Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> 1 Those who were planning to speak were sworn in. <br /> 2 <br /> 3 Michael Harvey: Good evening, once again my name is Michael Harvey. I am with the Orange <br /> 4 County Planning Department. It is my duty this evening to present you staff's abstract related to <br /> 5 a Class A special use permit proposing the development of a solar array public utility on a <br /> 6 parcel of property off Mount Sinai Road in the Chapel Hill Township of Orange County. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 You will note that, beginning on page 3, you have staff's abstract. You also have four <br /> 9 attachments. Beginning on page 9, is attachment 1, which is the application packet. This <br /> 10 contains a narrative, an appraisal report, an environmental assessment application, as well as a <br /> 11 memorandum of lease for these properties. Attachment 2 on page 82 is the vicinity map <br /> 12 denoting the property. You will note - we will get to it in a minute - this property is located at the <br /> 13 intersection of Cascade and Mount Sinai Road. Attachment 3 beginning on page 83 are staff's <br /> 14 comments. This includes, on page 87, State Clearinghouse review comments on the proposed <br /> 15 project. And then finally, attachment 4, which is the notification materials where we sent out - <br /> 16 certified letters to all property owners within 500 feet, informing them of them public hearing. <br /> 17 I have a very brief presentation, and then I would like to turn it over to the applicant. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 Michael Harvey reviewed the following PowerPoint slides: <br /> 20 <br /> 21 Powerpoint <br /> 22 MAY 27, 2014 <br /> 23 AGENDA ITEM: <br /> 24 QUARTERLY PUBLIC HEARING <br /> 25 CLASS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT <br /> 26 DEVELOPMENT OF A <br /> 27 SOLAR ARRAY - PUBLIC UTILITY <br /> 28 <br /> 29 PROPERTY INFORMATION <br /> 30 • PIN(s): 9881-38-8874 and 9881-49-3072. <br /> 31 • Size: Approximately 50 acres total. <br /> 32 • Zoning: Rural Buffer (RB). <br /> 33 • Future Land Use Map Designation: Rural Buffer. <br /> 34 • Growth Management System Designation: Rural. <br /> 35 • Joint Land Use Plan Designation: Rural Buffer— Rural Residential Area <br /> 36 <br /> 37 REQUEST: <br /> 38 • Erect individual solar array panels on approximately 19 acres of property. <br /> 39 • Typical array is between 6 and 10 feet in height, with approximately 2 to 3 feet of <br /> 40 ground. Clearance, and approximately 63 feet in length. <br /> 41 • Arrays will be screened by an installed 50 ft. wide land use buffer. <br /> 42 • An 8 foot high chain link security fence shall surround the perimeter of the array field, <br /> 43 outside of the proposed land use buffer, to prevent access. <br /> 44 • REQUEST (Continued): <br /> 45 • Gravel paths/drives will be installed around these arrays in order to permit access by <br /> 46 technicians to service the panels. In certain areas there will be natural, grass, paths <br /> 47 depending on soil. <br /> 48 • Vehicular access to the site is restricted by a 24 foot access gate off of Cascade Road. <br /> 49 • Initial soils assessment, required per Section 5.9.6 (C) (1) (d), indicates property can <br /> 50 support project. Applicant proposing condition that final, detailed, soil assessment be <br /> 51 completed after SUP issued due to expense. <br />