Solar Energy Facility, Large
Extracted standards
15 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Historic
- No facility on historicHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. sites
No facility shall be located on a property in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) Landmarks Registry, National Registry, or within the Core Area and Field of Fire Area as designated in the Cross Keys and Port Republic Battlefields Preservation Plan.
Other
- Aggregate cap for large solar facilities1,800 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
Commencing on November 17, 2021, and continuing until amended by the board of supervisors, no more than one thousand eight hundred (1,800) acres, in aggregate, may be approved for large solar energy facilities by special use permit.
- Community meeting required
No more than six (6) months prior to the submittal of a special use permit application for a large solar energy facility, the applicant shall hold a meeting to inform the community about the proposed facility.
- Decommissioning plan required
A decommissioning plan shall be developed by the applicant, owner, or operator prior to the approval of a site plan being issued for a large solar energy facility.
- Exception for larger sites up to 25% of aggregate cap25 pct
Up to twenty-five (25) percent of the one thousand eight hundred (1,800) acre aggregate cap, or four hundred fifty (450) acres, may be occupied by large solar facilities that are comprised of more than fifty (50) acres per site, up to a maximum per-site acreage of one hundred fifty (150) acres.
- Ground cover required
Ground cover shall be installed and maintained throughout the site, including the setback area...
- No facility on clear-cut land within 5 years
No facility shall be permitted on land that has been clear-cut or heavily timbered in the five (5) years immediately preceding the date of the application.
- Non-reflective finish
All large solar energy facility structures, racks, and associated facilities shall have a non-reflective finish or appearance.
- Per-site cap for large solar facilities50 acresacre43,560 square feet — about the size of an American football field without the end zones.
Except as provided immediately below, no more than fifty (50) acres may be approved for an individual large solar energy facility permitted by special use permit on land zoned A-1, A-2, RV, RR-1, PG, B-1, and B-2.
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from roads for facilities over imperviousImpervious coverageThe share of a lot covered by anything water cannot soak through — roofs, drives, patios. surfaces10 ft
Shall be set back ten (10) feet from public and private roads and streets.
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from property lines
Setbacks for a Large Solar Energy Facility Requiring a Special Use Permit: (table not fully specified)
- Transformer setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from property lines150 ft
Transformers shall be set back one hundred fifty (150) feet from property lines.
- Vegetated buffer if needed
If needed to mitigate off-site visual impact, as determined by the Board of Supervisors at the time of issuance of a special use permit or rezoning, a vegetated buffer of year-round effectiveness shall be installed and maintained within the setback area...
- Viewshed simulation required
A viewshed simulation, from points selected by the county, shall be included in the SUP application.
- Wildlife corridors as determined by DWR
The establishment of wildlife corridors shall be as determined by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
From the ordinance
Ground-mounted: (1) Aggregate cap: Commencing on November 17, 2021, and continuing until amended by the board of supervisors, no more than one thousand eight hundred (1,800) acres, in aggregate, may be approved for large solar energy facilities by special use permit.