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111 Patrick Mallett explained the state and federal requirements changed after this was previously approved. North 112 Carolina had a guarantee of a 15-year lease and a guaranteed rate that an owner would get back from the power 113 company. His understanding is that Duke Energy lobbied to change the legislature. The lease is now a five-year 114 lease at a much lower rate. The applicant was delayed while making sure they would still get the old rate. 115 116 Brian Quintan spoke about the difficulties and delays with Duke Energy. 117 118 Michael Harvey expanded on the point Patrick Mallett made about the flood plain. Per the revised Unified 119 Development Ordinance, there can be no development in the flood plain, which includes part of the corner of the 120 property that was a conservation easement. 121 122 Patrick Mallett reviewed the abstract contains all the necessary documents. He reviewed that two neighbors attended 123 the Neighborhood Information Meeting and were interested in the project more than concerned. 124 125 Tony Blake asked what the land looks like. 126 127 Patrick Mallett answered that it was timbered years ago and there is scrub growing and chunks of concrete there as 128 well. 129 130 Tony Blake said there are solar arrays in two other areas and the buffers have not been enforced. The newest one is 131 awful. He hopes the standard will mean there is a buffer. 132 133 Lydia Wegman asked that the solar arrays will not be seeing from neighbors. 134 135 Patrick Mallett answered there are still trees around the perimeter. He then shared photos of the site and pointed out 136 mature trees in the buffer. 137 138 Lydia Wegman asked for verification that the buffer standards are now more rigorous than they were when the solar 139 arrays in White Cross were built. Particularly, she asked about the width of the buffer. 140 141 Michael Harvey noted there are two locations in White Cross. The ordinance was amended after the first one was 142 approved. The second one was built with the new standards. More landscaping is required for the first one. Tony 143 Blake asked when that is required to be planted. Michael Harvey answered that he did not have that information with 144 him this evening. 145 146 Brian Quintan clarified the buffer requirements. He said there is a 50-foot requirement. He said because of the 147 existing trees around the perimeter, the site already has that much buffer and he intends to supplement it with 148 additional plantings. 149 150 Paul Guthrie asked about whether the arrangements with Duke Energy are complete and when construction might 151 begin. 152 153 Brian Quintan answered that the arrangements are not yet finalized and it is difficult to say when construction will 154 begin. He would guess a year after he gets the permit. 155 156 Patrick Mallett said the ordinance allows for the applicant to ask for an extension but it has to be requested six 157 months before the permit expires. 158 159 Patrick Mallett reviewed the findings of fact, located in Attachment 4, which is located on Pages 154 to 158 in the 160 agenda packet. 161 162 Michael Harvey clarified that planning staff recommends that the use will maintain or promote the public health, 163 safety and general welfare. That recommendation is based on the application packet, the various attachments 164 detailed, and at the public hearing. The minutes from the past meetings on this will be introduced into the record, as 165 8