Staff report available for upcoming public hearing on DC-18-0002: Solar Energy Systems Update

Board of County Commissioners public hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 25

Proposed Land Use Code text amendments in Docket DC-18-0002 related to solar energy systems were approved by the Planning Commission on Sept. 17, 2018. The proposed changes pertain primarily to Land Use Code Articles 4 (Zoning) and 18 (Definitions). Proposed changes include adding use categories for building-mounted, ground-mounted and parking canopy systems; changing review requirements for certain types of solar projects; allowing community solar garden-scale projects on designated Significant Agricultural Lands; changing from capacity-based to area-of-disturbance based size categories for ground-mounted solar; among other changes.

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Docket DC-18-0002 on Thurs., Oct. 25, beginning at 9 a.m.

Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing

Date: Thurs., Oct. 25, 2018
Time: 9 a.m.
Location: Commissioners’ Hearing Room, Boulder County Courthouse, Third Floor, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder
Documents: Staff report for Oct. 25, 2018

Planning Commission Public Hearing action, Sept. 17, 2018

At the Planning Commission public hearing on Sept. 17, 2018, Sinead O’Dwyer, Long Range Planner, presented the proposed Land Use Code amendments pertaining to solar energy systems, the reasons for the amendments, referral comments, and changes since the study session of July 23, 2018. Staff recommended that the Boulder County Planning Commission recommend to the Board of County Commissioners approval of Docket DC-18-0002.

The Planning Commissioners discussed the proposed amendments and particularly the treatment of solar on BCCP-designated Significant Agricultural Lands, identifying a desire to balance opening additional appropriate land areas in the county for solar development with preservation of existing agricultural character and values. Read the summary of the hearing in the meeting minutes or view the hearing video for more information.

After public comments and board discussion, a motion was made that the Board of County Commissioners approve the proposed Land Use Code text amendments to solar-related provisions in Docket DC-18-0002: Proposed Amendments to the Boulder County Land Use Code related to Solar Energy Systems as presented in Attachment B of the staff report. The motion passed unanimously (7 to 0).

Background

The Board of County Commissioners authorized staff to pursue text amendments to the Boulder County Land Use Code related to solar energy systems on May 10, 2018. The purpose of the Code amendments is to facilitate solar energy installation in appropriate locations, while balancing the county’s sustainability-related goals and policies with the scenic, agricultural, and environmental values of the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan.

For questions or comments on this docket, please contact Planner Sinead O'Dwyer at sodwyer@bouldercounty.org, or call 303-441-4597.