The Lyon County Planning and Appeals Board continued its process for updating the county’s zoning regulations on solar energy with its monthly meeting Wednesday.
Board members asked county residents to engage with them as part of a Q&A session, and about 20 residents showed up — many asking questions either directly or by supplying written questions on note cards. Lyon County Zoning and Floodplain Administrator Sam Seeley says it was a productive meeting, largely due to the approach that was used.
There were questions about the decommissioning process, how solar fits into Plan ELC, potential limits to solar energy project sizes, setback distances and sound levels. Seeley tells KVOE News his focus between now and the October meeting will be on sound.
Under current Lyon County zoning regulations Section 7.18, potential plans for solar farms already need several items to even be considered, including plans for decommissioning, haul routes and road maintenance, environmental screening, public agency and emergency services responses, microwave signals, archaeological impact, insurance coverage, dust control, weed control, setbacks, fencing and glare among other items.
Planning Board members declined comment afterward, except to say they appreciated the comments from the public and they are shooting for a final product by the November meeting. The goal is to have revised regulations in place before the current moratorium on solar energy policy discussions ends December 1. Seeley says that is a reasonable timeline.
Drafts are available for view online at the Lyon County government website, lyoncountyks.gov, under the Departments tab and the Planning and Zoning links.
In other business, the Planning and Appeals Board recommended denial of a private RV park at 1867 Road G due to insufficient information. Board members approved a communications tower at 435 Road 140 at the request of NexTech Wireless.
