by Jackie Nunnery
LANCASTER—At its September 26 meeting, the Lancaster board of supervisors approved modifications to a special exception for a solar facility in a 4-1 vote. According to the developer, Community Power Group (CPG), the changes are necessary to address wetlands discovered on the property.
Last year, supervisors approved a utility scale solar facility special exception request by Danetta Wiggins, Desiree Jones, Dewanda Wiggins and Denise Wiggins for two sites, one 5-megawatt, one 3-megawatt, on a 50-acre portion of a 90.82-acre parcel at 513 Merry Point Road.
However, upon further evaluation, the site was found to contain more wetlands. CPG abandoned the 5-megawatt project and requested reduced setbacks on the 3-megawatt project to allow it to move forward. The 50-foot setback from non-tidal isolated wetlands and 100-foot setback from non-isolated wetlands would still comply with the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and the county’s Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance according to director of planning and land use Olivia Hall.
CPG also requested to relocate a road and utility poles to….
