By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
No vote was taken during Tuesday's Barton County Commission study session on the proposed large-scale commercial solar regulations recommended by the planning commission last Thursday. Zoning Administrator Judy Goreham used the time to outline changes to the commissioners ahead of the April 2 meeting in which the commission may vote.
"These changes are the literal result of feedback from people, whether it was written feedback that was presented verbally or brought up in discussion during public outreach," she said. "We very much appreciate the input from everybody who helped us. We certainly reviewed every single thing that was presented, including Acciona's 650-plus suggested changes."
Goreham discussed all the changes presented during last Thursday's planning commission meeting, and introduced the new proposed zoning map that includes a two-mile no-build zone around Cheyenne Bottoms. The board of commissioners cannot vote on the recommendation until a 14-day protest period beginning last Thursday passes. County Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson took note of some of the details in the regulations.
"I want to commend you guys on your abandonment, decommissioning, and reclamation plan," he said. "I've had a lot of people reaching out to me that are very concerned about what happens if these guys go belly up. What happens...? I think you've addressed it exceptionally well."
The county's moratorium on commercial solar development is set to expire on March 31, just days ahead of the board of commissioners' first eligible date to vote on the regulations. Goreham proposed asking for a 30-day extension on the moratorium at the March 26 commission meeting. Even if the commission votes against the proposed regulations, Goreham said she can likely have another recommendation before the board by April 16.
"I'm going to ask for 30, but if you grant me an extension, please do not grant me less than to April 16," she said. "There won't be any possible way to meet the moratorium requirement."
At the April 2 meeting, Goreham plans to ask for three votes on district zoning regulations, the solar regulations, and the new zoning map. Another vote lifting the moratorium could be tabled if any of the three are not approved by the commission. Planning Commissioner Mary Anne Stoskopf said extending the moratorium only a few days does not leave any room for error, accident, or natural disaster.
"The bottom line is, you guys have gotten it done, so I don't think we want the moratorium to expire prior to adoption of regulations," Hutchinson said. "I don't think anybody up here wants that."
The commission agreed to vote on an extension of the moratorium at its next meeting on March 26.