There is still a lot of work left, but the Lyon County Planning and Appeals Board has made some strides in adjusting zoning regulations for solar facilities.
Zoning and Floodplain Administrator Sam Seeley tells KVOE News the process is moving in the right direction after a wide-ranging discussion Wednesday evening.
Tentative changes were discussed in several areas — moving setbacks to 650 feet or 1/8 mile instead of 300 feet, wildlife-friendly fencing, under 65 decibels for ambient or low-frequency noise and around 1,000 acres for solar farm size. Conversations about dual property use rubrics, fire safety, continuous inspection and decommissioning procedures were also addressed. Next up: cleaning things up.
Before having its own conversation, the board had a public hearing Wednesday with close to 20 people attending. Several residents conveyed their concerns, including Bev Hilbish.
Kevin Karr says solar farms resemble miniature cities.
Seeley says he is pleased with the adjustments and the process that has led to this conversation.
The next meeting is tentatively set for November 12 so as not to fall on Veterans Day. Seeley says the Planning and Appeals Board may not finish this round of adjustments at the meeting next month, meaning it may have to schedule a special meeting to finalized the document before the county’s moratorium on solar projects ends Dec. 1.
