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A months-long debate over whether to approve the Warm Run solar project came to a conclusion Monday when the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors, on a 3-2 vote, granted a special exception permit for the 3.0 megawatts facility.
The divided vote capped a four-hour-long meeting in which citizens offered their views on the project, the supervisors grilled the applicant’s representatives on particular details associated with the development and finally, the longawaited vote was taken.
More than 30 speakers addressed the supervisors during a two-hour-long public hearing, with most opposing the solar array that is to go on 34 acres of the 166-acre Huffman farm near the Interstates 81/64 and U.S. 11/I-64 interchanges, north of Lexington. Many of the speakers had offered their views previously during a couple of public hearings before the Planning Commission, which had twice recommended approval of the special exception permit, also by divided votes.
One speaker who hadn’t spoken during the earlier public hearings was Robert Huffman, whose family farm is where the solar project is to go.
“This project is essential for us having the ability to secure the property in our family for the next 40 to 50 years as well as giving us some financial security for the future,” said Huffman. “It is impossible to make everyone happy but we certainly have tried our best through this process. At the end of the day, this is our land and we have to do what’s best for our family and our community.
“There are several other options available for us with our property but we chose this option not only because it allows us to hold onto our property but it seems it would be the least invasive and cause the least disturbance to our property and our neighbors in the long run. The bottom line is small scale solar is a business opportunity we have chosen to keep our farm in our family and in agriculture. This opportunity was appealing because the project is removed when it’s at the end of its life and our family gets our land back.”
Later in the meeting, after everyone had been given an opportunity to offer their views, and officials representing the applicant had answered the supervisors’ questions, Dan Lyons made a motion to approve the special exception permit, along with a list of conditions that included a few modifications from what the Planning Commission had recommended.
A condition that was added was one that stipulates a $30,000 bond be required to provide compensation in the event that drilling for the project damages a well on a neighboring property. A prohibition against drilling during construction on Saturdays was added to the conditions. Also, the landscaping plan was modified so that a double row of trees to screen the project from neighboring properties be required on the south side to match what was already to be required on the north side.
In making his motion, Lyons offered his “two cents worth” of observations. “We’re going to give up 34 acres of farmland temporarily to save over 100 acres of farmland.” He acknowledged that the nearby neighbors are going to have to endure hardships during construction. “Noise is part of construction projects. We built two schools in the city [when he was superintendent of Lexington schools] that I was involved with where we did blasting and we tore down entire buildings and we shook neighborhoods. I think you’ve got to look at the end result – where you’re going to get to – by making this sacrifice.”
He noted, “We don’t own the viewshed. We love the views. You know I like the views from my house but I’m not willing to write a check to buy an easement to say nobody can build on that land.”
He added, “We need to make sure, if we approve this thing, that we stay on top of things and hold their feet to the fire so they do what they’re supposed to do. If they don’t do what they’re supposed to do, I hope the supervisors revoke their special exception permit, I don’t care how much money they’ve got involved in it, and decommission it right away.”
Bob Day said he felt obligated to vote the way the citizens he represents in the South River District would want him to. “I don’t agree that I get to be up here and make the decision for what I want. I listen to my voters and my citizens. I have no intention of running for this office again but I feel that’s my obligation to serve the citizens.”
Day said he and his wife had taken a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Va. 56 recently during the peak of the fall foliage season and taken note of how beautiful the county is. He considered then how he wouldn’t want “to put an eyesore on our county” such as would happen with the solar project. He said he drives by the solar array in Fairfield everyday and feels like “I got burnt on that deal – that’s the last time.” He said he believes the Warm Run solar array would devalue the properties of adjoining land owners.
“For me, it’s about balance,” said Leslie Ayers. She said she tries to accommodate land owners when they want to do something with their property if she can “figure out a way they can do it, unless the impacts are too severe and longstanding. For me, the impacts are not longstanding. They are inconvenient, and for three or four weeks [during drilling] they may be really annoying.”
She pointed out that Dominion Energy has said it’s going to need to double its electricity production in the next 10 years and solar energy is one way it is going to be able to accomplish this.
“Again, it’s about balancing Mr. Huffman’s and his family’s rights with those of the neighbors,” she said. “People [tell] me all the time, ‘you wouldn’t want it next to you,’ and I disagree. I wouldn’t go out seeking it. I would be absolutely fine if a farmer next to me said he wanted to put a portion of his property in [a solar project]. I do own some of my viewshed. I can’t own all of my viewshed.
“What I look for with projects that are disturbing to the neighborhood are what are the long-term impacts that people will have to live with? Will they have to live with polluted air? Will they have noise and light pollution? This is a good project for the neighbors, compared to the things that could and will, inevitably happen, if this doesn’t happen. For me, I would always pick this option. … I think it will be a short-term inconvenience with a long-term gain not only for Mr. Huffman but for the community.”
Jay Lewis then remarked, “I continue to support property rights so I’ll second the motion.”
The motion to approve the special exception permit, with the newly modified conditions, passed 3-2, with Lyons, Lewis and Ayers voting for it while Day and David McDaniel cast their votes against it.
