-PRESS RELEASE-
March 8th 2022
TO PULASKI COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS
PUBLIC HEARING:
WHEN: Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 6 PM
WHERE: Pulaski County Highway Garage
WHAT HAPPENED AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING: At the request of Pulaski County Commissioners Chuck Mellon and Mike McClure, the APC members held a Public Hearing on March 16 to review the Commissioners’ proposed solar changes to the UDO.
The APC members decided to table their vote to allow them more time to review the 80+ revisions to the UDO. A total of 30 people spoke during the Public Hearing. Of those, 24 people were strongly against the proposed changes indicating that the changes would remove many of the current UDO protections for the county and its citizens, while largely benefitting the solar developers. Only 6 spoke in favor of the changes.
The next meeting date to consider these changes has not been scheduled. For further information, please visit Pulaski County Against Solar Project on FB, or visit our website.
COMMISSIONERS SEEKING TO ALLOW SOLAR DEVELOPMENT AS A PERMITTED USE ON AG-1 AND AG-2 ZONED GROUND
ATTEND AND BE HEARD ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES
PULASKI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED CHANGES TO THE UDO REGARDING SOLAR TO BE PRESENTED TO THE APC. (Commissioners Chuck Mellon and Mike McClure VOTED IN FAVOR. Commissioner Maurice Loehmer recused himself and did not vote).
IF the proposed UDO changes are approved, this would allow solar installations as a Permitted Use on all Ag-1 and Ag-2 zoned areas. As a permitted use, no public hearing would be required for approval and, therefore, NO PUBLIC INPUT.
Some of the proposed changes:
NO Special Exception Public Hearings
NO public hearings at all
NO requirement to provide certified notice to adjacent property owners.
NO requirement to meet with fire departments and others to address concerns about fire safety and emergency response and to coordinate safety planning
NO certification of Site Layout Plan by registered land surveyor
NO Topographic Map
NO proof of correspondence & cooperation with wildlife/environmental agencies
NO communications studies providing evidence of compliance with State and Federal agencies regarding interference
NO rules & requirements pertaining to building on a flood plain
NO UL Listing requirement for panels
NO solar manufacturer specifications
NO requirement for qualified solar installer
NO preference given to American manufactured components
Planting of evergreens, earthen berms REPLACED with “Landscaping”
Solar developer is NOT required to negotiate with neighboring property owner for vegetative buffering
NO requirement to minimize the “Lake Effect” on birds
NO requirement to encourage nesting grassland birds
NO third-party study requirement for noise and glare
INCREASE noise limit to 60 decibels instead of 50 decibels
WHY ARE THESE PROTECTIONS FOR THE COUNTY BEING REMOVED?
WHO ARE THE COMMISSIONERS PROTECTING?
THESE ARE ONLY SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES.