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15 <br /> 1 concerns over ground water, or anything like that—that's always going to be a big impact. And <br /> 2 there are no concerns like that with solar farms. <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Next, is the odor. I actually appraise poultry farms, and things of that nature. I've done impact <br /> 5 analysis on those as well as looking at solid waste facilities, and wastewater treatment plants. <br /> 6 And there are measurable impacts. Those tend to be the next highest category of impact on <br /> 7 adjoining properties. And again, there are no odors associated with solar farms. There is no <br /> 8 out-gassing, or anything that would cause those concerns. <br /> 9 <br /> 10 Next would be noise impact levels. Again there are no noise impacts coming off the solar <br /> 11 farms. At night, they're silent. During the day—from the fence line, I've never been able to hear <br /> 12 the inverters. I understand there's a fan going somewhere in the solar farm, but I've never really <br /> 13 been able to hear them over background noise. So, there's no impact off that. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 You now come down to stigma and that is the next category, which is normally like concerns <br /> 16 over, say adult establishments near residences, or things of that nature. There are no stigma <br /> 17 associated with solar farms. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 The last category is appearance. And that's the only area where solar farms really talk about— <br /> 20 again, when I talk about these categories, appearance, typically, is going to fall on a very small <br /> 21 range of impact. When I have determined impact before, it's been looking at things like water <br /> 22 towers, looking at billboard signs, things that are up high and are very visible and hard to <br /> 23 obscure. The solar panels in this case, are going to be less than ten feet tall. There's going to <br /> 24 be landscape buffers and they are going to be hard to see and they are going to be very well <br /> 25 screened. They re really well consistent with areas, and I really don't project any impact due to <br /> 26 appearance. So again, it's my professional opinion, that not only will this have no impact on <br /> 27 adjoining property values, but it's also a harmonious location for a solar farm. I'd be happy to go <br /> 28 back over any of this, or answer any questions. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 Chair McKee: Questions? I believe not. Thank you sir. <br /> 31 <br /> 32 Richard Kirkland: Thank you very much. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 Brian Quinlan resumed the PowerPoint presentation: <br /> 35 <br /> 36 ➢ Project to maintain existing trees and shrubs on perimeter and supplement as necessary <br /> 37 to provide buffer meeting Type D requirements (Option 1) <br /> 38 • 50' landscape buffer surrounding the site <br /> 39 o Provides visual separation/screening <br /> 40 o Project will not be seen from surrounding properties <br /> 41 • Prevents any potential glare from project to surrounding properties and streets <br /> 42 ➢ NC Utilities Commission has determined that the project is a public necessity (issuance <br /> 43 of CPCN) <br /> 44 <br /> 45 Landscape requirement (chart) <br /> 46 <br /> 47 Landscape plan (sketch) <br /> 48 <br /> 49 Harmony and compliance <br /> 50 ➢ County planning process acknowledges that solar projects can be compatible in R1 <br /> 51 zoning <br />