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