an opportunity to review and 45 comment on the soil test data. 46 I therefore request that the applicants be required to submit a full soil 47 geotechnical report before the SUP is considered, and that the Commissioners 48 grant a continuance of this Hearing until after the full geotechnical report has 49 been conducted and planning staff, State regulatory agencies and adjacent 50 property owners have had a chance to review and comment on it. 51