OCPB agenda 090617 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

12 site to support that amount of power without the Special Use Permit requirement. However, a school would need a 581 Special Use Permit per the UDO. 582 583 Randy Marshall asked if the school was already there and it wanted solar arrays, how would it go about getting 584 them. 585 586 Michael Harvey responded that if they wanted to add solar arrays, the school would need to amend its current 587 Special Use Permit for the school to accommodate new development on the school project. Mr. Harvey used the 588 example of Gravelly Hill Middle School off of West Ten Road in the Cheeks Township. As part of its existing 589 development, it has a physical fitness track and a football field. If the school did not have these facilities, and 590 Orange County Schools came to Planning to add a track, an athletic field and lights on this property, the Special 591 Use Permit would need to be amended and re-approved, since the additions were not in the originally approved 592 permit by the Board of County Commissioners. If they wanted a solar facility, the same course of action would 593 apply; the existing Special Use Permit would have to be amended to include a modified site plan to include it and 594 documentation showing that the solar facility would be generating power consistent with current power usage. 595 596 Randy Marshall asked if residential solar arrays are regulated. 597 598 Michael Harvey responded that residential solar arrays are regulated in terms of kilowatts and location, including 599 setbacks. If the solar arrays are roof-mounted, Planning requires documentation proofing they are mounted in a 600 structurally-sound way. 601 602 Lydia Wegman asked – what is a 5 megawatt solar array? 603 604 Michael Harvey answered that at that level, it is a public utility. 605 606 Kim Piracci noted that there is no mention of wind as a utility in the Table. 607 608 Michael Harvey said that no, wind is not included. He explained that originally, when solar energy as a utility was 609 being added as an amendment to the UDO, Staff was proposing an entire amendment packet to include alternative 610 energies that was all-encompassing. The County Manager at the time, who was supportive of the construct, 611 decided that it would be easier to do it piecemeal and to focus on the main desire at the time: solar. He did not want 612 to delay opportunities for permitting and requirements because someone took issue with other types of alternative 613 energy. Staff has continued to consider bringing back the discussion of alternative energies, but in light of recent 614 laws and moratoria, it is not something Staff is pursuing at this time. 615 616 Craig Benedict said that similar to the worries that telecommunications towers could disrupt birds’ migratory 617 patterns, there were concerns that wind farms would have the same effect. This is an example that could have 618 halted the movement on solar utilities at the time. 619 620 Michael Harvey continued with his presentation (page 160 and 161). He said that no changes were made to “Waste 621 Management.” In regards to “Wholesale Trade – Durable Goods” and “Wholesale Trade – Non Durable Goods,” the 622 10 -15 uses that were named in this category have been consolidated and will be further distinguished in 623 Definitions, not to mention that all of the uses were allowed in the same zoning districts. Lastly, Mr. Harvey 624 reviewed “Miscellaneous” with the Board. He said that Planning Staff has recommended the deletion of “Airports” 625 from being allowed in the residential zoning districts (Rural Buffer, Agricultural Residential, Rural Residential); they 626 are now only allowed in industrial districts. Under “Miscellaneous,” the Table shows certain terms as stricken, such 627 as “Cemetery,” “Church,” and others, because they were moved and/or rebranded. 628 629 Randy Marshall said that playing the devil’s advocate, would we want an airport in an industrial district, or would we 630 want it out somewhere where there was nothing a plane could run into? 631 632 16