BZA Minutes 02 12 2019PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
REGULAR MEETING
February 12, 2019
MINUTES
VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Board of Zoning Appeals met on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, in the
General District Courtroom, Edwin R. Shields Courthouse Addition, Chatham, Virginia. Mr. Talbott called
the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. The Board observed a moment of silence. Mrs. Hayes
called the roll.
PRESENT
Kenneth Talbott
R. Allan Easley
Leon Griffith
Helen Glass
Joseph “Jay” Craddock
Ronald Merricks
Carroll Yeaman
Karen N. Hayes
Christopher Dadak, Attorney
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Upon motion of Mrs. Glass, seconded by Mr. Yeaman, and by a unanimous vote, the agenda was approved
as presented.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Upon motion of Mr. Yeaman, seconded by Mr. Merricks, and by a unanimous vote, the minutes of the
January 8, 2019, meeting were approved as presented.
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Hayes reported there is one (1) case for next month, a revocation of a Special Use Permit for a public
garage that was issued in 2005.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
There was no Chairman’s Report.
THE ZONING PRECEPTS WERE READ BY Mr. Talbott to OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING at
approximately 7:03 p.m.
Board of Zoning Appeals
February 12, 2019
Page 2
Case S-19-002, Maplewood Solar I, LLC – Mr. Talbott opened the public hearing at approximately 7:03
p.m. Mrs. Hayes, Deputy Director of Community Development, reported that Maplewood Solar I, LLC,
had petitioned for a Special Use Permit on approximately 1,500 acres, twenty-two (22) parcels of land,
located on Climax, Toshes, Anderson Mill, Snowberry, Throughway, Old Red Eye, Cooksburg, and Piney
Roads, in the Callands-Gretna Election District for a 120 megawatt solar energy facility. Mrs. Hayes further
reported the Planning Commission, with opposition, recommended granting the petitioner’s request.
Attorney Jon Puvak with Gentry Locke, Patrick Buckley and David Savage with Open Road Renewables,
LLC, and Rick Thomas with Timmons Group were present to represent the petition. Mr. Puvak provided a
brief overview of the proposed solar project and stated a few updates had been made, which included the
following: the panels would go on no more than 1,200 acres and would be buffered by landscaping (trees)
planted four (4) to six (6) feet high; a decision was made to relinquish the use of a twenty (20) acre field in
close proximity of homes in the area of the intersection of Climax Road and Cooksburg Road; the panels
would be located 150 feet away from the center of each neighbor’s home. Following questioning from the
Board members, the representatives discussed the conditions, the Comprehensive Plan, vegetation, electrical
interference, the potential purchaser of power, and landscaping issues, including consideration of two (2)
rows of shrubs staggered at limited localities near neighboring homes planted fifteen (15) feet apart, etc.
Barry Cundiff, Dee Owen, Angela Pruitt, Charles Robertson, Kevin Owen, Stephen Thornton, Herbert
Linthicum, Johnny Owens, and Hank Maxey spoke during the meeting. The concerns of the individual
who spoke in opposition to the petition included, but were not limited to, the following: setbacks; buffers;
the decommissioning fund; the water source; serious reservations should be met, etc. The comments of
those who spoke in favor of the petition included, but were not limited to, the following: the project will be
neat, clean, and attractive; will be farming sunlight, no carbon emissions with fly ash, no dangerous
pollution, no sounds, good for the community; alternative energy source, revenue for the County; low
impact project, etc. Mr. Talbott closed the public hearing at approximately 8:06 p.m. The Board discussed
the petition as the Committee of the Whole. Upon motion of Mr. Easley, seconded by Mr. Griffith, the
following motion was adopted: Whereas, Maplewood Solar I, LLC, has petitioned the Board of Zoning
Appeals for a Special Use Permit for a utility scale solar energy facility, and, Whereas, we find no
substantial detriment to adjacent property, that the character of the zoning district will not be changed
thereby, and that such use will be in harmony with the purpose and intent of the Ordinance, and Whereas,
(there are no significant adverse effects upon adjacent property that cannot be mitigated through conditions) I move the
Special Use Permit be granted. With the following conditions: (1) All conditions are accepted; (2) There
will be a minimum 150-foot setback between the center of each neighbor’s house and any solar panels;
(3) There will be no solar panels in the 20-acre field on the northwest corner of Climax Road and
Cooksburg Road (i.e., west of Climax and north of Cooksburg); (4) The applicant shall install a staggered
row of trees or shrubs in certain sensitive areas shown on a site plan submitted to the Zoning
Administrator; (5) The applicant will respond promptly to complaints of electrical interference and take
corrective action. Motion passed unanimously.
This concludes the Special Use Permit case.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:20 p.m.
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Kenneth Talbott, Chairman
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Kathy H. Belton, Clerk