LUMBERTON — After hearing additional evidence, the Robeson County Zoning Board of Adjustment on Monday reversed last month’s decision by the Board of Commissioners to deny a conditional-use permit for a solar farm in a Residential Agricultural district just outside of Rowland.
The five commissioners making up the board — Noah Woods, Raymond Cummings, Tom Taylor, Hubert Sealey and David Edge — all voted in favor of granting the permit. Commissioner Lance Herndon voted against granting the permit, but he was not appointed at the beginning of the meeting to be a voting member of the five-member board.
“All I can say is I’m very disappointed in county politics,” said Elizabeth Hunt, mayor of Rowland.
Rowland officials and several adjacent property owners have opposed construction of the five-megawatt farm to be built on about 35 acres of a 64-acre tract on N.C. 130. They have raised concerns about possible health effects and nearby property values if the proposed farm is built. They said the property should remain as farmland or be developed in a way that will create jobs.
Hunt was among about a half dozen Rowland residents to speak out Monday. The residents, however, did not provide any new evidence.
The appeal was made by Strata Solar of Chapel Hill, and McCallum Farm LLC. Elizabeth C. Trahos, an attorney from Raleigh, and six people, including engineers and real estate appraisers, spoke in defense of the project.
They said the farm will not lower property values, or interfere with the normal development.
Commissioner Hubert Sealey, who represents the district, made the motion to approve the conditional-use permit contingent on the developer of the farm meeting all of the regulations established by the Planning Board.
Sealey said that he met last week with a representative of Strata and about 35 concerned residents.
“The bottom line was that most were concerned about the location,” said Sealey, who had voted against the permit in April. “I personally had some questions and concerns about health and safety, but they were answered.
“I don’t know of anyone who was at the meeting that could have left without getting answers to their questions,” he said.
According to plans for the farm, 26,000 solar panels will be installed, and the farm will enough electricity to power 750 to 800 homes a year, increase property taxes on the land from $685 to $28,410 a year and employ about 130 workers during a construction period.
Thanks. Commissioners
I would like to know exactly how those district lines are drawn. Start there....
To respond to your point about the zoning, the intrinsic purpose behind a conditional use permit is to allow zoned property to be used for a purpose other than what its intended (I.e. churches, cemeteries, gas stations). The land owner followed the county guidelines, met all the required conditions, and thus was entitled to the permit, not just according to robeson county's zoning guidelines, but also according to North Carolina courts. Those concerned were rightfully entitled to their opinions and afforded an opportunity to offer evidence (not opinion) on why the permit should be denied. According to the Robesonian, they offered none, far from satisfying a material and substantive legal requirement. Due process was afforded, evidence was received, and the weight of the evidence tipped greatly in favor of granting the permit.
Ultimately this was about a "thousand friends" who decided to act unfriendly toward one of their neighbors. I've heard one was quoted as saying he hated to know we lived in a country where a person could do with his land as he pleased. I'm thankful we live in a country where he can, especially when he follows the rules....
I'm gonna show you Ross style how you're wrong.
I bought some land next to you. You have a 5000 square foot home worth a half a million dollars. On Sunday's you have outings with family and friends who envy your beautiful spread, while you sit back on the porch bragging about your neighborhood and how nice it is.
Now, the land I bought next to you is MY LAND, and according to YOU I can do whatever I want. I plan on setting up my 25 year old "trailer house" and towing 4 junk automobiles over and place them on cinder blocks for parts,( and I plan on fixing one up soon, when I get my tax money). I have 3 dogs(mutts) I'll let wonder around my property and one is a Rottweiler mix and she bites, so watch your kids and make sure they don't wonder on my property and get bit. I'll have plenty of those big orange signs posted "NO TRESSPASSING" and "PRIVATE PROPERTY", to protect me. I'm also planning on a small hog farm, maybe 15 -20 sows and hogs, to make some side money and pay no mind to all my Cock Rooster pens, I don't fight chickens, they're my kids pets.
I'd like to say hello new neighbor, and walk over and sit with me on the porch sometime, just mind the dogs.......
ps. It's MY land.......
Ross, your new neighbor!
To illustrate, a common concern held by the neighbors was that the solar farms would decrease the property values in the area. However, no evidence was presented to support that claim even though the neighbors had two opportunities to do so. On the contrary, the applicants presented expert testimony by real estate appraisers that the property value would remain unaffected. Now you may dispute the accuracy of their conclusion but no rebuttal evidence was provided by the neighbors. That's the way due process works; both sides are given the opportunity to be heard and provide competent evidence and the side with the most convincing evidence prevails. In this case, evidence was only presented by one side. An easy call for any administrative tribunal.
As to your colorful depiction of junk yard dogs and junk cars, if the person living in those derelict conditions is capable of purchasing property so valuable and satisfying the property taxes and local ordinances concerning untethered animals and junk cars and does not have to obtain a zoning permit, then yes my only recourse would be to have sour grapes. You got me on that one...
I must say I'm not surprised but AM surprised to see Rowland's commissioner made the motion to approve --- REALLY???!
Just remember, elections later this year (although i don't believe Sealey is up..)
sigh..