Decision on south Toledo solar field proposal put on hold for a month

The decision to build a solar field off Lotus Avenue in south Toledo was put on hold by the Toledo Plan Commission on Thursday.

The commission decided to delay the vote on a special use permit after community members said they were not given enough notice about the project before it reached the Plan Commission.

If approved, the project would build a 15-acre solar field south of the railroad corridor near the Maumee River at Lotus Avenue.

The project would see the non-profit Historic South Initiative enter into a long-term lease with the city and collect revenue from the solar energy produced.

“As I said to the Plan Commission, this is going to generate funds for the community and for home repairs. The funds generated will be unrestricted funds for home repairs and home improvements, and absolutely 100 percent of that will go right back into the community,” said Joe Cordella, vice president of operations for Historic South.

Cordella says the land in question is owned by the city of Toledo but would be leased to the group for $1 a year. He says that would allow Historic South to operate the solar panels on the city’s property.

But the hold-up is a requirement for a special use permit to build near a residential area.

Lotus Avenue resident Sue Terrill was among several neighbors at the meeting who raised concerns.

“We’re all for solar, but not to have any community meeting explaining the project to us and just thinking that we’re going to accept something in our front yard without knowing more about it. The concern is more about where the solar field is going versus the community first,” said Terrill.

Now the Historic South Initiative will have one month to engage the neighborhood before the next meeting.

“We have two weeks to hold a public meeting. We’ll get a distribution list from the city. I also want to reach out to all the local schools and just let them know this is happening. It’s really exciting,” said Cordella.

The proposal will be revisited on April 9 at the next Plan Commission meeting.