County Planning Commission denies solar farm application
Baltimore Township resident Ron Wymer stands and voices his support for a special use permit application for construction of a small-scale solar farm on his property on East Brogan Road during a public hearing hosted by the Barry County Planning Commission on Monday, Nov. 24, at the Tyden Center in Hastings. The meeting room was packed for the meeting, with several individuals having to stand in adjacent hallways. Photos by Dennis Mansfield
There won’t be a new solar farm constructed in Barry County’s Baltimore Township, at least not in the immediate future.
The Barry County Planning Commission unanimously voted, 5-0, at its meeting Monday, Nov. 24, to deny a special use permit that would have paved the way for construction of a “solar energy system” on property owned by Roy Wymer on East Brogan Road.
The vote came after a public hearing on the special use application filed by the Ann Arbor-based Prometheus Power Group, in partnership with Boston-based Kearsarge Solar and Ray Wymer, with area residents packing the Community Room at the Tyden Center in Hastings.
Rohit Garg, a manager with PPG, said it would be a small-scale solar project producing about 5 megawatts, with just less than 7,500 panels, and using about 25 acres on the rear portion of Wymer’s property, which reportedly is 100 acres overall. That’s compared to the 1,500-acre, 140-megawatt solar farm currently under construction by Consumers Energy in Johnstown Township.
A solar farm proposed for Baltimore Township was far smaller in comparison to one (pictured) currently under construction in Johnstown Township by Consumers Energy. Consumers Energy photo
“This is not like a couple of the other (solar farms) you’ve seen,” Garg said. “It’s all on one property.
“We understand there’s a lot of frustration with the bigger projects built in Michigan,” he added. “We focus on the smaller ones.”
Wymer was the only person to speak in support of the application.
“This is an opportunity that comes along,” Wymer said. “I believe we should move forward with it.
“I really don’t think it affects anyone but me,” he added.
However, Wymer seemed to be alone in that assessment, with as many as a dozen area residents, including property owners adjacent to or near Wymer’s property, all voicing their concerns and opposition to the construction of the proposed solar farm.
Concerns ranged from the potential impact on wildlife, storm water drainage, questions on the companies involved to the elimination of area farmland.
County officials and members of the Barry County Planning Commission debate a special use permit application for a small-scale solar farm proposed for Ron Wymer’s property on East Brogan Road in Baltimore Township during a meeting Monday, Nov. 24, at the Tyden Center in Hastings.
“This all needs to be stopped,” said one individual, who said she lived on a farm next to Wymer’s property. “There’s no more (farm) land once this is gone.”
Barry County Commissioner David Hatfield, who also sits on the Planning Commission, cited two of seven provisions listed under the county’s zoning ordinance – which lists local guidelines for special land uses – to deny the application, including that a project not change “the essential character” of an area.
According to Hatfield, the solar farm was also potentially detrimental to the welfare of the area and its residents.
While members of the Planning Commission debated whether the application be tabled, Hatfield said he did not need any further information and did not wish to make the applicants wait.
“It’s not fair to the applicants to do more work when it’s not going to change my mind,” he said. “It would not change my mind.”
Jeff Keesler, Barry County planning director, said the applicants could file a new special use application in a year.
Keesler added that unlike larger “green energy” projects, the applicants do not have the ability to appeal the local decision to the Michigan Public Service Commission. According to Keesler, projects under 50 megawatts must meet local requirements.
“If it’s over 50 megawatts, it’s either local or the State of Michigan,” he said.