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Members of Kent County’s Regional Planning Commission dealt a setback to a planned solar energy farm by forwarding the project without a recommendation for or against the facility.
The vote during the commission’s Sept. 9 hearing was three in favor, commissioners William Jester, Denise Kaercher and Gene Thornton, and three against, commissioners Bill Holmes, Paul Davis and David Bonar. The tie vote was the result of the absence of Commissioner Richard Maly.
The panel had met to make a recommendation to Levy Court, but since there was no decision one way or the other, Levy Court commissioners must approve or disapprove the application without formal input from the planning commission.
The proposed facility would be located on Carpenters Bridge Road, southwest of Frederica.
As proposed, it would cover approximately 148 acres consisting of 36 stands of solar panels containing more than 300,000 individual solar cells. The panels would be mounted approximately 18 inches off the ground.
Developer and landowner Bruce Martin of Marlton, N.J. estimated the project could produce up to 40 megawatts of electricity, which could be sold to area power companies.
The acreage would be surrounded by a six-foot-tall anchor fence and its frontage along Carpenters Bridge Road would include an earthen berm planted with evergreens to screen it from view.
During their initial hearing Sept. 2, commissioners seemed interested in the plan, but in the week following, that enthusiasm dimmed for some.
“I think this is an excellent and worthwhile plan,” Bonar said, but added he was concerned the solar farm would result in a loss of projected income for the county.
The site of the energy farm had previously been approved for a housing development, Tuscany Estates, that would have contained approximately 210 homes.
Bonar said he estimated the county would be out of approximately $191,000 in lost tax income without the development.
Davis, while saying he still was excited by the plan, said he was worried the facility would be a poor fit when considered along with other subdivisions planned for the area.
“I don’t think this fits in with what’s planned,” Davis said. “I just don’t think, in my judgment, this is the type of thing that needs to be in that area.
“I think it’s the wrong place for it.”
Commissioner chairman Holmes agreed with Davis in casting his no vote.
Afterward, Martin expressed surprise that three commissioners could praise the project, yet vote against it based on possible lost tax revenue for a housing project he plans to abandon anyway.
Members of Kent County’s Regional Planning Commission dealt a setback to a planned solar energy farm by forwarding the project without a recommendation for or against the facility.
The vote during the commission’s Sept. 9 hearing was three in favor, commissioners William Jester, Denise Kaercher and Gene Thornton, and three against, commissioners Bill Holmes, Paul Davis and David Bonar. The tie vote was the result of the absence of Commissioner Richard Maly.
The panel had met to make a recommendation to Levy Court, but since there was no decision one way or the other, Levy Court commissioners must approve or disapprove the application without formal input from the planning commission.
The proposed facility would be located on Carpenters Bridge Road, southwest of Frederica.
As proposed, it would cover approximately 148 acres consisting of 36 stands of solar panels containing more than 300,000 individual solar cells. The panels would be mounted approximately 18 inches off the ground.
Developer and landowner Bruce Martin of Marlton, N.J. estimated the project could produce up to 40 megawatts of electricity, which could be sold to area power companies.
The acreage would be surrounded by a six-foot-tall anchor fence and its frontage along Carpenters Bridge Road would include an earthen berm planted with evergreens to screen it from view.
During their initial hearing Sept. 2, commissioners seemed interested in the plan, but in the week following, that enthusiasm dimmed for some.
“I think this is an excellent and worthwhile plan,” Bonar said, but added he was concerned the solar farm would result in a loss of projected income for the county.
The site of the energy farm had previously been approved for a housing development, Tuscany Estates, that would have contained approximately 210 homes.
Bonar said he estimated the county would be out of approximately $191,000 in lost tax income without the development.
Davis, while saying he still was excited by the plan, said he was worried the facility would be a poor fit when considered along with other subdivisions planned for the area.
“I don’t think this fits in with what’s planned,” Davis said. “I just don’t think, in my judgment, this is the type of thing that needs to be in that area.
“I think it’s the wrong place for it.”
Commissioner chairman Holmes agreed with Davis in casting his no vote.
Afterward, Martin expressed surprise that three commissioners could praise the project, yet vote against it based on possible lost tax revenue for a housing project he plans to abandon anyway.
He also was unhappy commissioners voiced aesthetic concerns on how the solar farm would affect projects that still are on the drawing boards and years from construction.
“I don’t understand their approach,” he said. “Our impact will exceed anything they would receive in tax income.”
“I think the county is ahead by not having an extra 230 houses built. There were a lot of benefits to the county that were overlooked here.”
Martin plans to talk to the owner of a 55-plus community directly across Carpenters Bridge Road to see if he has any worries about the visual impact of the solar energy farm.
He will appear before Levy Court commissioners at their Tuesday, Sept. 28 meeting to again make his case.
Levy Court Vice President Allen Angel said it is rare for the planning commission to send a case forward with no recommendation.
Angel said he plans to research the situation before it comes before him and his fellow commissioners.
“If [the project] matches with what we believe in, great,” Angel said. “If not, we have further discussions on why it doesn’t, further discussions on what could happen, and the final decision lies with us.
“I base my decision on what the public has had to say, what the planning commission has said and the homework I do to get prepared for that evening.”
In other business …
Commissioners forwarded a recommendation to Levy Court they approve a comprehensive plan amendment for development of part of the current Lakeland Park mobile home park into a business park. If approved, the park owners plan to empty mobile home slots through attrition or monetary help in moving mobile homes currently on the site.
Gave preliminary approval, with conditions, for Viola Mills, a 72-lot residential subdivision on Evens Road.
Tabled for 30 days a request for reconsideration of conditions placed on three projects, Bonterra, Chaberton and Villacana.
Email Jeff Brown at jeff.brown@doverpost.com.
