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A proposed commercialscale solar array planned for a farm near Natural Bridge Station will be on the agenda for the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Monday, Nov. 27.
The supervisors will consider whether to grant a special exception permit for the 3.0 megawatts solar array proposed for 21 acres of a 141acre farm owned by Douglas E. and Joan E. Braford trustees on the west side of the intersection of Lloyd Tolley (Va. 773) and Gilmores Mill (Va. 708) roads. After hearing from neighbors opposed to the solar project during a public hearing on Oct. 11, the Planning Commission voted 3-1 to recommend denial of the permit.
The applicant for another proposed solar array – this one near Raphine – asked for a postponement of the supervisors considering its application. The applicant wants additional time to address comments and concerns raised during a public hearing, also on Oct. 11, before the Planning Commission. The Commission also voted 3-1 to recommend denial of a permit for this 5.0 megawatts solar array proposed for 65 acres of Sylvia G. Moore’s 150-acre farm south of Moores Trail, between U.S. 11 and Interstate 81. The Planning Commission has held two work sessions in recent weeks to discuss a draft of a proposed ordinance that would set parameters for where it would be appropriate to allow solar arrays in the county. A report on these discussions was to be presented to the Board of Supervisors during its regular meeting last night, Tuesday, Nov. 14.
