>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
[I. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
[NOISE] I'M GOING TO ASK IF EVERYONE WOULD STAND AS WE RECITE A PLEDGE, ALLEGIANCE TO OUR BLESSED OF ALLEGIANCE].I'M GOING TO ASK IF EVERYONE WOULD REMAIN STANDING, AND MRS. AUSTIN CAN BE SO KIND TO COME UP AND GIVE US A SHORT INVOCATION [NOISE] BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME.
>> EVERYONE, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION.
CREATOR, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, THANKFUL FOR THE BOUNTIFUL FIELDS THAT ARE HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING US GOOD HEALTH AND WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING US STRENGTH AND WISDOM TO DO THE BUSINESS HERE THIS EVENING OF A PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED [NOISE].
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EACH AND EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT.
I KNOW A TON OF US MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LOW, BUT WE MAY HAVE SOME OTHERS TO COME IN LATER AND THAT'S FINE AND I APPRECIATE IT.
MEMBERS OF STAFF AND FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ATTENDING THE MEETING TONIGHT, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S OCTOBER.
WE'RE ALMOST AT THE END OF THE YEAR AGAIN, BUT TIMES SEEM TO KEEP PASSING ON, BUT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT IN FRONT OF US TONIGHT.
THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL JUMP BY THE END.
[II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS SEPTEMBER MEETING AND I SEE EVERYBODY'S GOT A PACKAGE FOR THEM TONIGHT, I HOPE YOU'VE HAD TIME TO READ THROUGH THAT BECAUSE ANY COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS, OR ADDITIONS, AND THERE'S A TIME TO DO SO.DO YOU HAVE ANY OF A MOTION THAT WE APPROVED AND READ?
>> I'D MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE [OVERLAPPING]
>> PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED, AND A PROPER SECOND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE FOR APPROVAL, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> IN OPPOSES TO SOME, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[III. PUBLIC HEARINGS]
[NOISE] WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT AND I WANT TO ASK IS MRS. LEWIS AT THIS TIME WILL COME FORWARD AND EXPAND ON IT PLEASE. [NOISE]>> THANK YOU. THIS IS AN APPLICATION FOR AN ADDITION AND A WITHDRAWAL FROM VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE AND FORESTAL DISTRICT.
[NOISE] THE OWNER IS DEBORAH BEALE AND SARAH BEALE COBB.
THIS IS AN ADDITION OF TAX PARCEL 46-15 B, AND A WITHDRAWAL OF 46-24 A.
THIS ADDS 56.3 ACRES AND WITHDRAWS 4.53 ACRES.
MISS BEALE SAYS THAT THE 4.53 ACRES IS THE LOFT THAT THE HOUSE IS ON.
THERE ARE HOUSES IN THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, BUT SHE WANTED TO WITHDRAW THE HOUSE, SO THIS REMOVES THAT 4.53 ACRES.
IT ADDS TO 56.30 ACRES PARCEL THAT IS UNMAPPED, WHICH I'D NEVER HEARD OF.
IT DOESN'T APPEAR ON ANY GIS BUT THE COMMISSIONER REVENUE AND THE COURT SAYS, IT'S AN ACTUAL PIECE OF PROPERTY, SO SHE WANTED TO ADD THAT TO THE LIST.
[NOISE] THE FLAG HERE ON THE DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY 15,574 ACRES, SO THE REMOVAL OF THESE 4.53 ACRES IS CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE USEFULNESS FOR AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY OF THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
MISS BEALE IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING, BUT I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MRS. LEWIS.
IT'S ADVISABLE HAD WE MET AND DISCUSSED THIS EARLIER, IT WAS APPROVED TO ADOPT OWNED, PLANT IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME NOW IT'S TIME TO COME FORWARD.
>> I HAD A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT, IS THE APPLICANT HERE?
>> [OVERLAPPING] IS THAT A PROBLEM?
>> NO. [OVERLAPPING]. NONE WHATSOEVER.
>> I DON'T KNOW DOUGLAS, DO YOU WANT TO ASK MRS. LEWIS TO SEE IF SHE COULD ANSWER THAT FOR YOU OR IT'S STRICTLY FOR THE APPLICANT?
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHY IT WAS
[00:05:05]
CONSIDERED AN ERROR TO INCLUDE THE HOME INITIALLY.>> WHAT SHE TOLD ME WAS, THEY WANTED TO KEEP THE HOME SITE SEPARATE FROM THE AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS.
>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE INTENTION AS TO WHY.
>> YOU MEAN WHETHER SHE HAS [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHAT DISADVANTAGE IS THERE FOR THAT HOME TO REMAIN IN THE DISTRICT? WHAT IS THE DISADVANTAGE OF IT REMAINING? [NOISE].
>> I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE SOME KIND OF BOOKKEEPING ISSUE.
I DO NOT KNOW MR. JASON [OVERLAPPING] OR RESERVED AND SOME ARE PUTTING IN AND I CANNOT ANSWER THAT.
>> COULD JUST HAVE BEEN AN ERROR, IT'S POSSIBLE.
>> I THINK HIS QUESTION IS, WHY WOULD SHE WANT TO REMOVE IT? WHY WAS HE PUTTING IT IN, TO BEGIN WITH? I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION BUT I CANNOT ANSWER WHY?
>> DOES IT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE EXPENSE?
>> ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE [OVERLAPPING] THAT I WOULD NOT WANT MY HOME SEPARATELY BECAUSE THE LAND WOULD BE ASSESSED HIGHER AND THAT HOME WOULD BE ASSESSED.
I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR A FACT, BUT THAT'S WHAT POPS INTO MY HEAD.
>> VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ASSESSMENTS UNLESS THE COUNTY DOES AWAY WITH [NOISE] PHALANGES PROGRAM.
IF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY KEEPS THAT LAND USE PROGRAM, THEN THESE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICTS ARE IN EFFECT THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL, NOT ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR POCKETBOOK.
>> BOTH ABOUT TAX RATE FOR THE COUNTY.
>> THE AG DISTRICT DOESN'T DO THAT FOR YOU, THE LAND USE PROGRAM DOES, AS LONG AS THE COUNTY HAS A LAND USE PROGRAM, THE AGRICULTURE DISTRICT DOESN'T HAVE ANY TAX BENEFITS FOR YOU.
>> MR. CHESSON DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING FORWARD, DO YOU WANT TO [NOISE] DELAY?
>> ACTUALLY, DENY THAT QUESTION THAT [NOISE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> I LIKE LEARNING WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR ME TO LEARN, BUT I ENJOY IT.
[NOISE] I THINK IT'S GOOD FROM THE FUTURE STANDPOINT IF WE NEED TO PROHIBIT, IF WE SEE AN APPLICATION IN THE FUTURE AND WE SEE OUR HOME SITE, MAYBE WE NEED TO DISCOURAGE THAT. I DON'T KNOW.
>> OFTENTIMES, THIS HOMESITE IT'S ONLY 4.5 ACRES, THERE ARE PROBABLY INSTANCES THAT THE HOME IS LOCATED ON A 200 ACRE OR 500 ACRES PIECE OF PROPERTY AND SO IT COULDN'T EASILY WITHOUT NOT BEING PART OF THE DISTRICT, PULL OUT THAT HOLE TWO OR 500 ACRES.
[OVERLAPPING] SINCE IT'S DONE BY TAX PARCEL NUMBER, YOU COULDN'T EASILY DO THAT, YOU CAN'T JUST DRAW A SQUARE AROUND SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE ITS OWN TAX PARCEL NUMBER.
SO IT SEEMS WITH THE SCALE OF THE FLAG YOU ARE ON A DISTRICT IT 15,500 ACRES AND THE SCALE OF THIS 4.53 ACRE HOME SITE, TO ME, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT HAS EVEN A NEGLIGIBLE IMPACT ON THE USEFULNESS OF THE DISTRICT.
MAYBE MISS BEALE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME RATIONALE IF SHE WANTS TO BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
IT MAY BE FOR THEIR REASONS, FOR INHERITANCE REASONS, FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT SHE DOESN'T ESPECIALLY WANT TO DISCLOSE, BUT SHE SAID THAT IT WAS INCLUDED AN ERROR AND SHE WANTS TO REMOVE IT AND IT'S ONLY 4.53 ACRES.
>> I THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS AN ESTATE PLANNING ISSUE THAT THEY ARE THINKING OF THAT PARTICULAR PARCEL IS BEING PROTECTED IN SOME FASHION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ESTATE ISSUE, BUT THAT WAS JUST ME SURMISING WHAT IT MIGHT BE.
>> WHAT DOES THE BOARD FEEL LIKE?
>> I DON'T SEE IT AS ANY HARM TO THE DISTRICT AT ALL.
[00:10:03]
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT MORE BACK THAN THEY TOOK OUT.I, THEREFORE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION WE GO AHEAD AND VOTE PART OF IT. OKAY THEN.
>> I HAVE A MOTION THAT WE PROCEED FORWARD WITH THE REQUEST OF THE APPLICANT, DO I HAVE A SECONDARY MOTION?
>> I HAVE A PROPER SECOND TO THE MOTION, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? [NOISE] IF NOT, I'LL CALL IT A VOTE OR IN FAVOR OF SENDING THIS RECOMMENDATION FORWARD TO THE GOVERNING BODY AT THEIR MEETING.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE ONE DISSENTER. ALL RIGHT.
MRS. LEWIS, I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO GO TO ANY TROUBLE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MRS. JASON AN ANSWER IF SHE WOULD DISCLOSE IT, IF SHE DOESN'T WE UNDERSTAND, BUT IF SHE WOULD BE WILLING, THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW.
>> WHY SHE WANTED TO WITHDRAW IF SHE DIDN'T MIND DISCLOSING THAT WITH US. ALL RIGHT.
THIS WAS A PUBLIC HEARING, WE'VE ALREADY ACTED.
NOW IT IS GOING TO BE PROCEDURAL, [OVERLAPPING] INVITED ANYBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE WHO'S COMING FORWARD.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BACKTRACK JUST A SECOND.
I'M GOING TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK ON THE BEHALF OF THEIR SUBLIST, YOU MAY COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
IF NOT, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE HEARING [NOISE], AND BEING THAT WE'VE ALREADY.
>> CLOSE [OVERLAPPING] GO AHEAD AND I'LL REMAKE THE MOTION.
>> WE'RE GOING TO REVOTE. OKAY.
>> I'LL REMAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS.
>> OKAY. NOW ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? AGAIN, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION THAT HAS BEEN MADE OF MAKING THIS RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNMENT BODIES, SAY AYE.
>> AGAIN, WE HAVE ONE DISSENTER.
MAYOR, WE WILL GO INTO NEW BUSINESS, ITEM NUMBER 4.
[IV. NEW BUSINESS]
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO LET MRS. LEWIS HANDLE THESE, I'LL GUESS TOMORROW.>> OKAY. THIS IS CARL HECK, HE IS THE NEW CEO AND PRESIDENT OF FSCDI FRANKLIN SOUTHAMPTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC.
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE MET HIM, I KNOW SUPERVISOR EDWARDS HAS TALKED WITH AND MET MR. HECK SEVERAL TIMES.
THIS BODY HAD QUESTIONS FOR FSCDI ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AS THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS.
THE VEAL FARM ZONING MAP AMENDMENT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO OR A YEAR AGO WAS QUITE CONTENTIOUS.
MR. HECK IS HERE TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND TO TELL YOU WHAT FSCDI AND HE SEES FOR THE FUTURE COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL NEEDS IN SOUTH EASTERN COUNTY.
AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU AND WELCOME EVERYBODY.
IT'S BEEN GREAT SINCE I GOT HERE OVER TWO MONTHS AGO NOW LEARNING THE COUNTY AND LEARNING ALL THE VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND EVERYTHING.
I WAS A PLANNING DIRECTOR BACK IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.
I'VE BEEN TO MANY OF THIS KIND OF MEETINGS BEFORE.
>> THANK YOU MRS. LEWIS FOR INVITING ME.
THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE I GOT HERE IS THE GLOBAL CONCENTRATE CEO AT PRETLOW INDUSTRIAL PARK I MEAN, THAT DOES CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE AS FAR AS THE COUNTY GOES BECAUSE THEY'LL BE BUYING 100 BASICALLY, ALMOST ALL OF PRETLOW PARK WILL BE 150 ACRES, SO THERE WON'T BE THAT BIG PARCELS THAT WERE.
MORE OF THE PROJECTS ARE BECOMING UP TO THE COUNTY.
WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR IS, IF WE CAN AGGREGATE LARGE PARCELS, THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT'S IN THE MARKET.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT BEAL FARM CAMP PARKWAY PROPERTY IS ONE OF THOSE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO AGGRESSIVELY MARKET TO BIG WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION TYPE THINGS THAT IF THERE WAS ANOTHER PROPERTY LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE WELCOME TOO.
THAT'S THE KIND OF A THRESHOLD THEIR BASE LOOKING IS LIKE 200-ACRE SITES.
THAT'S THEIR CHALLENGE OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE
[00:15:01]
THOSE SITES TYPICALLY ARE AGRICULTURAL AND THAT KIND OF SAYING, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE MAP, IT'S LIKE THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE SEE ARE MAINTAINING SITES ALONG RAIL LINES AND MAJOR HIGHWAYS.THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE INDUSTRIAL LANDS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ARE IN ONE OF THOSE TWO AREAS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN MARKET AND WORK WITH TO TRY TO ATTRACT MORE INDUSTRY.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT ONE OR MORE OF THE PROPERTIES MAY GO IN THE NEAR FUTURE YACHTS, THERE ARE PEOPLE OUTLOOK, SO I CAN SAY THAT.
I'LL KIND OF LEAVE THAT WITH A BRIEF INTRODUCTION, KIND OF WORK WITH WHAT YOU ALL MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR.
>> SO CAN I ASK A QUESTION? THE PRETLOW PARK, ITS COST, IS IT GOING TO TAKE UP PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE VALUE
>> ONE-HUNDRED AND FIFTY ACRES, [NOISE] THAT WOULD BE 20 ACRES OR CHANGE LEFT IN THE PARK PROPER AND THERE IS PARCEL BEHIND THERE THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE USED FOR INDUSTRIAL, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT.
>> PREVIOUSLY BUILDINGS WERE THERE 18 BUILDINGS BEFORE NOT SO MANY OF THAT.
THERE'S LITTLE PIECES OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY HERE AND THERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM.
SO IT'S LIKE THE BEAL FARM AND SOUTHAMPTON BUSINESS PARK, AND THEN THE OTHER PARKS ARE GOING TO BE THE MORE WHAT WE'RE MARKING FROM LARGE INDUSTRIAL JUST AS A MATTER OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE.
>> I'M GLAD TO MEET YOU TONIGHT, I HAVE READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IN NEWSPAPER, BUT OUR FIRST MEETING, ONE OF THE REASONS BECAUSE MRS. LEWIS SHARED TO COME IS ACQUAINT OURSELVES AS WE PROCEED WITH UPDATING OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AS WE GO FORWARD, IF YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT TO SHARE WITH US, I'M ASSUMING YOU PROBABLY HAVE LOOKED AT OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
>> ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, THE ABANDONED RAILROAD THAT WE HAVE ANY CHANCE OF REACTIVATING THERE FOR WHATEVER REASON? IS THAT AN ASSET TO US NOW OR THAT JUST SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY WON'T MATERIALIZE AGAIN? WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> IT'S SOMETHING I HAVE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT, AT THIS POINT I MEAN, YOU HATE TO LOSE AN ASSET LIKE THAT.
THERE'S NO ANY CHANCE OF HAVING IT, LOSING IT RIGHT AWAY IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD NEVER GET BACK AGAIN.
[NOISE] BUT THERE'S SOMETHING WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT.
>> THAT PART, SO RAIL, WE DO GET A LOT OF INQUIRIES FOR RAIL SERVICES.
THAT IS A MAJOR ASSET TO HAVE RAIL INDUSTRIAL LONG RAIL LINES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHAT KIND OF UNIQUE TO HAVE [NOISE] A SO-CALLED DAY AT THE END RAIL, BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY GO TO CONTAIN WORK TO GREENVILLE AND I'M NOT SURE I'M MISSED. PROBABLY IT GOES.
BUT ANYWAY, I KNOW A LOT OF WORK WAS DONE TO IT.
WELL, RIGHT BEFORE IT WAS SHUT DOWN AND A LOT OF RENOVATIONS AND AS SUCH WAS MADE AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW THAT WOULD EVER.
IF BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING FOR THAT TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE OR.
>> THEY DEFINITELY ARE, COMPANIES THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH.
THE RAIL IS SOMETHING THAT THEY USE TO SHIP PRODUCT IN MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
IT'S EASIER TO GET THE MATERIALS THAT WAY.
THINGS COMING FROM THE POOR ARE COMING BY TRUCK BUT TO COME IN AND OUT FROM THE RURAL, THE RAIL IS GOOD FOR A LOT OF COMMODITIES.
>> WE HAVE JUST BEEN IN A REALLY BIG BUSINESS THAT YOU HAVE LANDED INTO PRENTLOW PARK.
HOW ABOUT SMALLER COMPANIES? IS THERE AN INTEREST IN SMALLER MANUFACTURING? I GUESS WELL, I DON'T KNOW IT'S FABRICATION OR SUDDENLY OR WHERE THERE IS A WORKFORCE.
>> WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO LAND THOSE BUSINESSES, WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR? WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO THAT TYPE TO BENEFIT THIS GOVERNMENT,
>> A WORKFORCE, THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES, THE PARKS TO HAVE WATER, SEWER, GAS, ONE HAS RAIL.
SO I MEAN, THEY'RE THERE, SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF KEEPING AN EYE, KEEPING ON.
THERE ARE PROSPECTS LOOKING AT THOSE PROPERTIES.
>> IT IS HARD FOR YOU ONLY BEING HERE TWO MONTHS BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF THE COUNTY TO TAKE IN,
[00:20:03]
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE ARE A VERY RURAL COUNTY.WE HAVE SEVERAL SMALL TOWNSHIPS, COURT BEING OUR COUNTY HUB AND FRANKLIN BEING OUR NEAREST CITY.
WE'RE NOT NEAREST CITY, [LAUGHTER] BUT THAT'S KIND OF A MAJOR COMMERCE AREA FOR US.
FROM WHAT YOU SAYING THUS FAR, WHERE DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE OR BE THINKING ABOUT? A CENTRALIZED AREA FOR BUSINESSES TO LOCATE IN.
WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY OF FRANKLIN OR IN THE COURT IN THERE.
>> WHERE THE PARKS ARE DO SEEM TO BE GOOD PLACES.
>> YES. THE BO FARM AND THAT, GETTING MORE INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE LOGISTICS PARK AND MORE [INAUDIBLE], IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.
IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DO THAT, [INAUDIBLE] THAT WOULD HELP.
THAT [INAUDIBLE] MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
HAMPTON FARMS, WHOSE COMMON THERE AND BEAVER OBVIOUSLY IN THE LAST RECENT TIME.
THAT IS AN ATTRACTIVE [INAUDIBLE] FOR NEW LOCATIONS HERE.
>> IS THERE ANY NEED FOR ANOTHER BUSINESS CENTER LIKE FSCDI'S OFFICE IS IN.
UNTIL A COUPLE YEARS AGO, IT WAS CALLED THE INCUBATOR AND THAT'S WHAT IT SERVED AS FOR NEW BUSINESSES TO START IN AND THEN HIGH GROUND OUTGREW THE INCUBATOR, AND THEY HAVE WHAT? A 100 AND SOME PEOPLE ACROSS THE STREET THERE NOW.
IS THERE A NEED FOR ANOTHER SUCH FACILITY IN THE COUNTY?
>> WE'D LOVE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
MAYBE NOT EXACTLY THE SAME THING, MY OWN IDEA OF AN INCUBATOR KITCHEN FOR BRAINSTORMING, BUT A DIFFERENT KIND OF INCUBATOR.
THE FRANKLIN [INAUDIBLE] IS NOW ALMOST FULL, THERE'S ONLY TWO EMPTY SPOTS IN THERE, SO IT'S NOT A 97 PERCENT FULL, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST IT'S EVER BEEN IN ITS HISTORY.
THAT'S A SERVICE BUSINESS INCUBATOR.
WE NEED SOME OTHER KIND OF INCUBATOR WHERE THERE WAS MANUFACTURING OR AGRICULTURE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE DEFINITELY BE WELCOMED.
>> BECAUSE OUR OFFICE APPROVES HOME OCCUPATIONS [NOISE] OFTEN ALL THE TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THEIR HOME AS THEIR OFFICE FOR THEIR CONTRACTOR OR THEIR LAND SERVICE OR THEIR ART OR WHATEVER THEY DO, BUT THEY CAN'T USE ORDINATES, LIMITS YOU THAT ONLY TWO EMPLOYEES [NOISE] WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE HOUSE.
I TELL PEOPLE, ONCE YOU GET MORE THAN TWO EMPLOYEES, YOU HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF YOUR HOME AND MOVE TO A COMMERCIAL PLACE.
YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, BUT THERE ISN'T ANY PLACE.
>> IT'S A CHALLENGE AND LIKE THE INCUBATING OUT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] HIGH GROUND AND WHOEVER TAKE THE WHOLE BUILDING.
WE COULD USE MORE SPACES FOR THE THREE EMPLOYEE BUSINESSES LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, THAT THEY STAY IN THE INCUBATOR FOR SEVEN YEARS AND THEN THEY [INAUDIBLE] TO GO, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE THAT THAT IS A CHALLENGE.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A SPOT AND MAYBE SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE THE CITY AND OFFICE, PARKS, PROBABLY A LITTLE TOO GRAND A WORD, BUT A BUILDING WHERE WE HAVE SPACES FOR 3, 4, 5 EMPLOYEE BUSINESS, THERE'S DEFINITELY A NEED FOR THAT KIND OF SAYING AND THEY'RE COMING, LIKE I SAID, THEY ARE COMING OUT OF THE INCUBATOR.
THEY'RE NOT THERE FOREVER, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THEM AND HAVE THEM COME IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE COULD USE A PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAN COME INTO.
THIS IS JUST BECOMING A LOT MORE CALM AND YOU HAD THE PANDEMIC EVERYWHERE, WHERE I WAS.
I WAS IN A RURAL AREA IN NEW YORK, WE HAD THE SAME ISSUES.
PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE BROADBAND AND THAT, SO THEY HAD [NOISE] THE BUSINESSES [INAUDIBLE] DIDN'T PICK UP CLIENTS AS A RESULT TO THAT [INAUDIBLE] BROADBAND THERE, SOME THEM.
NOW EVERYBODY CAN WORK OUT OF THEIR HOUSE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS AND IT'S LIKE THAT ALL THAT'S COMING TOGETHER AND WE'RE CERTAINLY HOPEFUL THAT THE BROADBAND WHO CAN HANDLE THE FSCDI WORK ON GRANT APPLICATION THAT'S INTO [INAUDIBLE] NOW FOR BROADBAND FARMING THAT WE HOPE WOULD ALLEVIATE THE NEED IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, BUT THAT'S HAVING THE SERVICES AND THAT KIND OF STUFF WOULD STILL BE VERY WELCOME.
>> THERE ARE STILL SECTIONS OF THE COUNTY THAT ARE FOOD DESERT.
THERE IS A NEED FOR SMALL GROCERY STORES.
[00:25:01]
THERE IS A DOLLAR GENERAL THAT MOVED INTO CAPRON, BUT THERE'S STILL A 20 MILES STRETCH FROM CAPRON TO EMPORIA BEFORE THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE WHERE THERE ARE THINGS AVAILABLE.I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ON YOUR LIST THAT WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTY HAS THAT [INAUDIBLE].
THE OTHER THING IS, I ALWAYS HAVE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, IS MY CONCERN WITH LIGHT INDUSTRY THAT COMES IN TO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO HOUSES THAT MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH RESIDENTIAL LIVING.
IN RURAL AREAS, NOISE TRAVELS, ODORS TRAVEL IN THE WESTERN PART OF SOUTHAMPTON.
IN THE COUNTY, THERE WAS A BUSINESS THAT HAD A VERY NOXIOUS ODOR BECAUSE IT PROCESSED ANIMAL BYPRODUCTS.
IT IS NO LONGER HERE AND PEOPLE WHO LIVED WITHIN A MILE RADIUS [NOISE] OF THAT PLACE ARE VERY HAPPY BECAUSE THE AIR QUALITY IS MUCH BETTER.
BUT ALONG 58 CARTER, THERE ARE HOUSES AND PLACES THAT COMPATIBLE, LIGHT INDUSTRY WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, BUT NOT THE KIND THAT WOULD CREATE A NUISANCE.
I SEE THAT ON OUR MAPS, THE INDUSTRIAL AREA FOLLOWS OUR MAJOR HIGHWAY, CARTERS, SO 58 IS ONE OF THOSE CARTERS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT JUST ALWAYS A MINDFUL OF HAVING EXPERIENCED A NUISANCE-TYPE OPERATION.
IT WAS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY, [NOISE] BUT IT WAS BAD FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN A MILE AND A HALF RADIUS, AND PROBABLY IN SOME WAYS, BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE OF THE RUNOFF FROM THAT FACILITY.
THAT'S JUST ALWAYS ONE OF MY THINGS THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
I'D LOVE TO SEE MORE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS THAT COMBINE RETAIL WITH LIGHT INDUSTRY.
I THINK BELMONT PEANUTS WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A LIGHT INDUSTRY COMING IN THAT ALSO HAD A BENEFIT BECAUSE IT BROUGHT A FOOD OPERATION, A DELI.
IT WAS PERFECT, GREAT LOCATION.
IF SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT COULD BE IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR COUNTY?
>> IT'S [INAUDIBLE] IN THE OFFICE.
THERE'S NOW A TRAY OUT TO MARKET BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] INTO FRANKLIN AND OBVIOUSLY IN [INAUDIBLE].
[INAUDIBLE] THE OTHER ONES THAT [INAUDIBLE] OPEN ONCE ONE DID AND OTHERS HAVE DONE THE SAME, SO IT'S PRETTY ATTRACTIVE.
THE AREA THAT WE CAN MARKET TO VISITORS AS WELL.
>> NOT NECESSARILY PEANUTS, BUT THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER TYPE OF PROCESSING FACILITY THAT CAN BE COMPATIBLE.
>> IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT SIZE TRACK IS REQUIRED TO JUSTIFY A SIDE RAIL FROM A RAILROAD? YOU DID SAY YOU HAVE COMPANIES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR TO PLACE THEMSELVES ON A RAILROAD.
WHAT SIZE TRACKS WOULD IT REQUIRE TO GET THEM INTERESTED IN THAT? I GUESS WHAT'S THE SMALLEST?
>> I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW BUT WHAT'S HERE IS COMPATIBLE.
I KNOW THAT THEY CAN WORK WITH THE EXISTING TRACK THAT'S HERE.
BUT SOMEBODY WE ARE WORKING WITH IS INTERESTED IN THE SIDE RAIL SO IT SHOULD BE THE SAME THING AS WHAT THEY JUST NEED TO BE ABLE TO UNLOAD AND LOAD.
>> THE PERSON THAT YOU'RE TALKING WITH, BECAUSE OF THEY LOOKING FOR, WITHOUT LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG ANYWAY.
PROBABLY CONCENTRATES A LITTLE UNUSUAL [NOISE] SIZE, SO THAT THEY'D BE IN SIMILAR SIZE WITH WHAT'S THERE ALREADY.
THE TYPICAL PLOT, A TYPICAL BUSINESSES THERE ARE 10 TO 20 ACRE RANGE, SO THAT'S WHAT YOU PROBABLY WOULD SEE MORE ROUTINELY IT TO BUSINESS PROBLEMS AND IT'S HAPPENING WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF KANT PATHWAY, THAT MAY WELL BE A GIANT WAREHOUSE SOMEDAY.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING SPECIFIC ON THAT, BUT THAT'S THEIR MASTER PLAN AND HAVING DEVELOPMENTS OF BIG PARCELS, SO THAT'S BEING GEARED OLD DIFFERENTLY THAN THE OTHER ONES.
[00:30:02]
>> YEAH OF COURSE. I'M FROM THE AREA, MARYLAND [INAUDIBLE] DISTRICT IS WHAT IT IS CALLED.
FROM A DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT OF COURSE, WE'LL LOOK AT MAJOR CORRIDORS, WHICH 58 IS ONE OF THEM AND 460 IS ALSO ANOTHER THAT I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT.
WHAT IN YOUR OPINION, WOULD MAKE THE HERBAL PLANNING AREA MORE ATTRACTIVE? WHAT COULD WE DO TO MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO COMPANIES THAT MIGHT UTILIZE THAT RAIL SYSTEM AND THAT MAJOR CORRIDOR OR THAT PART OF THE COUNTY?
>> THAT'S CLEARLY ANOTHER WAY TO GET TO THE PORT.
SO ORIENTING BUSINESSES, THE ISLE OF WIGHT, SOME 460 AND OTHER BUSINESS PARK.
THEY'RE MORE OF ORIENTING BUSINESSES AT THE PORT.
THAT'S 58, HAS A LOT OF STRENGTHS, BUT YOU DO HAVE THE BOTTLENECK THAT CENTER POINT.
THOSE DEVELOPED WITH ALL THE WAREHOUSES, SO ORIENTING PEOPLE TO 460 IS ANOTHER AVENUE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
I LOOK AT THE PARCELS ARE NO, NOT REALLY SEE ANYTHING THAT STANDS OUT THAT'S NOT BEING DONE PROPERLY, BUT PLANNING PEOPLE, IT'S A MATTER OF ORIENTING BUSINESSES TO THE ADAPT, BUT I DEFINITELY SEE THAT AS ANOTHER WAY TO GET TO THE PORT AND BUSINESSES THAT USED THE PORT.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG STORY IN THE COUNTRY, RIGHT? THAT YOU CAN'T SHIP THINGS.
YOU GOT ALL THE SHIPS OUT IN THE OCEAN, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THEM HERE, SO IT'S LIKE THERE'LL BE MORE TRAFFIC PROBABLY COMING INTO PORT OF VIRGINIA AND THEY'RE ALREADY TELLING US THAT THAT THEY'RE GETTING TRAFFIC FROM OTHER PORTS, BECAUSE THEY WOULD RATHER ONLOAD HERE THAN SIT IN THE OCEAN.
I SEE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL WANT TO WORK OUT A LITTLE MORE ON THAT PORT AS WELL.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR CAN YOU GO BACK AND REVIEW HOW COMPLIANT AND THEY SHOWED THAT WE ENTER ENOUGH AREAS, I GUESS FOR FUTURE.
THESE SO CALLED ZONES OR AREAS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
HOW ABOUT IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT TONIGHT? ALSO IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND REVIEW.
I'M SURE MS. LEWIS, HAS SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT THAT CONCERN THAT'S ONE REASON TO OPEN THIS MEETING THAT SOME TITLE WE NEED TO CONSIDER AS WE MOVE FORWARD FOR AN UPDATE.
>> YES, CERTAINLY A PLACE FOR THAT CAME OUT.
MS. LEWIS SAID THE SAME THING.
THE INDUSTRIAL LANDS, WE HAVE TO KEEP THE INDUSTRIAL LANDS THAT WE HAVE.
THOSE ARE THE MAIN MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND RAIL ACCESS ARE THE KEY COMPONENTS THERE.
BUT TO HAVE A SPACE FOR SMALL OFFICE, RETAIL SERVICE TYPE BUSINESSES TO LOCATE IN THAT PORT OR I THINK IT WOULD BE WELCOMED BY US AND ALSO IF YOU'RE SEEING THAT HOME OCCUPATION AND A PLACE FOR THAT.
WE DON'T SEE THAT IN FRANKLIN OR SOUTHAMPTON, WE BORROW OFFICE BUILDING.
THERE REALLY ISN'T A GOOD OFFICE PLACE.
THAT WOULD BE WELCOME HERE IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE BECAUSE THAT'S A CONCERN.
WE DO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT BASICALLY COMING FROM THE EAST THROUGH SOFTWARE AND NETWORK HAVE THE NEXT PLACE AFTER [NOISE] HEATS UP, IT GETS BUILT OUT AND THE PRICES GET TOO HIGH THERE, SO IT'S LIKE POOR BUSINESS AND LOGISTICS AND ALL OF THAT ARE BIG BUSINESSES DAYS AND THESE WAREHOUSES JUST GET BIGGER AND BIGGER.
IT'S LIKE HAVING SPOTS FOR THOSE BUSINESSES, JUST IS GOOD BUSINESS.
THAT SEEMS TO BE JUST GROWING IT.
>> HOW ABOUT THE WESTERN PORT? WITH THE 95 PORT UP IN THE PORT.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN UP TO THE AIRPORT THERE, BUT ARE WE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO CAPITALIZE THAT CHORD? I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE 58 ROADWAY LISTED AS INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE VERY LONG. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S POSSIBLE. WE DO MARKET THE PARKS IN SOUTHAMPTON AS
[00:35:02]
95 AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ATTRACTIONS THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO 95 IS RIGHT NOW WAS THE PORT, NOT JUST ONE OR THE OTHER.THAT'S CERTAINLY FOREIGN AND IF ANY OTHER PORT GOES THROUGH ALL THE STATES.
OF THE [INAUDIBLE] BEYOND OR THE PORTS MARKET INTO THOSE MARKETS.
SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITY THERE AS WELL, AND HAVING THE 95 AT LEAST DOWN HERE, THE TRAFFIC FLOWS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
IT'S JUST GETTING THE TERMS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
IT'S ATTRACTIVE AREA BECAUSE IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME YOU CAN GO NORTH, SOUTH, EAST OR WEST.
THAT'S REALLY VALUABLE. THE COMPETENCE.
>> IT'S PORT 77, IS THAT CORRECT? DID BATTLEFIELD BOULEVARD EXTENSION TO 64? IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S THE POTENTIAL AS 77 [INAUDIBLE]
>> EIGHTY SEVEN [OVERLAPPING].
THAT'S GOING TO BE A DIRECT ROUTE TO RALEIGH HUB, CORRECT? HE ENVISIONED THAT HURT AND I'LL BE AN ASSET TO KNOW.
WOULD THAT BE A GREAT DIVERSION, FROM OUR AREA?
>> IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WASN'T A TRANSPORTATION PLANNING SEMINAR SINCE I WAS HERE AND IT'S LIKE THE RALEIGH ROUTES ACTUALLY LONGER BY 27 MILES, THE CURRENT ROUTE.
SO IT DOESN'T LEAST AT THE MOMENT SEEM TO BE THE LONG WAY IN THE FUTURE TO HIM AND THEY GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO BEFORE IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
IT'S LIKE I LEFT OFF 87 NEW YORK.
THERE'S ONE OF THAT WAS THERE.
THEY RECYCLED THE NUMBERS AND IT'S THE SAME, [LAUGHTER] IT'S A DIFFERENT ROW, BUT IT'S THE SAME NUMBER, BUT HE HAS IT RIGHT NOW IT DOES, 58 GETS ABOUT 4,000 TRUCKS A DAY, 460 GETS 2,800 AND 3,000.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF TRUCK TRAFFIC AND THAT TRUCK TRAFFIC'S GROWING AS NEW THINGS COME OUT LOUD.
BUT I WAS SURPRISED HOW THEY SAID EVEN WITH THE FASTER SPEEDS, THE TRUCKS WEREN'T GOING TO BE INCORPORATED AT ALL WITH THE INTERSTATE.
IT'S MORE AMERICAN PASSENGER CAR TRAFFIC OFF TO GO DOWN THERE, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS IN THE FUTURE.
>> WELL, HAVING HIGHWAY 58 IS SOMETIMES ALMOST BUMPER TO BUMPER CONTAINERS, ALMOST THINK WE NEED A DUTY FREE ZONE WHERE THEY CAN PARK SOME OF THOSE CONTAINERS SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTY AND CHARGE FOR OUR SPACE BEING A DUTY FREE ZONE.
BECAUSE I'M SURE 58 AND 460 IS PROBABLY THE SAME WAY.
BUT THE CONTAINERS THAT ARE UP AND DOWN THAT HIGHWAY, OR IT'S AMAZING.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF BIG WAREHOUSES.
SO IT'S LIKE THEY JUST GO FROM THE PORT TO THERE.
THEY GO BEYOND [INAUDIBLE] OR THEY GO TOWARD SOUTH HILL, TOWARD 85, GOING WEST.
SO IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT PATTERN.
I GUESS 87 WILL NOT BE A FACTOR BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING ACROSS THE STATE.
>> EIGHTY SEVEN, PROBABLY THE BIGGEST FACTOR WOULD BE ON 95 WAY SOUTH TO GET DENIED, THEY COULD INTERSECT 95 FURTHER SOUTH AND THEY DO IT WE'RE NOT COMING ACROSS THE STATES TO THAT EXTENT WE'RE GOING OVER TRAFFIC ON 58.
BUT THROUGH TRAFFIC THAT'S [INAUDIBLE] .
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS?
>> IS THERE, THE INTERNET BROADBAND GRANT FUNDS? I KNOW YOU CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF GRANT APPLICATION OR I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE STATUS OF THAT IS.
WHAT IS YOUR HOPE? IS IT THERE'S ANY PUBLIC INFORMATION AVAILABLE REGARDING TO BRINGING BROADBAND TO COUNTY RESIDENTS?
>> NOT SURE. I MEAN ACTUALLY WAS HERE ACTUALLY COVERED.
THIS WAS THE SPHERE AND THAT DOES A REALLY GREAT JOB ON THAT [NOISE] SO THAT BROADBAND APPLICATION WENT IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER.
THERE WAS A JOINT APPLICATION WITH SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, [INAUDIBLE] AND SO THE SOFTWARE FOR THE UNDERSERVED AREAS AND THOSE THREE VOICES SO THAT, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HEAR IN DECEMBER WHETHER THAT GETS FUNDED OR NOT.
[00:40:01]
THE ONE POT IS ALREADY EXISTS.THE NEXT POT IS ABOUT 3800 PASSINGS WITH A GONG, A PASSING BEING A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER, WHETHER IT'S A HOUSE SO FAR OR BUSINESS OR WHATEVER.
THEN THE SECOND MONEY WOULD DO THE REST WHICH IS ABOUT 1700 ADDITIONAL AND THAT'S WHAT WAS APPLIED FOR IN SEPTEMBER.
IF THAT GETS FUNDED AND WE'RE HOPEFUL, I GUESS THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD A LOT OF MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT WENT INTO THIS.
THERE'S A LOT MORE MONEY AVAILABLE THAN THERE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.
THEN CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS THEY'LL BUILD OUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM AT ONCE.
ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY SAID AT THE SUPERVISORS, THEY GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO SERVE AS EVERYBODY IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THAT'S NOT GETTING SOURCED.
>> I'M SORRY, THAT EVERYONE WILL GET IT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] THEY HAVE LIKE 97 PERCENT, BUT THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD SERVE WHAT WAS LEFT.
>> THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE PROVED PUTTING A MILLION DOLLARS OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY AS PART OF THE MATCH THAT WAS REQUIRED FOR THE GRANT?
>> YEAH, IT'S LIKE 9 MILLION THE WHOLE.
THE GRANT APPLICATIONS, IT'S A LOT OF EFFORT BUT FOR CHARTER IS SUPPOSED TO DO A WALK OUT.
IF THEY HAVE AN ALREADY OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD OUT THE SYSTEM, BECAUSE SOME PLACES DON'T WORK FROM THE NODES THAT ALREADY EXIST, OTHERS STILL BUILD SOMETHING NEW.
THAT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ONCE IT GETS THERE, BUT THE RESULT TO [INAUDIBLE] IN DECEMBER AND WE'LL WORK THE ANNUAL ASSUMPTION THAT TEAM, THE GOVERNOR WILL BE GONE IN JANUARY HE'S GOING TO WANT TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN DECEMBER.
WE'RE OPEN, THEY STICK TO THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO IN DECEMBER.
>> AREAS THAT DO NOT HAVE SALES SERVICE IS THAT TAKE A PRIORITY? LIKE FEW IN THAT TRIANGLE, OF AREA THE DAYS ON, DOES THAT GET A PRIORITY [INAUDIBLE]?
>> SALES IS ANOTHER ISSUE WE'LL [LAUGHTER] CONTINUE TO WORKING.
IT'S NOW PART OF THE BROADBAND AND ALSO PEOPLE WANT TO PAY FOR BROADBAND.
WE'VE GOTTEN THAT QUESTION A FEW TIMES OR THE NEW SERVICES THEY'RE GOING TO BE CAUGHT UP, SO WE'LL HAVE TO PAY WHENEVER SPECTRUM CHARGES FOR THOSE SERVICES.
>> WILL SPECTRUM BE [NOISE] PARTNERING OR IN ANY FASHION WITH THE ELECTRIC COMPANIES BECAUSE I THINK PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY DID THEIR BROADBAND THROUGH THE ELECTRIC COLOR.
>> YEAH THEY ARE NOT, THAT CAME UP BUT REALLY LATE IN THE PROCESS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE CHARGED.
IN THIS CASE, THEY HAD WHOLE SYSTEM IN THREE COUNTIES SO THAT MADE SENSE TO WORK WITH THEM.
>> IS THAT TO RUN FIBER TO THE HOME OR IS THIS TO PROVIDE WIRELESS COVERAGE TO THE HOME?
>> EVERYTHING IN THE GRANTS HAS TO BE WIRED.
>> HAS TO BE [OVERLAPPING] WIRED?
THERE'S GOING TO BE [OVERLAPPING] YEAH, HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF CABLE.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE SOME TASK TO CABLE THE ENTIRE COUNTY. IT'LL BE WONDERFUL.
I KNOW IN OUR AREA, OUR UNDERGROUND TELEPHONE CABLE IS A TERRAIN VERY RAPIDLY AND WE JUST HAD ANOTHER EPISODE THIS PAST WEEK, THAT WE [INAUDIBLE] AND IS VERY IMPORTANT, THIS TIME A YEAR WITH A HARVEST OF DEFAMATION COMING BACK AND FOR THE CROSS MEANS MARKETED.
BUT THE UNDERGROUND IS DETERIORATING AND I LIKE SAID, OUR SELF-SERVICE IS VERY POOR.
WE JUST HAD A UNIQUE AREA OF THAT TRIANGLE THAT VARY WITH TIME AT A DEAD ZONE.
BE VERY WELCOMED TO HAVE BROADBAND HAD INTERNET SERVICE AS WELL AS THE OTHER COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS OR TAILS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK WE WILL FOLLOW IN AND THAT WILL HAPPEN TO THAT TOO.
>> THAT SIGN IS VERY ENCOURAGING.
I HAD GOOD NEWS TO, MY WIFE AND I GET HOME TONIGHT.
WE'LL KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED.
WE APPRECIATE YOU MR. [INAUDIBLE] ON THAT EFFORT. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN.
>> I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PROJECT.
YES. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY MORE QUESTIONS?
>> WELL, [INAUDIBLE] AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.
WE WELCOME YOU TO THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR STAY AND WITH US
[00:45:03]
AT THIS TIME AND WE MAY BE BACK IN TOUCH AGAIN WITH YOU.>> I'M SURE YOU WILL BE, IT SOUNDS ANYHOW REQUIRE ALL OVER AND OVER AGAIN [INAUDIBLE].
I TOLD THEM NOT ABOLISH SNOW TOWERS.
>> WERE OUT MY LAST SET, YOUR TWO GIRLS WHO DIDN'T BUY ANYONE.
>> AGAIN, WE THANK YOU BEING HERE.
[V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
I DON'T KNOW WITH THAT WHICH IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS DISCUSSION, THAT DETAILS SCALE SOLAR AMENDMENTS.I KNOW MS. LEWIS INCLUDED SERVABLE ITEMS OF INTERESTS IN OUR PACKETS.
IF YOU RECALL THE LAST MEETING, THERE WAS A LAW MONITORIAL PLACE IN EFFECT FOR ANY APPLICATIONS.
IT IS TIRED, TOO WEAK IT AS ORDINATES RIGHT AND GET IT SENT TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU DEVOTE.
THAT BEEN SAID, MS. LEWIS, I THINK WE MAY HAVE A GUEST HERE TONIGHT?
>> YES. YOU DO. LAST MONTH MR. FOSTER WAS HERE.
>> HE WORKED WITH CAROLINE COUNTY IN THE CREATION OF THEIR ORDINANCE, WHICH YOU HAVE.
>> YOU HAVE CAROLINE COUNTY'S ORDINATES.
YOU ALSO HAVE SOME WORK THAT GREENSVILLE COUNTY DID RECENTLY, THEY UPDATED THEIR ORDINATES AND MR. FOSTER IS HERE, AND HE'D BE GLAD TO TALK TO YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME BACK.
>> THANK YOU SIR. BETH AND I HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION LAST WEEK.
TALKED ABOUT SCOPING AND HOW WE MIGHT START A DIALOGUE THAT LEAD TO REALLY GOOD ORDINANCE FOR YOU ALL.
WHAT I STARTED DOING IS LOOKING AT YOUR ORDINANCE, LOOKING INTO OTHER ORDINANCES AND I REALIZED THAT I NEED TO HEAR MORE FROM YOU ALL BEFORE I START CURBING ON AN ORDINANCE AND MAKING SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS.
BECAUSE I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, I'M JUST A [INAUDIBLE] ATTORNEY.
I'M IN CHARGE OF GETTING THESE PERMITS.
I'M NOT THE PERSON WHO WOULDN'T DO SIZE SELECTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO AND THEN FROM A LOCAL GOVERNOR PERSPECTIVE I THINK, I'M ACTUALLY THE LAST TIME I SPENT EIGHT YEARS ON CITY COUNCIL IN WILLIAMSBURG.
I CAN APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING FROM A CONFERENCE OF PLANNING PERSPECTIVE.
I'VE GOT A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR VISION FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COUNTY.
LEARNED A LOT BY DOING MY OWN RESEARCH IN ATTAINING THIS LAST MEETING AND THE GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE JUST BEFORE.
BUT WHAT I HOPE TONIGHT WE CAN DO IS START IT OUT AROUND SOME THEMES THAT I'VE SEEN AND THEN OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO MS. LEWIS AND I CAN WORK ON AN UPDATE TO YOUR EXISTING WORDS AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.
BUT PULLING PROVISIONS, PULLING IDEAS AND CONCEPTS FROM OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE WORKED WELL AND BOLTING THEM ON TO THE FRAMEWORK THAT YOUR EXISTING ORDINATES HAS BECAUSE ALL AND ALL YOUR EXISTING ORDINANCE IS BETTER THAN MOST JURISDICTIONS.
HEY, IT'S FAIR, IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
YOU GET A LOT OF PROTECTIONS ALREADY BUILT IN THERE AND THEN THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH HERE, THAT YOU COULD ADD THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE TYPE OF PROTECTION I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
THAT'S MY GOAL IN THIS CONVERSATION IS, HEARING FROM YOU ALL, WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO CONTROL FOR AND WE CAN TRY TO FIT THAT IN THERE IN A WAY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
SOME THEMES HERE, AND THIS IS SOMEWHAT FROM BETH'S MEMO, BUT JUST FROM OUR CONVERSATION LAST TIME, YOU ALL ARE CONCERNED TO IMPACT AGRICULTURAL LANDS, PROTECTION OF GROWTH AREAS IN CONCERN OF OPPORTUNITY COST.
WHAT ARE YOU FORGOING [INAUDIBLE] PRESUMABLY TO LOCATE IN A GIVEN AREA NEAR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S COMING FROM THE EAST AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME IMPORTANT INTERESTS CORE DOORS THAT ARE VALUABLE FOR OTHER INDUSTRIAL TYPE DEVELOPMENTS.
YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT DECOMMISSIONING, WHICH YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THAT.
ALSO, VISUAL IMPACT IS SOMETHING THAT I SAW IN YOUR AUDIENCE THAT I THINK YOU DO PROBABLY DO A BIT MORE, BE A BIT MORE PRESCRIPTIVE IN BUILDING SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE I THINK WE WOULD HELP YOU AND WOULD RESULT IN REALLY WELL-DESIGNED AND WELL IMPLEMENTED FACILITIES.
JUST FOR MY EDIFICATION, DO YOU FEEL FEEL LIKE THAT'S A GOOD SUMMARY OF YOUR CONCERNS. AM I MISSING ANYTHING?
[00:50:06]
>> THE MAIN THING WE DON'T WANT TO DISRUPT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE DON'T WANT TO DISRUPT THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY.
AGRICULTURE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNTY.
>> AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, AND IT'S JUST AGAIN IS COMING FROM ME.
I DON'T CARE WHAT PART OF THE COUNTY.
I'M ACTUALLY GETTING READY PUT ANOTHER PHASE, OF MY THREE-PHASE CURRENT ON MY FARM, THAT'S IN THE PRELIMINARIES RIGHT NOW, SO I USE ELECTRICITY.
BUT AT THE SAME POINT, THERE'S A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SEE HOW SOLAR TAKING UP THE LAND COMPLIMENTS AGRICULTURE, THERE'S A DIRECT CONTRAST AS SOLAR DEVELOPS ON THE PRIME FARMLAND THAT'S TAKING AWAY FROM AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.
I READ THE DESCRIPTION IN THE NOTES THAT WAS SENT OUT, IT GOES SO MUCH FURTHER THOUGH.
I APPRECIATE THE NUMBERS YOU SUBMITTED, BUT I THINK ABOUT THE BENEFIT THAT THE FARMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH AND I THINK YOU CAN GO TO ANY BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY.
I'M JUST GOING TO PICK WHO'S RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNTY, NOT WHEN I SAW THE COUNTY, HOW DIRECTLY THEY WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE POTENTIAL, THE BENEFITS, IT'S BY NOT THEN BEEN IN EXISTENCE.
IT'S NOT JUST THE SEED IN THE FARMLAND, IT COULD BE MR. RANDOM'S OFFICE.
>> OR INSURANCE OR ANYBODY'S [OVERLAPPING].
>> EXACTLY. IT'S ALL OF THE BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY THAT'S UNTOUCHED BY THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN.
THAT IS A HUGE INTEREST TO ME IN COURSES LISTED AS ONE OF THOSE CONCERNS AND ARE STILL A LOT OF EMPHASIS THAT THE NATURE OF THE FARMER COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED.
WE HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE ALREADY FROM DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER ISSUES LIKE THE INDUSTRIAL TYPE OR RESIDENTIAL.
WE'VE SEEM TO MANAGE THAT IN BEING A LIMITED ACREAGE PER BASIS, WE HAD AN ANALYSIS FOR THIS YEAR.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF LIKE THE PROJECT IN [INAUDIBLE] THINGS THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 1400 ACRES AT ONE DROP, THAT TAKES A LOT, IT AFFECTS A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT'S A SOCIAL IMPACT, IT'S A FISCAL IMPACT, IT'S AN ECONOMIC IMPACT.
>> RIGHT. THAT ONE WAS PRIMARILY OWNED ACTIVELY FARMLAND.
>> HOW LONG HAS YOUR OFFICE BEEN IN EFFECT?
>> HOW LONG IS YOUR OFFICE THAT WE HAVE HERE?
>> THE CAROLINE ORDINANCE, THAT ONE, THEY ADOPTED BACK THIS SPRING, EARLY SUMMER AND SINCE THEN THERE'S BEEN 28, JUST A LINE OF SOLAR APPLICANTS, OPERATING WITHIN THIS ONE.
THEY HAVE YET TO APPROVE A PROJECT BECAUSE THOSE APPLICATIONS WERE MADE, BUT THEY'VE COME TO FRUITION.
IT WILL START HAPPENING WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PRETTY THOROUGH.
>> SO YOU HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TO SEE WHAT THE EFFECTIVE IS.
>> WE HAVE ONE PROJECT WHERE WE'RE THE APPLICANT AND SEVERAL THAT WE'VE TAPPED ON.
THE REALLY NICE THING ABOUT HAVING AN ORDINANCE THAT THOROUGH IS, YOUR CONDITIONS CAN BE PRETTY LIGHT BECAUSE IF YOU USE PERMIT CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE IS SO COMPREHENSIVE, IT SPEAKS TO SO MANY ASPECTS OF THE FACILITY AND IT'S RATHER PRESCRIPTIVE IN ITS DESIGN.
>> WHERE DID YOU COME UP WITH BETTER INFORMATION FOR THIS? [OVERLAPPING] WE WERE LUCKY IN THAT THE CAROLINE PLANNING DIRECTOR REACHED OUT TO US AND WE KNEW WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH APPLICATIONS AND THAT ORDINANCE WAS REALLY DEVELOPED KIND OF THROUGH CONSENSUS NEGOTIATION OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS.
REALLY, THE WORK PRODUCT IS THE COUNTY'S AND THEN THE INDUSTRY CAME IN AND OFFERED OUR INPUT AND THAT'S THE RESULTS THAT YOU'VE SEEN THERE.
[00:55:03]
I'LL TALK A LITTLE ABOUT IT. I'VE GOT SOME THOUGHTS ON THE CAROLINE ORDINANCE.>> YEAH, THAT'S THE BEGINNING.
>> I'VE GOT SOME THOUGHTS ON THE CAROLINE ORDINANCE AND WHAT PARTS MIGHT APPLY TO SOUTHAMPTON AND WHAT PARTS MAY NOT.
>> THE IMPETUS FOR DEVELOPING THIS PROBLEMS THAT YOUR STARTING TO EXPERIENCE?
>> WELL, IT WAS JUST AN INTEREST.
IT WAS REALLY AN INTEREST IN CAROLINE COUNTY IN THE SOLAR COMMUNITY, BUT THAT ORDINANCE DOES REFLECT A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED AND ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP.
IT'S ALL AROUND BECAUSE THEY WERE LATE TO THE GAME.
A LOT OF THESE SOUTHSIDE COUNTIES HAD PROJECTS FOR A WHILE.
THEY HAD NOT HAD A LOT OF INTEREST UP UNTIL THE CLEAN COUNTY ACT PASSED, AND THEN THEY TOOK ON THE WITNESS ADOPTION PROCESS.
>> I'VE READ THIS A COUPLE TIMES AND I MUST ADMIT, THEY COVERED SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT, I THINK, WE PROBABLY HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION COULD TAKE THIS AND TAKE IT THROUGH A STEP AT A TIME AND TWEAK THOSE AREAS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN LEAVE IN OR LEAVE OUT OR ADD TO TO FOR OUR SPECIFIC COUNTY.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING WITH YOUR EXISTING ORDINANCE, YOU COULD GO THROUGH AN ORDINANCE LIKE CAROLINE AND PULL CONCEPTS IN AND DROP IT INTO YOUR EXISTING FORM, YOU'D BE WELL-SERVED IN DOING IT.
>> IN THE PAST, WE USUALLY BENEFITED FROM PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED EAST OF US.
[LAUGHTER] THE COUNTIES EAST OF US HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
THIS IS VERY THOROUGH, AND I THINK A VERY GOOD START FOR IT.
>> WE'RE PROUD OF IT BECAUSE IT WAS A CONSENSUS-DRIVEN DOCUMENT AND THEN INDUSTRY HAD A HEAVY HAND IN MAKING SURE THAT IT WORKED IN THE REALITIES OF SOLAR DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE REFLECTING THE ORDINANCE.
>> YEAH. I LOOKED AT MY PACKET ABOUT 15 TIMES AROUND ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THIS IN MINE.
BUT I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT A LOT OF ORDINANCES. JUST TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED, I WILL GIVE YOU MY TAKE.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM MR. GREG.
IS THE CONSENSUS OF FOLKS THAT COME BEFORE US AND SPEAK FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IS WE WANT TO SAVE ALL THE PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND.
THEN IF IT HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF AGRICULTURAL LAND, A CUT-OVER OR SOMEWHERE NOT IN DIRECT VIEW, AND A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE USED GATES COUNTY.
I GUESS BLIGHT WOULD BE A STRONG WORD, BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN USED, THAT HAS TAKEN PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND OUT OF PRODUCTION AND THEN PUTTING SOLAR FARMS THERE, WHICH DON'T LOOK VERY GOOD.
THEN THEY GET ALL THE TAX BREAKS AND IT DOESN'T BENEFIT THE LOCALITY, AND THEN YOU'RE STUCK WITH IT FOR A LONG TIME.
IN OUR SOLAR DISCUSSION FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IS WE GO FROM THAT AND WE START GOING SOMEWHERE PRODUCTIVE AND THEN WE JUMP, AND THIS IS A BUSINESS.
WELL, LET'S PUT THEM ON SCHOOLS.
LET'S PUT THEM ON ROOFTOPS OR WHATEVER.
FROM EVERYTHING THAT I READ IT'S NOT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DOING THIS TO MAKE MONEY.
>> IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT PRODUCT.
[OVERLAPPING] IT JUST LIKE A FILLER AND I CHECK OUT, THAT'S JUST ME.
I'M TRYING TO GET THAT TRANSITION OF HOW WE CAN PROTECT AGRICULTURAL FARMLAND AND MAKE THAT DISTINCTION AND PUT IT IN A VERY CONCISE AND CLEAR WAY, BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO AMORPHOUS AND I'M NOT A FARMER, SO I LEAN ON MR. DRAKE HERE, OF HOW WE DO THAT ECONOMIC BALANCING ACT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
[BACKGROUND] THEN PUTTING THAT INTO AN ORDINATES THAT WILL BE SOME APPLICATION THAT'S ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, DOES THAT MAKES SENSE?
>> IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THIS FURTHER THAT YOU HAVE, I THINK THAT ADDRESSES THAT AT ALL FOR THAT CONCERN.
[01:00:01]
>> IT'S VERY THOROUGH. I HAVE GONE THROUGH IT, TWO OR THREE TIMES AND I'LL TELL YOU, IT BROUGHT UP A LOT OF POINTS I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT.
[OVERLAPPING] HAVE YOU GOT THE RIGHT ONE?
>> HE GOT IT BY EMAIL. I SENT [OVERLAPPING] IT VIA EMAIL.
>> IT'S 25 PAGES. LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHT WENT INTO THIS.
I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE INTENSITY AND THE COMPLETENESS OF THIS ORDINATES.
>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT OF THE THEMES THAT ARE IN THERE, BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE JUST COVERED.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THEMES THAT ARE IN CAROLINE, I THINK IT CAN HELP YOU ALL.
IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME GUARD RAILS, A ON SOLAR PROLIFERATION AND THEN B ON PROTECTING FARMLAND.
THE METHODS PEOPLE HAVE USED TO PUT UP THOSE GUARD RAILS, JUST BEYOND CAROLINE'S INDUSTRY-WIDE OR THE OVERLAY DISTRICT, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN DETAIL.
THAT'S IN CAROLINE WHERE YOU ESSENTIALLY CREATE AN OVERLAY SURROUNDING TRANSMISSION LINES.
THE SOLAR ORDINATES OVERLAYS THE UNDERLYING ZONING IN A PLUS OF THE PARCELS WITHIN THAT DISTRICT.
SOME JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING CAROLINE, HAVE ADOPTED A TOTAL ACREAGE CAP IN THE JURISDICTION, SO THE TOTAL AREA UNDER PANEL IN THE JURISDICTION, THAT PROVIDES SOME BACKSTOP FOR YOU ALL TO SAY, WE THINK WE CAN HANDLE X ACRES OF SOLAR AND STILL KEEP AN ADEQUATE BALANCE.
IN THE JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE DONE THAT, I THINK THEY FEEL THEY'RE THERE IN SOME CONTROL.
ALSO, SOME JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE IT ON A TOTAL MEGAWATT CAP, WHICH IS JUST A DIFFERENT WAY OF CALCULATING THE ACREAGE GAP, JUST DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.
IN CAROLINE PARTICULAR, THERE'S A PROJECTS SAS CAP OF 150 MEGAWATTS.
REASON THEY PICKED UP 150 IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT THAT CAN BE BUILT AND STILL GO THROUGH THE PERMANENT [INAUDIBLE] PROCESS ADMINISTERED BY THE EQ AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION PERMANENT PROCESS FOR A SOLAR FACILITY.
I DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE THIS, LIKE A PROJECT SAS CAP BECAUSE YOU CAN DESIGN A TWO OR 300 MEGAWATT PROJECT VERY WELL.
IT FUNCTIONS JUST LIKE AS IF YOU WOULD HAVE APPROVED TWO OR THREE SMALLER PROJECTS.
THE UNDER PANELS, NO MATTER THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT.
ONE OF THE THINGS TO KNOW, YOUR PROJECT HERE, THAT'S REALLY IN A FAIRLY DENSE AREA.
ALL THOSE PARTIAL IN THE JOINING, BUT THEY'RE PRETTY CLOSE.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE THE KEVIN POINT PROJECT.
THEY GOT APPROVED UP IN SUSSEX.
THAT'S ONE BIG BLOCK LANE THAT'S ALL SOLD.
A LOT OF PROJECTS WE'RE SEEING NOW ARE IT'LL BE 150 MEGAWATTS, BUT IT'S SPREAD OUT OVER 250 ACRES HERE, 250 ACRES THERE.
SITES THAT CAN'T BE SEEN FROM EACH OTHER AND SOMETIMES MAYBE HAVE A MILE OR 3/4 OF A MILE BETWEEN EACH NODE.
THAT'S ALL GOOD. [NOISE] IT'S A LONG-WINDED WAY OF SAYING THAT THE PROJECT SAS CAP IS A BLUNT TOOL.
I THINK THAT ONE CAN ACTUALLY END UP DOING MORE HARM THAN GOOD FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED BECAUSE YOU COULD APPROVE A LARGER PROJECT ALL AT ONCE, CAPTURE THAT REALLY GOOD REVENUE AND IT'S THE FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENT OF A PROVEN SEVERAL SMALLER PROJECT.
THEN SOME COUNTIES HAVE DEBATED A MINIMUM PROJECT SIZE, BUT THEY STILL PERMIT THE SMALL FIVE MEGAWATT AND BELOW PROJECTS THAT YOU CAN REALLY HARD AND THE WOODLOT THAT MAY TAKE UP 35 OR 40 ACRES.
OF THOSE GUARD RAILS FOR PROLIFERATION AND CURRENT CAPACITY PURPOSES I THINK ONE OF YOUR BETTER TOOLS WOULD BE AN ACREAGE OR MEGAWATT TYPE OF CAP.
THAT WAY YOU'VE GOT A BACKSTOP FOR WHAT DID YOU ALL FEEL COMFORTABLE ENTERTAINING FOR A GIVEN PERIOD OF TIME.
TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE OVERLAY DISTRICT AND WHY THAT WORKS SO WELL IN CAROLINE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW AT THE END OF THE ORDINANCE, IF YOU PULL IT OFFLINE, THEY'VE GOT A MAP OF THE WAY THEIR TRANSMISSION LINES INTERSECT.
THEY OVERLAP IN A PORTION OF THE COUNTY THAT THEY WERE RELATIVELY OKAY WITH TURNING INTO SOLAR.
IT WAS NOT AN AREA WHERE THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY WOULD BE OFFSETTING BY APPROVING SOLAR IN THAT AREA.
IT'S ALSO BECAUSE THE WAY THE LINES OVERLAPPED, IT PROVIDED A FAIRLY NICE BLOCK THAT WAS OPEN FOR DEVELOPMENT.
[01:05:01]
THE REASON I DON'T THINK A OVERLAY DISTRICT WILL WORK FOR YOU ALL IS BECAUSE YOUR 500 KV LINE PARALLELS 460.THAT'S PROBABLY, I'M GOING TO ASSUME SOME OF YOUR MORE VALUABLE FUTURE INDUSTRIAL HIGHEST AND BEST USE TYPE AREA.
I THINK THAT'S A 230 KV LINE, IT'S RUNNING SOUTH WEST AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COUNTY.
THAT TOO, BASED ON YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS, SEEMS LIKE AN AREA THAT YOU ALL HAVE TARGET FOR GROWTH AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF WHAT YOU PROBABLY GROWTH AREA BOUNDARIES OR THE INTEGRATED COMMUNITIES ALONG THAT LINE.
IF YOU BOX IN, LET'S SAY A MILE OR TWO MILES AROUND THOSE, YOU'RE RUNNING COUNTER TO YOUR OTHER STATED ECONOMIC GOALS.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T THINK AN OVERLAY IS THE BEST FIT FOR SOUTHAMPTON.
BUT THROUGH THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT PROCESS, YOU-ALL CAN MAKE A JUDGMENT CALL BASED ON AN INDEPENDENT APPLICATION AND SAY, HEY, YES, THIS TOUCHES ONE OF THOSE TWO TRANSMISSION LINES, BUT IT REALLY SAVES THE MORE DEVELOPABLE AREA FOR SOME OTHER USE.
IT'S ARRANGED IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH SO MUCH WITH OUR OTHER STATED GOALS.
I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM THE OVERLAY IN THIS SITUATION JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOUR LIGHT OUT.
>> WHAT ABOUT AN ACREAGE MAXIMUM, LIKE A PERCENTAGE? WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND IN YOUR EXPERT OPINION? LIKE ONE PERCENT?
>> WELL, GIVEN YOUR COUNTY SIZE, OVERALL COUNTY ACREAGE, THAT STEP YOU'D HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
THEN THAT'S THE CARRYING CAPACITY THAT YOU-ALL WOULD WANT TO RETAIN.
THE MEGAWATT CAP, ACREAGE CAP, USUALLY WILL ALLOW FOR TWO OR THREE LARGE PROJECTS TO BE BUILT SO THAT DEVELOPERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS.
BUT WE CAN DISCUSS A SPECIFIC NUMBER, I REALLY WOULD.
FRANKLY, WE NEED AN INDUSTRY REP TO LOOK AT SOUTHAMPTON, ALL YOUR AREA THAT IS FLAT ENOUGH AND DRY ENOUGH TO PUT A SOLAR FACILITY ON AND THEN MAKE A CALL BASED ON THAT NUMBER.
>> ARE ALL COUNTIES LOOKING AT IT FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE?
>> I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK A LOT OF COUNTIES ARE SOMEWHAT PRESCRIPTIVE IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THEY'RE JUST DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT WHAT LAND IS AVAILABLE AND BACKING INTO IT THAT WAY.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY, JUST TICK OFF REGULATIONS AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY LOOKING AT IN A HOLISTIC SENSE.
BUT ALL THE GUARD RAILS, I THINK, IF YOU WANT SOME ASSURANCE, THAT ACREAGE OR THE MEGAWATT CAP WOULD BE THE WAY TO GO.
PROTECTING YOUR SENSITIVE GROWTH AREAS, BETH SHARED A MAP THAT SHOWED A NUMBER OF FACTORS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT [NOISE] THE HIGH VALUE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TYPE AREAS THAT YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED OF.
IF YOU-ALL PUT IN LIKE A HARD AND FAST, LET'S SAY, I THINK IT WAS A ONE MILE RADIUS OF CERTAIN.
AGAIN, THAT'S A BLOWN INSTRUMENT AND IT REALLY TAKES AWAY YOUR-ALL'S INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS TO SAY, HEY, THIS AREA OF THIS ONE PROJECT IS WITHIN ONE MILE, BUT IT'S ON OLD CUT OF A TIMBER.
IT'S NOT CLOSE TO ANYTHING THAT WE THINK IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED IN YOUR TOWNS.
IT'S OKAY TO PUT IN THOSE PARAMETERS, BUT SO LONG AS YOU PROVIDE FOR FLEXIBILITY WHERE THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE BOARD SUPERVISORS CAN LOOK AT AN INDEPENDENT PROJECT AND SAY, OKAY, AS TO X SOLAR, WE CHOOSE NOT TO APPLY THE ONE MILE BAND FROM THAT INDEPENDENT TOWN.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY YOU CAN BUILD IN, BUT STILL PUTTING IN THE LENS FOR YOU ALL TO LOOK THROUGH AND SAY, HEY, IS THIS A GOOD PROJECT OR IS IT NOT.
GO AHEAD AND SAY ONE MILE, BUT ALLOW FOR FLEXIBILITY AND VARIATION BASED ON INDEPENDENT PROJECT FEATURES.
>> THERE ARE VERY LIMITED AREAS IN THE COUNTY DATA SERVED BY WATER AND SEWER.
>> MAYBE YOU WOULD SAY IF IT IS SERVED OR CAN REASONABLY BE SERVED BY WATER AND SEWER, DON'T REALLY WANT TO USE IT FOR SOLAR INSTALLATION BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> CORRECT. [NOISE] I SAW SOME NOTES IN THERE TOO, VECTOR,
[01:10:03]
A-2 DISTRICT AND THAT SURROUNDS THOSE AREAS.ONE OF THE VISIONS FOR THE A-2 DISTRICT IS HELPING TO BUFFER RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN CENTRIC DEVELOPMENT FROM THE REALITIES OF FARM.
FRANKLY, I SEE SOLAR IS A USEFUL TOOL TO ALSO PLAY A ROLE IN THAT BUFFER BECAUSE SOLAR PANEL IS NOT GOING TO COMPLAIN WHEN YOU'RE SPRAYING OR MAKING NOISE, OR SPREADING LITTER, WHATEVER IT IS.
SOLAR CAN BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO FARMING IN WAYS THAT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT CAN'T.
I THINK THERE WAS MENTIONED OF NOT ALLOWING IT AT ALL IN A-2 WHEN IN REALITY, IT MIGHT HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS ON CERTAIN PARCELS IN A-2.
ALLOWING FOR THAT TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY IS A GOOD IDEA.
BETH ALSO CAME UP WITH A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE MAP, THIS IS THE SAME MAP THAT HAD THE BUBBLES AROUND IT INDEPENDENT TOWNS, REGARDING PROTECTION OF PRIME FARMLAND AND FARMLAND A STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE.
IF YOU-ALL NOTICED ON THAT MAP, ALL THE AREAS THAT WEREN'T PRIME FARMLAND, USUALLY SURROUNDED IN SOME BODY WATERS LONG.
THE AREAS THAT AREN'T PRIME FARMLAND ALSO ARE VERY LIKELY TO BE ON BILLABLE FROM A SOLAR PERSPECTIVE.
>> [NOISE] [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S A MAJOR INITIATIVE IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE THE PRIME FARMLAND.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTIES OR NEIGHBORING AREAS. GO AHEAD AND PROCEED.
>> [NOISE] MY THOUGHT ON THAT IS, WHEN IT COMES TO PRIME FARMLAND OR FARMLAND OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE, MAYBE HAVE A THRESHOLD WHERE THE PROJECT CAN CONSUME NO MORE THAN X PERCENT OF PRIME FARMLAND OR FARMLAND OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE THAT IS IN CURRENT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION BECAUSE IF YOU NOTICE, THERE'S A LOT OF LAND THAT IS DESIGNATED PRIME FARMLAND THAT'S PROBABLY BEEN IN PLENTY TIMES OR COMMERCIAL TIMBER IN ANYONE'S RECOLLECTION, REMEMBER.
THAT'S WORKED WELL IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, WOULD YOU NARROW THE PRIME FARMLAND DESIGNATION TO INACTIVE PRODUCTION? YOU'RE NOT TAKING LAND THAT IS CURRENTLY TILLED IN AN AGRICULTURAL.
YOU'RE SETTING A THRESHOLD FOR THE AMOUNT OF THAT LAND THAT CAN BE CONSUMED.
BUT IF IT'S NOT AN AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION, IT'S A DIFFERENT CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THAT MAP IS ALL ENCOMPASSING, AND IF IT'S IN PLANTED TOWNS, WE CAN PUT A SOLAR FACILITY THERE IN A REALLY EFFICIENT WAY.
FRANKLY, THAT'S THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT IN VIRGINIA AND MAPPING, AND THE TIMBER COMPANIES ARE PARTICIPATING WITH CELLULAR AND THEY'RE IN A LOT OF TIMES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ABSOLUTELY. A LOT OF TIMES OUR LAND OWNERS ARE TIMBER COMPANIES, BECAUSE, A, THEY CONTROL THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND AND THE REVENUE FOR ACRE RELATIVE TO PLENTY OF TIMES IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR THEM TO PUT A RESULT.
FARMLAND OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE THAT'S IN TIMBRE OR NOT CURRENT IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PROBABLY OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR CELLULAR DEVELOPMENT.
THE ANOTHER PARALLEL, AND YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW THIS, BUT THE LIFETIME OF PANEL PLANTATION WITH THINNING IS ABOUT 40 YEARS, [NOISE] WHICH IS THE SAME LIFETIME OF SOLAR FACILITY.
IN ESSENCE, IF YOU SAY YOU BUILD ON. [OVERLAPPING]
>> HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THOUGH? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE KNOW IT WILL SAY [OVERLAPPING].
>> HOW DO WE KNOW? YOU SAID 40, RIGHT?
>> WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW LONG THESE PANELS ARE EXPECTED TO LAST.
THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE PANELS IS THE HIGHEST AT THE BEGINNING AND IT WANES OVER TIME.
THEY SAY THAT A PRODUCTIVE LIFESPAN OF A PANEL IS 40 YEARS. NOW [OVERLAPPING].
>> THERE'S A LOT OF INCONSISTENCY IN RELATION TO THE RATIOS I'M DOING, IS IT RELATES TO THAT AND DECOMMISSIONING.
WHAT I'M READING, ESPECIALLY FROM CALIFORNIA.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NEW PANELS COMING ON THE MARKET TODAY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SURE AND THE TECHNOLOGIES [OVERLAPPING].
>> THERE'S A SHORTER WINDOW OF WHEN THOSE PANELS ARE GUARANTEED AND THEN THAT VARIES BY MANUFACTURER.
THAT'S LIKE THEY'RE GUARANTEED TO BE PRODUCTIVE FOR 20 YEARS, BUT THEY EXPECT THEM TO BE EXACTLY FROM THE ROOF ON YOUR HOUSE.
SAYS IT'S 25-YEAR ROOF BUT IT'LL PROBABLY LAST 40.
IN THE INDUSTRY, WE SAY IT'S SAFE TO EXPECT BEFORE YOUR TIME HORIZON.
NOW, IT'S ALSO SAFE TO EXPECT THAT AS PANEL EFFICIENCY INCREASES, IT WILL MAKE SENSE FINANCIALLY FOR PANELS TO BE RETOOLED.
SAY IN 15 YEARS, THE PANEL EFFICIENCIES INCREASE SO MUCH.
[01:15:01]
THEY CAN GO AND REPANEL THE ENTIRE PROJECT.YOU JUST [NOISE] RESTART THE CLOCK.
THAT IS A CONSIDERATION THAT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WILL BE BUILT, LIVE OUT THEIR LIFESPAN, AND BE DECOMMISSIONED.
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WILL LIKELY BE RETOLD AND THEIR LIFE WILL BE EXTENDED.
THIS IS, AGAIN, NOT AN ENGINEER.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK WHAT WE'LL PROBABLY SEE OVER THE NEXT 25 OR 30 YEARS, PANEL EFFICIENCY WERE INCREASED SUCH THAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP USING THE SAME AMOUNT OF LAND TO PRODUCE A WHOLE LOT MORE POWER.
OVER TIME, WE'RE GOING TO CONSUME A LOT LESS LAND IN SOLAR THAN YOU THINK YOU WILL.
BUT YEAH, ON THE PROTECTION PRIME FARMLAND SETTING, SOME THRESHOLD AND IN [INAUDIBLE] TO THE LAND IN ACTIVE PRODUCTION IS, I THINKS THAT A GOOD WAY TO GO [NOISE]. THE OTHER THINGS IN YOUR ORDINATES THAT I THINK WE COULD VOTE SOME STUFF ONTO THAT WOULD REALLY HELP GO.
DECOMMISSIONING. YOUR DECOMMISSIONING SECTION IS AS GOOD AS ANY JURISDICTION.
THERE ARE TWO SMALL THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT CONSIDER ADDING IS THAT, IN EVEN A PROJECT IS SOLD THAT THE CUP DOES NOT TRANSFER UNTIL PROVEN.
CHARITY HELD BY THE NEW OWNER IS GIVEN.
THAT'S OFTEN SOMETHING WE PUT IN CONDITIONS.
ALSO WE LEARNED THIS FROM LIKE THE OLD RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION CONTEXT.
MAINTAINING AND WATCHING BONDS AND MAKE SURE THEIR CURRENT AND PAID.
THAT'S A HEAVY LIFT FOR A LOT OF LOCALITIES, EVEN TODAY ON ALL NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BUILT IN THE 90S CHASING PEOPLE AROUND, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MADE THEIR INSTALLATION CLAIMS. WE'VE BUILT IN A HEALTHFUL PROVISION, SO THAT TAKES THE WORK OFF THE LOCALITY TO ENSURE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE KEPT UP.
IT'S AUTOMATIC NOSE TO THE JURISDICTION WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME IF IT HASN'T BEEN PAID SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN STEP IN IF NECESSARY IN A MINUTE, SOMEONE'S GOING TO DEFAULT ON A BOND.
DECOMMISSIONING IS A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE NOBODY'S REALLY DONE IT YET ON A LARGE SCALE.
THE BEST WE CAN DO IS PROVIDE STRONG FINANCIAL SECURITY TO ENSURE THAT IT GETS DONE.
WHAT WE OFTEN DO IS, LIBERALS ORDINANCE HAS SOME MENTION OF LANDOWNER IN THE CONTEXT OF DECOMMISSIONING, WHICH IS A CONCERN FOR US AS WELL.
BECAUSE IF THE SELLER COMPANY DEFAULT BEING THE LANDOWNERS FIRST IN LINE.
WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO, AND THIS IS OFTEN ADDED IN THE CONDITIONS IS ADD THE LANDOWNER AS AN ADDITIONAL INSURED IN THE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT.
IN THE EVENT THAT THE SOLAR COMPANY WERE TO DEFAULT, THE LANDOWNER WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT POLICY AND BE ABLE TO DO IT BEFORE THE COUNTY WAS FORCED TO STEP INTO IT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LANDOWNER IS PROTECTED AS WELL THAT'S SELLER COMPANY'S INTEREST.
THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME THERE WERE LOOKED LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO DOUBLE BONDING.
HAVE A BOND FOR THE LANDOWNER, HAVE A BOND FOR THE COMPANY.
WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT BY LIMIT IS AS AN ADDITIONAL INSURED.
VISUAL IMPACT. I BELIEVE I MENTIONED THIS BEFORE TO BUT HAVING BEEN IN SO MANY DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS, I'VE SEEN SOME PROJECTS BE BUILT AND WELL SCREENED AND OTHER ONES THAT AREN'T.
WHAT I THINK, I FEEL IS LIKE HIERARCHY OF VISUAL BUFFERING FOR CELLULAR.
YOUR HIGHEST-ORDER IS EXISTING TIMBER OR EXISTING VEGETATION THAT IS RETAINED AROUND THE PERIMETER OF A PROJECT THAT YOUR BEST AVAILABLE TO BUFFER AND STRAIN ARE PROJECTS FROM THE OUTSET.
THEN SECOND TO THAT, IF IT'S THE RIGHT AREA, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY WORK ON THE LAND HAS BEEN INACTIVE AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION, BUT IF IT'S A RECENT CUT OVER, THE SECOND IS LETTING A NATURAL REGENERATIVE BUFFER COME BACK.
THIS PART OF VIRGINIA, IF IT'S CUT OVER LAND AND YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD NOT TO GROW NEW TREE.
THERE'S A PROJECT IN NEW KENT NEAR THE ROCKY JACQUELINE NEW KENT THAT THEY JUST LET GO BACK UP AROUND THE EDGES.
YOU DRAW ARCHITECTURE WHERE IT IS TODAY, YOU DRIVE OUT EVEN DURING THE WINTERTIME, WOULDN'T KNOW SOLAR FARMS THERE.
POPLARS COME BACK SUPER QUICK.
AT FIRST SECESSION TREES, THEY WILL HAVE A SOLAR FACILITY IN A [INAUDIBLE].
PROBABLY THIRD ON THE WRONG IS PLANTED BUFFER [NOISE].
YOU ALL HAVE DRIVEN PAST WHEN YOUR PROJECTS WITH BUFFER THAT
[01:20:02]
HAS INTERMITTENT EVERGREEN TREES AND MAYBE SOME A BARRIER LOOKING TO LOW SHRUBS.IT'S NOT REALLY HOT IN ANYTHING.
IN A LOT OF CASES, IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE YOU'RE GOING TO TRAP PASSED A GOLF COURSE OR SOMETHING.
THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY LANDSCAPES.
IT'S DOESN'T BLEND IN TO THE NATURAL SETTING.
SEEING SOME REALLY GOOD ORDINANCES THAT THEY REQUIRE SCATTERED BUFFER SO THAT THERE'S NO RHYTHM TO IT.
THINGS YOU GROUP, SO THAT REALLY IN EFFECT, WHEN YOU DRAW THEM BACK, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DRIVING MY BLOCK A WOODS.
IT'S NICE DESIGN SO THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A LANDSCAPE PLANTED BUFFER.
THE NEW PLANTED STUFF AND YOU ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS.
IT'S TOUGHER TO GET STARTED, THEY DON'T GROW AS FAST.
SMALL TREES HAVE A MUCH HIGHER SUCCESS RATE AND MUCH MORE LIKELY TO SURVIVE, WHICH IS WHY A LOT OF TIME AND YOU HAVE SMALLER TREES PLANTED IN FUTURE.
IF YOU WANT TO PLANT A SIX OR EIGHT FOOT TREE, A THAT'S EXPENSIVE AND BE MORTALITY RATES REALLY HIGH.
WHEN YOU CAN RETAIN EXISTING TIMBER AND THEN WHERE POSSIBLE, ALLOW NATURAL REGENERATION TO GO BACK.
OTHER THINGS SOME JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE TO THIS IN LANCASTER IS PROVIDED BECAUSE YOU ALL GOT LOT OF AREA IN THE COUNTY WHERE PEOPLE TO SOLAR FARM, EVEN IF YOU BUILD IT ALL WHERE THE PROPERTY LINE.
[NOISE] THEY HAVE HEARD OF IS ANOTHER PALM PLANTATIONS.
THERE'S REALLY NOBODY THERE TO FAN.
THAT'S THE AREA THAT WE THINK WORKS REALLY WELL FOR THAT NATURALLY REGENERATED BUFFER.
JUST ALLOWING THE SET, A PORTION OF A SETBACK TO GROW BACK INTO NATURAL STATE.
BUT THEN AS YOU COME IN AND SAY THAT THERE'S A PUBLIC ROAD OR A NEARBY RESIDENTS, YOU CAN REQUIRE WITHIN A SPECIFIC DISTANCE OF THAT OCCUPIED RESIDENCE, SOMETHING THAT'S MORE ROBUST.
TO ME, THAT ALLOWS A SOLAR COMPANY TO SPEND ITS MONEY IN AN EFFICIENT WAY.
YOU'RE BUFFERING AN AREA WHERE THERE'S ACTUALLY A VIEWER THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE BOTTOM.
I THINK WE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESCRIPTIVE.
THEY'RE PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH THAT HIERARCHY.
BUT ALSO WE WANT TO BUILD IN THE FLEXIBILITY FOR YOU ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO LOOK AND SAY, [NOISE] YOU GOT FIVE HOUSES HERE.
WHAT YOU'VE DONE HERE ISN'T REALLY ENOUGH YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE YOU GOT TO DO MORE.
THEN YOU ALSO NEED THE DISCRETION TO SAY, YOU HAVE THIS THING ABOUT THE SWAMP AND THAT SWAMPS GOING TO BE THERE BECAUSE IT'S RPA CAN'T TOUCH IT, WILL LET YOU JUST LET THAT GROW BACK IN TREES AND IT JUST LET US COME AT YOU WITH THAT ACCUSTOM APPROACH WITH A REALLY GOOD LANDSCAPING PLANT, BUT BACKED UP WITH SOME RATHER SPECIFIC FORMS PROVISIONS.
>> I SAW IN ONE ORDINANCE IF IT WAS CAROLINE COUNTY OR GAINES COUNTY THAT ON A LANDSCAPING THAT NEED TO BE PLANTED AND BUFFERS NEED TO BE PLANTED IN THE FIRST GROWING SEASON, AFTER THE BUILDING PERMITS WERE ISSUED, NOT AT THE END, BUT THAT FIRST I SPOKE GROWING SEASON.
BY THE TIME THE WORK GETS DONE, ANY LANDSCAPING THAT HAD TO BE PLANET'S BEEN IN THE GROUND FOR A YEAR.
>> YEAH, ACTUALLY A YEAR. SOMETIMES WE DO THAT BACK CONDITION TO WHEN THERE'S REALLY SENSITIVE ISSUE.
WE WILL PREFER TO PLAN UP FRONT.
LIKE YOU SAY, YOU GET AN EXTRA YEAR GROWTH, IT'S THAT MUCH MORE MATURE.
ONE THING WE DON'T LOVE TO DO, ARE BERMS. BECAUSE BERMS CAN BE HARD TO GET TREES TO GROW ALONG.
THE WAY I LOOK AT BERMS IS LIKE YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC FEATURE OR SAY THE ROAD GRADE IS BAD, WHERE THE ROAD COMES UP OUT OF THE GROUND AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING OFTEN SEEN IT.
MAYBE USE A BERM THERE, BUT THAT'S A FEATURE OF LAST [INAUDIBLE]. SEE HERE. TELL ME I'M CORRECT IN THE PROTECTION OF THE 464 ROAD AND THEN THE BALKAN CORRIDOR.
>> [NOISE] WE THOUGHT WE HAD A GOOD ARGUMENT LAST TIME.
THE BALKANS NUISANCE CORRIDOR HAS WATER, SOIL, RAIL, CABLE, WE FACED CURRENT AND WE STILL COULDN'T BREAK IT.
>> IT'S ON THE HIGHWAY, MOST OF IT IS ON THE MAJOR HIGHWAY OR EITHER THE COUNTY ROADS ACROSS RAILWAY TRACK.
ACTUALLY, YEARS AGO WE HAD TALKED ABOUT PUTTING A SEWER LINE FROM A PUBLIC STATION,
[01:25:01]
EITHER ON 671 TO THE TREATMENT PLANT TO GIVE THE TOWN NUISANCE MORE CAPACITY.THE SOLAR PROJECT IS LOCATED ON IT RIGHT AWAY AND WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT AWAY.
IT WAS JUST A THOUGHT AND A CONCEPT ENOUGH COME TO BE IN AND AT THE TIME TO GOVERN AND BODY THEN STILL APPROVED.
WHILE WE CAN HAVE MORE MEAT AND POTATOES THIS TIME, THAN WHAT WE HAD LAST TIME, BECAUSE WE HAD A VERY GOOD ARGUMENT AS TO WHY THAT WAS NOT PROPER PLACE.
>> IF YOU GOT UTILITIES THERE WE GOT FIREHOUSES RIGHT DOWN BESIDE THE SOLAR FENCE. IT'S CRAZY.
>> THAT'S A CONSIDERATION. WE CAN PUT THAT IN THE ORDERS.
THE OTHER THING I FAILED TO MENTION IS, WE CAN BE SOLAR PRESCRIPTIVE IN YOUR SETBACKS AND ENSURE THAT THE SETBACKS ARE APPROPRIATE WHEN IT'S ON A POLAR HIGHWAY, IF IT'S A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, YOU MAYBE EVEN HAVE A BIGGER ONE SETBACKS FROM, LOSS.
IT CONTAIN A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE?
>> THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT RESIDENTS THEY HAVE COME FROM MY SIDE AREA OR THEY COULD BE PEOPLE THAT WERE BORN, RAISED HERE HAVE BUILT THEIR HOME.
I'VE SPENT MORE MONEY THAN ANY OTHER PLACE THAT I WOULD SPEND ON LIVELIHOOD AND THEN, YOUR SOLO PROJECT APPEARS AND WE'VE GOT VERY LIMITED SETBACKS OF WHY THAT FENCE AND AND ALL IS THAT, WHAT I HAVE BEEN INTRIGUED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION YOU'VE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES, IF YOU CAN GET OFF THAT HIGHWAY GO TO THAT BACK FIELD, THAT BACK CORRIDOR SO TO SPEAK I LIKE THAT NATURAL BARRIER, I LIKE THE IDEA OF JUST LEADING LIKE SIN.
YOU DON'T FOLLOW THOSE FIELDS [OVERLAPPING] IT'LL BE A FOREST LAND 10 YEARS OR LESS.
IT JUST COMES OUT NATURAL [OVERLAPPING].
COME IN, GO ON FOR NUISANCE DVORAK AND 671, LIKE YOU SAID IT GIVES YOU DADDY, YOU'RE PULLING INTO A GOLF COURSE IF YOU DIDN'T SEE THE PANELS, WITH THAT LITTLE LANDSCAPED CORNER.
NOW IS ON A FAVOR THERE, HAVE VOTED FOR THAT, HOW IS IT WHAT LITTLE BIT OF SIGHT WE DID HAVE OVER THERE, AT LEAST WE HAVE SOME LANDSCAPING, BUT IT DOES NOT SUIT THE RURAL AESTHETICS OF SITE OF THE CAMP.
>> I DO LIKE A LOT OF CONCEPTS SPEAKING OF [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE CAN GET THERE IN A WAY THAT IT WORKS FOR BOTH OF US TOO, BECAUSE THE SOLAR COMPANIES DON'T LOVE REQUIRING FOUR ROWS OF EVERGREENS PLANET IN AX INCREMENTS, ETC BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE.
WHAT WE WANT IS TO AS EFFECTIVELY BUFFER THE PROJECT AS EFFECTIVE AS WE CAN IN THE MOST COST EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT.
THAT NATURAL REGENERATED BUFFER AND RETAINING EXISTING TREES IS KEY.
>> ONE OF THE DRAWBACKS OF THAT IS, YOU GOT TO GET A TREE THAT WON'T GET SO TALL,BECAUSE THE SHADE [LAUGHTER].
>> NICE SETBACK HELPS YOU THERE.
>> THAT'S AN ISSUE AS WELL BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING UP MORE LAND SPACE BECAUSE OF THE SHADE AREA.
>> WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION OF A NICE SETBACK?
>> SOME MOST JURISDICTIONS I WOULD SAY THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT 100 FEET BUT IF IT'S A BUDDING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OR LET'S SAY THIS IS SOLAR FACILITY IS GOING TO BE WITH A CERTAIN DISTANCE OF THAT RESIDENCE.
>> OR CHURCH OR BUSINESS WHAT HAVE YOU.
FRANKLY, WE'RE WORKING ON ONE OF FACILITY RIGHT NOW, THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, THERE'S NO PLACE WHERE PANEL WILL BE WITHIN ANY CLOSER THAN 500 FEET OF UNOCCUPIED LIST, AND THAT ONE IS ON MOSTLY PINE PLANTATION.
THAT'S BEEN A RECREATION PROPERTY THAT COULD SPELL SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF OPEN GROUND, BUT THERE WERE JUST KEEPING ON STREET.
IT'S VERY FLAT PARCEL, YOU'RE GOING TO DRIVE DOWN DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND REALLY NEVER NOTICE THERE AND I'M BIASED BECAUSE I WORK WITH THE SOLAR INDUSTRY, BUT JUST IN THAT SITUATION, YOU'RE BUILDING A SOLAR FACILITY IN AN AREA OF BUDDING, DID A BUTS, SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS.
THOSE RESIDENTS DWELLINGS YOU'RE GUARANTEED TO HAVE THOSE TREES ON THAT PROPERTY FOR THE LIFE OF THAT PROJECT.
THAT'S IN ESSENCE PUT IN THAT BUFFER IN A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
NOT MANY OTHER USES DO YOU GET ARE GUARANTEED VISUAL BUFFER AFTER THE PROJECT SO THAT REALLY IN
[01:30:02]
MY OPINION EXCUSE IN FAVOR OF THAT NEARBY RESIDENCE BECAUSE TIMBER COMPANY COULD COME IN THERE AND CUT THE LINE IF THEY WANTED TO.>> BUT WHEN YOU INCREASE THE BUFFERS, IT'S LIKE AIR IN A BALLOON.
YOU NEED TO TAKE MORE SPACE SOMEPLACE ELSE, RIGHT?
>> EXACTLY, YOU ARE RIGHT. BUT THERE'S A HAPPY [NOISE] MEDIUM THERE.
THERE'S A NUMBER THERE THAT'S GOING TO WORK AND FRANKLY, WE CAN BUILD IN FLEXIBILITY WHERE YOU HAVE ROBUST SETBACKS IN CERTAIN AREAS.
IN AN AREAS LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT MAY HAVE A SMALL FIRM OR SOME OTHER NON OFFENDED PARTY.
YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR SETBACK OR MAYBE YOU GET A 50 FEET THERE THAT WILL HELP PUTS MORE ROOM IN THE BALLOON WHEN IT STARTS TO EXPAND.
>> THANK GOD OF THE PROJECT WE ONLY HAVE TWO TRACKS THAT IS OFF THE ROAD IS THAT RIGHT? THE COOK FARM AND THE SMITHS FARM.
EVERYTHING ELSE WAS ON THE THE ROAD.
>> EVERYTHING IS ON THE ROAD, YEAH.
>> THE THE SMITH AND THE COOK YOU LEARN ABOUT THE ROAD YOU DON'T SEE IT.
>> YOU GOT TO RIDE THROUGH THE FARM TO GET TO IT.
>> IT IS POSSIBLE, GOOD PROJECT LOCATION AND EVEN IF IT IS ON THE ROAD, IF YOU LEAVE ENOUGH OF A SETBACK AND YOU CAN DO YOUR BUFFER RIGHT, WITHIN A REASONABLE NUMBER OF YEARS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO NOTICE THERE.
FRANKLY, A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS THAT AREN'T WELL BUFFERED IN WELL-DESIGNED MAKE MY JOB SO MUCH HARDER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S IMPRINTED IN PEOPLE'S MIND IS WHAT A SOLAR FACILITY LOOKS LIKE.
BUT YOU'RE DRIVING PAST OTHERS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ARE THERE.
>> ARE THERE EVER INSTANCES WHERE SLOPED PLAN IS USED?
>> THEY SAY THAT THE GRAY TOLERANCE IS 15 PERCENT SO ANYTHING GREATER THAN 15 PERCENT, THEY REALLY TRY TO AVOID.
FRANKLY, SLOPE IS A COST CENTER FOR SOLAR AS WELL BECAUSE EVEN IF IT'S LESS THAN 15 PERCENT, THEY END UP DOING SOME GRADIENT, WHICH IS EXPENSIVE IMPOSES A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE TO ATTEND TO SO THE FLATTER THE BETTER.
>> THAT IS WHY THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE IS BETTER THAN GOING FURTHER WEST, WHICH IS ALSO FARM LAND.
>> BUT THEY'VE DONE AN AWFUL LOT OF GRADING ON THE PROJECT WE HAVE AND I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY TRACK THAT WAS IN A WAY AS CLOSE TO 15 PERCENT.
I DON'T THINK WE GOT 15 PERCENT ON THE COUNTY ANYWHERE.
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY PLACE THAT'S 15 PERCENT GREATER.
>> I SAW ONE ORDINANCE THAT PROHIBITED OR MOVING TOPSOIL FROM THAT.
>> WHAT WE'VE DONE IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS IS REQUIRE THAT ANY TOP SOIL THAT'S GRADED HAS TO BE OBTAINED ON SITE, IT'S NET.
THE SAME THEN WE'VE ALSO DONE A FAIRLY PRESCRIPTIVE DESCRIPTION.
I THINK IT'S IN THE CAROLINA ORDERS ABOUT WHAT AGRICULTURAL READY MEANS.
AFTER DECOMMISSIONING WHAT REMAINS WHAT WE'RE READY TO BE USED GAIN FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES?
>> BECAUSE I GUESS SOUTHAMPTON SOLAR THEY REMOVED TOP SOIL.
>> PEOPLE WOULD JUST HAUL LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHAT, T THEN IT WENT OFF THE SIDE.
>> WE'RE ALSO LEARNING A LOT ABOUT EROSION SOLAR CONTROL AND [INAUDIBLE] CONTROL REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SOLAR SPECIFIC BECAUSE IT IS A BIT DIFFERENT AND ENSURING THINGS ARE DECOMPACTING AND WHAT NOT, PRIOR TO STABILIZATION SO THAT YOU REDUCE YOUR ON-OFF RIGHTS, YOU ESSENTIALLY BUILDING A BETTER PRODUCT.
THAT'S BEEN COOL THING FOR ME TO WATCH AS LONG AS THESE ENGINEERING TEAMS ARE TAKING INFO IN REAL TIME AND BUILDING BETTER PRODUCTS [NOISE] AT EACH ONE THAT THEY GO TO.
DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR ME?
>> I LOOK AT YOUR GRADING, TOP SOIL IS NOT PERMITTED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PROPERTY?
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY TRY TO AVOID AS MUCH GRADING AS POSSIBLE AND THEY WANT THAT TOP SOIL IN AREAS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STABILIZE BECAUSE THEY WANT THE GRASS GROWING IN SHORT ORDER SO THEY CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AREA OF THE PRODUCT.
>> WE REALIZED ONCE THE TOP SOILS IS GONE THAT LAND IS GONE FOREVER.
IT TAKES ABOUT 500 YEARS TO MAKE AN INCH OF TOP SOIL.
>> YEAH, EVEN IF IT'S INDENTED.
>> WE HAVE DMMA FOR THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, DIVISION OF MINERAL MINES AND ENERGY.
THE ENERGY PART CATCHES MY ATTENTION.
BUT THERE'S NO REGULATORY OF DMMA FOR THE ENERGY PART.
NOW FOR MINERAL AND MINES, THEY CAN WALK IN,
[01:35:02]
DO AN INSPECTION, LOCK YOUR GATE, SHUT YOU DOWN.WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOLAR FACILITY, IT'S LIKE THEY'RE THERE JUST TO BE THERE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OF DMMA BECOMING SOME TYPE OF REGULATORY TEETH PUT IN THAT ORGANIZATION? I MEAN, IT GETS BACK TO A STATE LEVEL.
THE BIG COMPANIES HAVE A TENDENCY TO LISTEN TO STATE GOVERNMENT MORE THAN THEY DO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THEM?
>> NOT THAT I'VE HEARD. I THINK THE DMMA BECAUSE MINING IS WHAT IT IS, IS NOT WHAT IT ONCE WAS.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT, WHAT DO WE DO NOW? BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT RELATES. I WILL SAY THAT DURING CONSTRUCTION, THE ENTITY WHO IS IN CHARGE IS THE KEY.
THEY HAVE ADDED PEOPLES JUST SPECIFICALLY TO PROCESS SOIL REPLICATION AND HANDLE SOLAR DESIGN WORK, ADMINISTER THE PERMANENT BY RULE PROCESS WHICH IS FOR THE PROJECTS BETWEEN FIVE AND OUR VISION NEVER WORKS.
BUT THAT PROCESS ENDS ONCE THE PROJECT BEGINS CONSTRUCTION AND YOU MAKE IT THROUGH PVR AND GET YOUR PERMIT.
THEN IT MOVES BACK TO A COMBINATION OF [INAUDIBLE] AND LOCALITY.
BUT I DON'T KNOW, MAY MOVE BY THE DMMA OR NOTHING FELT PART OF ENERGY NOW TO PLAY A ROLE IN THIS WHOLE.
>> WELL, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE AN AVENUE FOR DEFORMATION [NOISE] WAY.
FOR THE PERMITTED AREA, YOU HAVE TO PAY A FEE EVERY YEAR.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR FIRM HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT BECAUSE EVERYWHERE WE GO, YOU'RE GOING TO WORRY ABOUT DECOMMISSION.
IS VAGUE FIGURING OUT SOME STATEWIDE SOLUTION TO THE DECOMMISSIONING QUESTION AND ESSENTIALLY, WE DON'T HAVE AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN YET, BUT BUILDING UP A FUND THAT WILL COVER THE COSTS OF DECOMMISSIONING IN ANY EVENT IS ALL COMING UP SOLAR CROWN AND WHERE TO GO DEFAULT.
THERE'S SEVERAL MODELS OUT THERE, THIS INDUSTRY IS PRETTY NEW.
IT'S REALLY BEEN BOOMING FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS AND IN THE LAST TWO IS BRILLIANT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE, I THINK.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE PRODUCT YET, WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT.
>> WELL IT'S NEW BUT SOME OF THE RESULTS ARE NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN A MAC, SO I FEEL LIKE WE ARE FIVE YEARS BEHIND ON THAT, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CREATING THIS FROM DAY ONE.
>> THAT'S ANOTHER ONE WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS INVESTED IN FIGURING OUT DECOMMISSIONING BECAUSE THEY GET THIS QUESTION WOULD BE WHEN YOU HOLD A BOND OR SURETY, IT'S ON YOUR BALANCE SHEET FOR FOUR YEARS.
THAT'S A BIG WEIGHT ON THE INDUSTRIES, THEY'RE TRYING AS MUCH AS ANYBODY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT FELT LIKE A MACRO STATEWIDE SOLUTION FOR THIS SO THAT YOU ALL ARE WELL PROTECTED AND IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF WEIGHT OFF OF THE [INAUDIBLE] FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.
>> IF YOU HAVE A SUBTLER, THEY ALL SAY THAT THEY GO THROUGH SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN IT.
THEY'RE NOT KEEPING EQUIPMENT AT WEARING, I WANT TO SEE THAT IN SOME FACILITIES.
>> YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT [INAUDIBLE].
>> YOU GET TO A POINT THAT THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE THE STAFF THAT CAN GO IN TO SEE IF THAT FACILITY IS STILL ACTUALLY PRODUCING ENERGY.
THEY MAY BE THERE, THEY STILL GET A TAX CREDIT, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY NOT PRODUCING ENERGY.
AT WHAT POINT? THIS MIGHT BE WHERE DMMA COMES INTO PLAY, IS THAT SOMEBODY IS QUALIFIED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT FACILITY IS PRODUCING, AND AT SOME POINT WHEN IT'S NOT PRODUCING FOR A 12-MONTH PERIOD, THEN THEY HAVE TO START DECOMMISSIONING.
INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING THERE COLLECTING GOVERNMENT FUNDS AND IT'S NOT DOING WHAT IT WAS BUILT TO SUBJECT.
>> THIS IS COVERED IN YOUR ORTHOSIS?
>> IT IS. TWO THINGS I LIKE TO CALL IT THE DECOMMISSIONING, TRUE.
THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE DECOMMISSIONING IT OCCURS.
I THINK WE CAN BUILD THAT OUT IN HERE SO THAT YOU ALL, IF THERE'S NO GRAY AREA AS TO WHEN IT'S TIME TO DECOMMISSION.
[01:40:05]
COME ON, I'M BLIND, ALMOST SECOND ONE.OFTEN WE WILL ADD A CONDITION AND I'VE NOT SEEN THE REASONS COULD BE IN YOUR ORDINANCE THAT THE OPERATORS TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTING IN THE ANNUAL REPORT OF TOTAL PRODUCTION, ET CETERA.
THAT'S LIKE AN AUTO-GENERATED REPORTS SO THAT YOU ALL AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR NOTICE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE FACILITY FOR THE PAST YEAR.
THAT'S ONE WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT IS PRODUCING ENERGY AND YOU'RE GOING TO TRIGGER ANY DECOMMISSIONING PROVISIONS.
>> BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TELL BY LOOKING AT IT.
>> YOU CAN TELL BY LOOKING AT, BUT EVEN WITH A MAN, YOU HAVE TO DO A TURN OUT REPORT. THEY TEND TO GRADE.
THE STATE COULD COME IN AND LOOK AT YOUR SALES AND GET SOME IDEA WHETHER YOUR TURN OUT REPORT IS ACCURATE.
ELECTRICITY, YOU CAN'T SMELL IT, YOU CAN'T SAY, IT JUST KNOCKS YOU OUT OF YOUR (-).
THEY CAN SAY WE ARE PRODUCING WITH IT.
BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE QUALIFIED TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN THAT FACILITY UNANNOUNCED. JUST WALK TO THE GATE AND GO IN AND SPOT CHECK AND I DON'T THINK NOBODY DOES THAT NOW, THEY JUST HAVE A FREE REIGN TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, HOW THEY WANT TO DO AND KEEP THE GATE LOCKED.
THAT'S LIKE LETTING THE FOX LOOK AFTER THE CHICKENS.
>> SIR, I'M NOT SURE IT IS IN CAROLINE BUT THERE ARE ACCESS PROVISIONS WHERE REGULAR INSPECTIONS WITH CERTAIN AMOUNT OF NOTICE WITHIN A MINUTE OF EMERGENCY, YOU CAN GO IN IMMEDIATELY.
>> BUT YOU SAID WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF NOTICE, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT NOTICE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THEY CAN COME TO THE GATE AND THERE THEY HAVE TO DO A SPOT CHECK.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S DONE IN OTHER INDUSTRIES.
THAT'S THE WAY [INAUDIBLE] CAN DO IT OR OSHA, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PRONOUNCE IT.
DEMAND IN INDUSTRY, MEAN, IF YOU MAKE IT AN ANGST, EVERYBODY CAN PUT A LIPSTICK ON.
>> WE WANT TO CATCH IT WITH NO LIPSTICK.
>> RIGHT. THE OTHER THING IS [NOISE] TO, FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE PERSPECTIVE.
IF YOU'RE OPERATING UNDER SOLAR REVENUE SHARE, THAT'S A PER MEGAWATT TAX.
SAY THE NAME POLY CAPACITY OF THE PROJECT IS 80 MEGAWATTS.
IT'S BASED ON THAT. THAT'S PAID TO THE COUNTY ANNUALLY FOR ANY YEAR THAT IT'S IN [NOISE] OPERATION.
THAT'S A STIFF ENOUGH NUMBER THAT THE PROJECT PROBABLY IS NOT GOING TO SIT THERE AND NOT BE OPERATED BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING A PRETTY HEFTY FEE, $1,400 A MEGAWATT SUBJECT TO 10 PER CENT ESCALATOR EVERY FIVE YEARS, STARTING IN 2026.
THAT'S PUTTING SOME SKIN IN THE GAME ON THE PART OF THE OPERATOR THAT WILL DISTANCE IT JUST A PROJECT IS SITTING THERE.
>> WELL, I GUESS I'M, I'M LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE TOO.
THEY PUSHED THE ENERGY SAYING THAT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ENERGY, CLEAN ENERGY FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
BUT YET WE HAD LETTERS THAT WERE SENT IN HERE THAT FOOD INDUSTRY, OUR FOOD SUPPLY IS GOING TO BE HAVE AN OVERBURDEN IN 40 YEARS AS WELL.
ARE WE MAKING A DECISION OR WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT? OUR ENERGY OR OUR FOOD?
>> I'M LOOKING AT THAT BIG PICTURE THAT'S PROBABLY BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
BUT HUNGRY STOMACHS TALKS MOST.
[BACKGROUND] THAT'S WHY I SAY THAT FACILITY SITTING THERE AND IT'S NOT PRODUCING ENERGY, THEN IT'S TIME FOR IT TO GO.
>> NOBODY IS CHECKING ON THAT.
>> THERE MAY BE A WAY THAT REGULATORY ENTITY LIKE LET'S SAY PJM PRODUCES SOME PUBLIC REPORTS SO THAT YOU ALL WILL RECEIVE AN ANNUAL NOTICE THAT WASN'T FROM THE COMPANY.
THERE MAY BE SOME WAY TO GENERATE THAT TO ENSURE THAT THE FACILITY'S OPERATIONAL.
>> ON THE OTHER HAND, I'M NOT ADVOCATING MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
THUS IT CAN GET IRRITATING, BUT ALSO IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF SPOT CHECK, NOT SEND YOU A TWO-WEEK NOTICE AND SAY WE'RE COMING.
>> YES. I THINK THAT ONCE I'VE DRAFTED IT, YOU CAN EVEN GO IN THE 24 HOURS NOTICE TO THE PROJECT LIAISON.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE TYPICALLY PUT IN CONDITIONS IS ESTABLISHING A PERSON FOR THE FACILITY THAT IS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTACT AND THE PUBLIC CONTACT SO THAT ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED IN SHORT ORDER.
IF THERE'S A VIOLATION, THAT PERSON RECEIVES NOTICE AND THEN YOU'VE GOT SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ON HOW TO REMEDY THE VIOLATION.
TRYING TO REMOVE THAT ANONYMITY THAT YOU OFTEN FEEL WITH SOMETHING TO SIT IN THERE.
[01:45:04]
>> THAT'S WHERE THE VISION OF ENERGY COMES INTO PLAY.
I'VE TALKED WITH SOMEBODY THAT WORKED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOOKING AT SOLAR AND HE SAY, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO RUN INTO IS ONE KIND REQUIRES THIS, YOU NEED SOME CONSISTENCY.
>> IT'S GOT TO BE DONE ONLY THE STATE LEVEL OR FEDERAL LAW.
>> BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S RUNNING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
>> WE'RE FEELING IT TOO. EVERY JURISDICTIONS OF ZONING ORDINANCE IS AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
I DON'T HAVE ONE SET OF CONDITIONS THAT WORKS IN EVERY SITUATION BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS WRAP AROUND THE ORDINATES LIKE A PUZZLE PIECE.
EVERY PUZZLE PIECE IS DIFFERENT.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO YOUR ZONING.
YOUR ZONING HAS GOT TO FIT THE LOCALITY A LITTLE BIT.
>> BUT AS FAR AS YOUR FACILITY PRODUCING ELECTRICITY, [BACKGROUND] THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD.
>> ONE THING I DON'T EXPECT YOU ALL TO TAKE THIS UP BECAUSE IT'S A HARD AND FAST ITEM.
BUT REQUIRING A REZONING TO INDUSTRIAL IS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, FROM WHAT GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE, IT'S TO ME AN UNNECESSARY BURDEN ON A SOLAR DEVELOPER BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN A SITUATION WHERE THE CUP IS APPROVED BUT NOT THE REZONING.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE PROJECT.
YOU ALL IN THE CUP PROCESS, YOU REALLY HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF POWER THAT YOU DO IN THE REZONING PROCESS.
TO ME IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF JUST AN ADDITIVE ADMINISTRATIVE HURDLE.
WHAT IT ENDS UP DOING IS IN MY OPINION, IT SCARES ADJOINING AND NEARBY NEIGHBORS TO HEAR, OH, MAN SO, AND SO'S FARM IS GOING TO BE REZONED TO INDUSTRIAL.
WHEN IN REALITY, WE COULD AGREE TO DISAGREE.
I WOULD SAY MAYBE IT'S A LOT INDUSTRIAL USE.
BUT WHETHER IT'S ZONED INDUSTRIAL OR NOT, THE EFFECT IS THE SAME.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WHEN WE DO, DO THAT REZONING, WE END UP DISCLAIMING ALL THE OTHER INDUSTRIAL USES.
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO END UP WITH IS INDUSTRIAL ZONE LAND, WHERE ALL YOU CAN DO IS ONE ITEM IN THE INDUSTRIAL LIST AND THAT'S BUILT A SOLAR FACILITY.
IT'S GOING TO MAKE YOUR ZONING MAP OVER A PERIOD OF TIME LOOK REALLY WEIRD.
BECAUSE YOU GET THESE RURAL BACK 40 TIGHT PARCELS THAT ARE SURROUNDED BY A1 AND A2 ZONE LAND, THAT ARE ZONED INDUSTRIES.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE LITTLE INDUSTRIAL ISLANDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
TO ME THAT'S PAINTING YOURSELF INTO A BIT OF A LAND USE ISSUE 20 OR 30 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD IF THESE PROJECTS ARE ULTIMATELY DECOMMISSIONED, BECAUSE SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO EFFECTUATE THE DOWN ZONE OR A REZONING OF THOSE PROPERTIES DOWN THE ROAD.
LIKE I SAY, I'VE NEVER SEEN A SITUATION WHERE THE CUP WASN'T APPROVED BUT THE REZONING WAS, AND VICE VERSA.
IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE PROJECT.
IF THE PROJECT IS RIGHT, YOU'VE GOT ALL THE CONTROLS YOU NEED DURING THE CUP PROCESS.
THE ZONING IT'S JUST REALLY AN ADDITIVE.
I WOULD SAY YOU ALL OR MAYBE ONE OF THREE OR FOUR JURISDICTIONS THAT REQUIRE REZONING TO INDUSTRIAL, ALMOST EVERYBODY ELSE PERMITS IT WITH A CUP AND A VARIETY OF DISTRICTS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF IT WASN'T FAST AND GATED AND LOCKED, IT JUST MAKES ME THINK IT'S AN INDUSTRIAL SITE, AND IT'S PRODUCING ENERGY.
>> THEY DON'T WANT YOU IN FOR A REASON.
>> RIGHT. [OVERLAPPING] I'D LIKE TO SAY IT'S GATED AND IT'S LOCKED.
I KNOW OF A LANDOWNER IN NEWSOME'S THAT COULD NOT TAKE HIS FRIENDS ONTO THE SITE. IT'S HIS FARM.
HE WON'T GO TO SHOW HIS NEIGHBOR BECAUSE HE LIVES UPSTATE.
>> HE BROUGHT HIS FRIEND OVER TO SEE IT, THEY WOULDN'T LET HIM IN HIS OWN PHONE.
>> BUT I DISAGREE WITH YOU, I THINK THAT ADDED PROTECTION FOR THE COUNTY, IT DOES MAKE THE NEIGHBORS AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE EVEN WITH AS MUCH PUBLICITY IS THE FACILITY HAD OVER IN HOUSTON'S BORKINS AREA, THERE WAS ACTUALLY PEOPLE THAT APPROACHED ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS GOING IN.
>> THEY WERE IN A HOUSE THAT THE FACILITY WAS COMING CLOSER.
[BACKGROUND] I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE GOING THAT POINT OF TIME.
BUT, AT LEAST WHEN IT GOT REZONED, THEY WOULD DEFINITELY GET A NOTE.
>> YEAH. YOU ALSO NOTICED WHETHER IT'S A CUP OR A REZONE RIGHT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. [OVERLAPPING] WE PUT UP A SIGN TOO FOR THE ONE IN NEWSOME'S AND BORKINS, THE DEPARTMENT PUT THAT PROBABLY 60 SIGNS.
>> YOU DID A GREAT JOB. [OVERLAPPING]
>> REMEMBER WHEN I SAID, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING IN.
>> RIGHT. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] MY TAKE AWAY IS WHEN PEOPLE HEAR INDUSTRIAL USE, [BACKGROUND] THEY'RE THINKING, DIRTY NOISE, SMELLS AND IT'S ALWAYS A LOT LESS THAN THAT.
[01:50:04]
I'VE SAID IT'S SEVERAL TIMES BUT A NUMBER OF THINGS, IT IS A BLUNT INSTRUMENT AND I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DO IT TOO, BECAUSE IT'S ONE MORE LAYER WHERE YOU ALL CAN MAKE A DETERMINATION.OF COURSE, YOU'VE DERIVED FROM NEGATIVE DETERMINATIONS, SAY NO, THIS IS THE WRONG FIT FOR X, Y, Z NUMBER OF REASONS.
YOU'VE GOT ONE MORE LAYER OF PROTECTION TEAM.
I ONLY BRING IT UP JUST AS A COMPARISON TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
>> WELL, AS YOU SAID A WHILE AGO YOU WERE BIASED BECAUSE YOU WERE IN THE SOLAR INDUSTRY.
I'M BIASED BECAUSE I'M A SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY RESIDENT.
>> I INTEND TO STAY HERE AND THAT'S AGAIN BIG GOVERNMENT AND BIG INDUSTRY WE NEED AS MANY LAYERS AS WE CAN.
>> ESPECIALLY WITHOUT ANY SIGNED GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE OF FEDERAL.
WITHOUT POLITICS GETTING INVOLVED IN IT.
>> POLITICS DEFINITELY GOT INVOLVED IN THE LAST PROJECT BIG TIME.
>> I GUESS I'LL TAG ON THE IDEA OF THE CLOSING TO THE COMMISSION.
IF THE ORDINATES DID INCLUDE THE RIGHT OR THE REQUIREMENT THAT PGM, OR WAS THE OWNER OF THE GRID WORK, THAT THIS ELECTRICITY IS GOING TO BE INSERTED INTO.
THEY'VE PRODUCED PROBABLY AN ANNUAL REPORT OF HOW MANY KILOWATT-HOURS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO MEASURE IT, MANY WENT INTO THAT LINE.
CAN I ASK FOR AN ANNUAL REPORT [OVERLAPPING] FROM THAT? IS THAT IS INCLUDED [OVERLAPPING]?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THE ANNUAL REPORTS THAT I PROVIDED FORWARD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED OF THE APP, OR THE OPERATOR WILL SEND THE ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COUNTY OF SOME VARIETY.
[OVERLAPPING] WE CAN HAVE IT NOTARIZED OR SOME CERTIFIED FORM.
WE'LL TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT, TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PROJECT IS OPERATIONAL FROM SOME THIRD-PARTY VERIFIED.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT WOULD DO IS THAT, I HAD TO UP TO THEM [INAUDIBLE] I DIDN'T SEE THAT, BECAUSE EVEN IF I SEE IT WHETHER I WOULD HAVE SPENT TIME TO STUDY IT, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT TINY IN THE SIZE OF THE FACILITY OR THE FARM TO ACRES OR KILOWATT-HOURS, BECAUSE PANELS ARE GOING TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT OVER TIME.
>> CORRECT, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
>> HOW CAN THE COUNTY PROTECT ITSELF? I GUESS NUMBER 1, MAYBE STAND TO GAIN MORE TOUCH REVENUE, AS THESE THINGS BECOME MORE EFFICIENT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ALSO BATTERY STORAGE.
>> YOU ALL WILL FALL ASLEEP IF I START TALKING ABOUT BATTERY STORIES, THAT'S MY SECOND FAVORITE TOPIC.
>> DID YOU SAY FAVORITE? [LAUGHTER]
IT'S PROBABLY A BETTER NEXUS WITH YOUR ALL LAND-USE CONCERNS, TO NOT DO A MEGAWATT CAP AND DO AN ACREAGE CAP, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THAT VERY REASON.
WHAT YOUR CONCERN IS, WHAT LAND IS TAKEN UP? WHAT SPACE IS TAKEN UP? I'M GETTING [INAUDIBLE].
[NOISE] WHAT YOU WANT IS THE MOST MEGAWATTS YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF LIGHT.
IT'S PARTICULARLY UNDER THE SOLE REVENUE SHARE REGIME, WHERE YOU'RE PAY ABOUT A MEGAWATT.
YOU DON'T CARE IF THE ACREAGES IS WHAT IT IS.
IF IT'S PRODUCING MORE MEGAWATTS, THAT BENEFITS YOU ALL, AND THERE'S NO LAND USE NEXUS WITH THAT INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY.
I THINK THE MORE PRECISE GUARD RAIL, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ONE END, WOULD BE A TOTAL ACREAGE CAP AND A MEGAWATT CAP FOR THE POINT YOU JUST MADE.
MORE MEGAWATTS OUT OF THE SAME ACREAGE, MORE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
ASSUMING YOU'RE WILLING TO ADOPT [NOISE] SELLER REVENUE [INAUDIBLE].
WHEN I COME BACK, I'LL HAVE SOME NUMBERS SO THAT YOU CAN START TO NOODLE OVER WHAT SOLAR MEANS FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE PERSPECTIVE, AS A LAND USE.
BECAUSE I THINK REVENUE GENERATED BY A PARTICULAR LAND USE IS
[01:55:02]
A MAJOR CONCERN OF YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND CONSIDERATION.I'LL TRY TO GIVE YOU A GOOD OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THESE OTHER PROJECTS WE'VE WORKED ON IN THEIR LIFETIME PROJECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE.
IT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, AND IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED TODAY.
IF SOMEBODY THEY GET INTO THAT GRID CHOSEN, THEY GO IN AND INCREASE THE FACILITY, HOW CAN WE WORK IN THE ORDINATES THAT THEY READ TO, THEY HAVE TO GET A PERMIT, SO THAT IF THEY CHANGE 100-MEGAWATT FACILITY WITH THE SAME FOOTPRINT TO A 200-WATT FACILITY, THEN OUR REVENUE GOES UP ACCORDINGLY.
>> YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO REQUIRE TO DO ANY PERMIT BECAUSE THE PER MEGAWATT CAPACITANCE IS BASED ON WHAT THEY CALL NAMEPLATE CAPACITY.
IT'S LIKE A WRITING CAPACITY OF THE CELL.
IF THE NAMEPLATE CAPACITY CHANGES AND THEY'RE PRODUCING MORE ELECTRICITY, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO PAY YOU FOR THAT ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION.
>> THEY RETURN IN AND IT GOES FROM 100-200?
>> PUBLICLY KNOWN THAT THAT PROJECT IS NOW PRODUCING MORE THAN 100 MEGAWATT.
>> THERE'S NO REASON FOR MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS BECAUSE NOTHING OF THIS SITE OF IT CHANGES AT ALL.
>> I GUESS I WENT AND TALKED ABOUT IT PUBLICLY AND IT IS WAS A SURVEY TO RETOOL [OVERLAPPING] LIKE A BUYER ADDED AN EXTRA ROOM TO MY HIGH MY AYES OR WHATEVER.
>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO [OVERLAPPING] BUILDING PERMIT TO RETOOL SOLAR.
>> IF THEY JUST PUT NEW PANELS ON EXISTING POST, [OVERLAPPING] YOU DON'T NEED ANY PERMIT FROM [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE 15 METERS FROM THAT, BUT THAT'S A BIT AS A GOOD CONSIDERATION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE LOOKING 40 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD FOR THE COMMISSION, SO WE WANT TO SURE THAT CANDY DOESN'T MISS, I OWN THAT REVENUE, [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'LL COME BACK [NOISE] TO THAT PROCESS IS AUTOMATIC WITH COUNTING, GETS A LETTER IN THE MAIL THAT NEXT MONTH IS GOING TO BE A BIGGER CHECK.
FOR NEXT YEAR, THERE'LL BE A BIGGER CHECK.
TO POINT ON BATTERY STORAGE BECAUSE I'M HERE, BATTERY STORAGE IS OFTEN CONSIDERED IN THE SAME BREATH AS SOLAR BECAUSE THERE'S USUALLY A LOT OF TIMES ARE CO-LOCATED WITH SULFUR CENTERS.
THERE'S CO-LOCATED ENERGY STORAGE AND THEY'RE STANDING ON ENERGY STORAGE.
STANDALONE ENERGY STORES SITS ADJACENT TO A SUBSTATION AND PULLS ELECTRICITY OFF THE GRID AT NON-PEAK TIMES AND PUTS IT BACK ON.
HELPS A PEAK SHAVING, HELPS YOU GET MORE MILEAGE OUT OF EXISTING TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE, BATTERIES, OR WHAT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO ELECTRIC TRANSITION INTO A MORE MODERN GRID.
THAT'S SUSTAINABLE AND STORAGE THOSE THINGS OR MAYBE 15 ACRES MAX, YOU CAN STICK ONE TO SIDE AND EXISTING INDUSTRIAL TYPE SUBSTATION IN A WAY THAT AS WELL BUFFERED HIDDEN EASY ACCESS.
FROM A LAND-USE LIFT, FROM A PERMITTING PERSPECTIVE FOR ME, THERE ARE A LOT EASIER TO PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S JUST A LOT SMALLER SITE.
THE ONLY REAL CONCERN IS EMS AND FIRE RESPONSE.
WHAT WE'VE DONE ON THE NUMBER OF THESE PROJECTS IS GET THE ENGINEERING TEAMS, GET THE FIRE EXPERTS IN THE ROOM WITH YOUR LOCAL EMS PEOPLE, DEVELOP A DETAILED PLAN.
ONCE YOU ANSWER THAT SAFETY QUESTION, BATTERY STORAGE IS A REALLY GOOD LAND USE.
VERY SUPER-HELPFUL TO THE GRID, ASSUMING YOU TAKE YOUR, NEARBY NEIGHBOR CONCERNS, ETC, PRETTY QUIET.
>> WHAT ARE THE TOXICITY OR LEAKAGE OF A BATTERY?
>> IT'S [OVERLAPPING] EXACT SAME BAGS AND YOU FIND.
LITHIUM BATTERIES OF ANY VARIETY THEY ARE DRY, IT'S NOT LIKE A CAR BATTERY WHERE THERE'S SOMETHING TO LEAK, THESE THINGS ARE SOLID-STATE.
REALLY THE ONLY RISK IS WHAT THEY CALLED THERMAL RUNAWAY EVENT, WHICH YOU CAN GOOGLE THERMAL RUNAWAY OR BATTERY FIRE.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THAT ARE RELATIVE TO OTHER INDUSTRIAL USES, IT'S ABOUT THE SAME TYPE OF FIRE RISK.
FROM AN EMS PERSPECTIVE, ONE OF THE RISKS IS WHAT COMES OFF THE FIRE WHEN YOU APPROACH IT.
IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF RISK AS HARDWARE, OR YOUR HOUSE, OR WHATEVER CALL A BUYER.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE EXTRA IN THERE THAT MAKES IT A DIRTY FIRE WHERE YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OF A LONG PLUME OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT WOULD BE THE SAME AS IF A HOUSE FOR OTHER COMMERCIAL BUSINESS CAUGHT ON FIRE.
THE CO-LOCATED STORAGE FUNCTIONS THE EXACT SAME WAY.
[02:00:01]
IT ALLOWS THE SOLAR FACILITY TO PUT POWER ON THE GRID THROUGHOUT THE DAY A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. IF IT'S WELL-DESIGNED, IT'S BUFFERED AND SCREENED JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, IT INCREASES THE OVERALL FUNCTION OF THE PROJECT.FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE PERSPECTIVE, CO-LOCATED STORAGE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED.
THE DEFAULT IS MACHINERY TOOLS TAX PER SOLAR AND THEN THE OPTION IS REVENUE SHARE, WHICH IS CAPACITY TAX.
BECAUSE REVENUE SHARES IS CAPACITY TAX, IF THERE'S 150 MEGAWATT PROJECT THAT'S GOT 100 MEGAWATT BATTERY, THE CAPACITY OF THE PROJECT IT'S BEING PUT ON THE LINE IF THE MAXIMUM IS 150 MEGAWATTS.
YOU DON'T CAPTURE THE ADDITIONAL MEGAWATTAGE UNDER REVENUE SHARE FOR A CO-LOCATED PROJECT.
WHEN YOU'RE APPROVING THOSE, YOU HAVE TO DO A BALANCE.
IT'S LIKE, IS IT BETTER? SINCE IT HAS BATTERY STORAGE TO KEEP IT UNDER THE OLD [INAUDIBLE] REGIME.
THAT JUST BECOMES AN ACCOUNTING AND COMMISSION REVENUE QUESTION FOR YOU ALL WHEN YOU LOOK AT ONE OF THOSE.
IN ORDER TO CAPTURE THAT CO-LOCATED STORAGE VALUE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAX THAT PROJECT UNDER MACHINERY TOOLS.
BUT YEAH, YOU CAN SLOT THEM IN A SOLAR FACILITY AND BUFFER THEM JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE? IT'S LIKE THEY'RE 15 FEET TALL, LOOK LIKE A KONIG TRAILER, JUST A METAL BOX.
THEY'RE ALL CONTROLLED IN A BIG COMPUTER LAB.
EACH UNIT, EACH BATTERY UNIT HAS ALL ITS OWN SAFETY AND MONITORING TECHNOLOGY SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON ALL THE TIME WITH THOSE WITH EACH COMPONENT.
ONE STARTS TO GET HOT, THEY CUT IT OFF.
IT OFTEN GETS CONSIDERED IN THE SAME LANE, SAME CONTEXT WITH SOLAR.
BOTH STANDALONE AND CO-LOCATED OF COURSE WOULD GET CONSIDERED IN THE SAME CONTEXT.
BUT THE STANDALONE STORAGE IS REALLY AT DIFFERENT LANES BECAUSE OF ITS SMALL FOOTPRINT.
>> I GUESS MY THING ON THE BATTERY WAS THAT, ARE YOU PROTECTING YOURSELF AND YOUR NEW ORDINANCE OR THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAD WORKED ON IN THE PAST? DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SOLAR MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO COME AND DROP FIVE KONIG'S BOXES THAT HAD THE BATTERIES IN THE FACILITY.
THEY WARM UP AND THEY SAY, WELL, IT'S JUST PART OF THE SOLAR FACILITY.
>> NO. IF YOUR AUDIENCE DOESN'T ADDRESS ENERGY STORAGE, WHICH YEARS CURRENTLY TODAY DOES NOT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO EITHER PURSUE ZONING TEXTS MEMO, OR BUILD THAT IN SOME OTHER WAY.
YOU CAN MAYBE BUILD IT INTO STORING ROOM, THAT THAT'S NOT A PERMANENT FIX.
AS IT SITS TODAY, IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO BRING ENERGY STORAGE TO SOUTHAMPTON, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN ADDITIONAL ZONING PROCESS.
IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED BY YOUR EXISTING ONES.
>> FOR NEXT MONTH'S MEETING, MR. FOSTER IS GOING TO PROVIDE MARKED UP COORDINATES.
YOU GET YOUR ZONING PACKAGES TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE MEETING.
[NOISE] IF I GET IT FROM HIM AFTER THAT, I'LL SEND IT TO YOUR EMAIL, WHICH IS HOW YOU GOT THIS CAROLINE CALLING LINE.
I SENT THAT VIA EMAIL TOO BECAUSE I RECEIVED THAT FOR MR. FOSTER AFTER THE PACKAGES WERE ALREADY PUT TOGETHER.
THESE PACKAGES WENT OUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE THIS MEETING BECAUSE YOUR LAST MEETING WAS EARLY IN THE MONTH, WAS THE 8TH OR 9TH AND THIS MEETING IS LATE IN THE MONTH.
THIS IS THE 14TH SON THERE WAS FIVE WEEKS.
>> I WANT TO PUT IT IN THE MINUTES THAT I MISSED YOUR EMAIL. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT WAS ON ME BUT I'LL JUST KEPT LOOKING FOR IT.
YOU DID SEND IT TO ME. I DIDN'T PRINT IT OUT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE END OF THIS MONTH IS MY DAY ONE.
>> TWO WEEKS FROM TOMORROW, THEY'LL GO OUT.
BUT IF I GET IT LATER, THEN I'LL SEND IT BY EMAIL AND I'LL HAVE PAPER COPIES HERE.
BUT THAT'S WHY YOU GOT THIS ONE BY EMAIL BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EXTRA WEEK IN THERE.
BUT I WANTED TO GET THESE OUT BECAUSE I KNOW THOSE OF YOU IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, THIS IS JUST ONE MORE THING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR COMING. [OVERLAPPING].
>>THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR GOOD QUESTIONS TOO.
YOU ALL ARE GOING TO COME AT THIS FROM THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE.
I THINK WE CAN GET YOU TO A POSITION WHERE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
[02:05:04]
>> I TOLD MR. FOSTER THAT IF HE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PROTECT PRIME FARMLAND AND CRACK THE NUT THAT IS DECOMMISSIONING, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT [OVERLAPPING] THIS BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO.
>> YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RETIRE CAUSE THAT DECOMMISSION GOES NATIONWIDE.
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE SURE I GET A CHECK EVERY TIME SOMEBODY [LAUGHTER] COPIES MY WORK.
>> MAYBE WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER AND WE CAN ALL [INAUDIBLE].
IT SOUNDS GOOD. WE WILL ALL RETIRE.
>> THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S VERY INFORMATIVE I MUST SAY.
>> WHAT ARE GOING TO DECIDE TO DO TODAY? I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TAKE THOSE CAROL COUNTY ORDINANCE STARTING WITH NEXT MEETING AND GO THROUGH A SECTION AT A TIME AND TWEAK IT TO WHAT WE THINK WE NEED AT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO.
LETS GET ON THIS AND GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE THAT IN A MOTION.
>> ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, COME BACK WITH SOME THOUGHTS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WELL, IF WE GO THROUGH EACH SECTION AT A TIME LIKE WE'VE DONE THINGS BEFORE.
BEFORE WE'VE BEEN VERY ORGANIZED, WANTED TO GO HERE AND THERE AND WE GOT NOWHERE.
I THINK THIS GIVES US A CHANCE TO BUILD ON THIS, TWEAK IT HOW WE WANT IT AND GET THE JOB DONE.
NOW I'LL TALK WITH FIVE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THEY LIKE THIS AND I THINK WE CAN GO THROUGH IT AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WE CAN CHANGE SOME OF THESE THINGS WE DON'T LIKE.
WE CAN DELETE WHAT WE DON'T LIKE, WE CAN ADD WHAT WE THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDED.
WELL I THINK WE NEED TO GET STARTED SO I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
>> WE HAVE MOTION ON THE FLOOR ABOUT REVIEW INTO CAROLINE COUNTY ORDINANCE AND MAKE IT AS A TEMPLATE TOO AS WE PROCEED FORWARD [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN I JUST GET CLARIFICATION FROM MOTION MAKER?
>> YOU WOULD BE A PROPONENT OF TAKING OUR OLD ORDINATES, THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW AND JUST WORKING WITH THIS ONE?
>> OKAY. THAT'S THE WAY I WOULD [INAUDIBLE].
>> [OVERLAPPING] IF YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU READ THIS AND STUDY IT, I WENT THROUGH IT FOUR TIMES.
IT'S MUCH MORE COMPLETE THAN OUR ORDINANCE.
IT ANSWERS A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I DON'T THINK WE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT.
I THINK IT'S A BETTER PLAN THAN OUR ORDINANCE, AND LIKE I'VE SAID, I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH OUR ORDINATES AGAIN AND NOW LOOKING AT THIS, WE CAN PUT OUR ORDINATES IN THIS WHEREVER.
BUT THIS TAKES SECTION FROM SECTION AND I WAS IMPRESSED.
IT ANSWERS QUESTIONS I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT.
I'M MAKING A MOTION WE GET STARTED TO USE THAT AS A BASE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO ADOPT THE SAME ONE BUT USE IT AS A BASE.
>> I GOT IT. I WANT TO GET A CLARIFICATION ON SOMETHING FROM MR. FOSTER.
I GUESS YOU NEED TO BE AT THE MIC, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT YOU WORK WITH THAT HAS POSSIBLY LOOKED AT THIS AS WAY OLD, THAT IS TRYING TO ADOPT SOMETHING IN NORTH CAROLINA?
>> I DO NOT. WE REPRESENT A COUPLE OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE PROJECTS IN NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING PROJECTS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
[NOISE] A LOT OF THE COMPANIES WHO HAVE BUILT ON PROJECTS IN VIRGINIA TODAY WERE THERE.
FIVE TO 17 YEARS AGO BOTH ARE PRIVATE.
NO, I DON'T I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
[NOISE] NORTH CAROLINA, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT'S A BETTER STATE OF THE ART AS VIRGINIA GETS, AND DIRECTLY OTHERWISE BECAUSE MY PLAN WAS TO WORK WITHIN YOUR EXISTING ORDINANCE IN BOLTON, CAROLINE COUNTY TO WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE, ELIMINATING ANY REDUNDANCY, ET CETERA, AND PULLING THOSE PARTS THAT WE THINK WE LIKE.
BUT IF YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THE OTHER DIRECTION, I'LL DO THAT.
I JUST THOUGHT SINCE THERE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD PARTS IN YOUR EXISTING ORDINATES, IT MIGHT BE EASIER [NOISE] TO FLOW THERE AND SO THE OTHER DIRECTION ALL THE TIME. JUST LET ME KNOW.
>> DO YOU THINK IF WE APPROVE THIS MOTION, WE CAN HAVE THAT ORDINATES AND OUR ORDINATES TOGETHER, BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
[02:10:01]
>> I'M NOT SAYING THE CORPORATE, I SAY TAKE THIS AS A FOUNDATION.
LOOK AT OUR ORDINATES AND GO THROUGH EVERY STEP, STEP-BY-STEP AND SEE WHAT ARE THOSE WE WANT TO PUT IN THIS AND WHAT WE WANT TO DELETE HERE, BUT USE THIS AS A FOUNDATION.
>> PUT BOTH OF THE ORDINANCES TOGETHER IN A PACKET UNDER UNFINISHED BUSINESS MAY BE OR SOLAR DISCUSSION FOR EVERY MEETING BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD WANTED US TO DO IN THE JOINT MEETING.
>> THEN WE CAN HIGHLIGHT OUR PROGRESSION IN RED SO WE'RE MORE PRODUCTIVE, MORE LIKE A WORKSHOP.
WE CAN GET THINGS ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD IS EXPECTING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> EXACTLY. WE NEED TO MAKE THIS A REGULAR PROJECT IN EVERY MEETING AND GO THROUGH THIS STEP BY STEP.
>> MAY PUT THE CHANGES IN [OVERLAPPING].
>> TWELVE MONTHS IS GOING TO END UP IN A HURRY.
>> TWELVE MONTHS IS GOING TO GO BY IN A HURRY.
>> YEAH. THIS SOLAR HAS BEEN ON YOUR AGENDA EVERY MONTH FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
>> IT JUST KEEP US MORE ORGANIZED, BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS THAT ARE [OVERLAPPING] YEAH.
I DON'T LIKE SOME OF THE STUFF ON OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE, I GUESS.
>> I GUESS THE THEORY IS, AS I HEAR YOU SAY, THROUGH ALL WHEN I TAKE THIS, WHEN I'M DO IT BY NATURE AND I GUESS I DON'T WANT TO THINK OF [INAUDIBLE].
>> NO. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I JUST LIKE TO COMBINE THE TWO AND WATCH YOU IN 10 YEARS.
WE NEED TO GET TO WORK ON THIS.
>> BUT I'M NOT EXACTLY FOLLOWING BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTOOD FROM MR. FOSTER THAT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE SOME FROM THE CAROLINE AND DRAFT IT AND MORE OR LESS PRESENT IT TO US NEXT MEETING AND DO A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING.
>> CORRECT. I GUESS WHAT I CAN DO TOO IS MAYBE SET UP SOME DECISION POINTS FOR YOU.
BECAUSE WHAT, JUST TAKE THE CAROLINE ORDINANCE, THEY'RE LUCKY.
THEY'RE JUST PURE USE REGULATIONS IN THERE THAT ARE, IN A LOT OF WAYS OVERLAP WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
BUT YOU ALL HAVE SOME DECISION POINTS ON, ALL LIKE WHAT YOUR MECHANICS ARE.
ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS IS.
>> THAT'S WHY I WANT IT, BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE A REFERENCE POINT, AND THEN OUR CURRENT ORDINATES.
THAT'S WHY I KEPT LOOKING THROUGH WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AT LEAST FOR ME IN PROCESSING THE INFORMATION AND COMPARING AND CONTRASTING SOME OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS, CHANGES, ET CETERA.
>> RIGHT. THINK ON THIS BUT, CAROLINE.
>> I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> BUT I STILL WANT THAT AS A REFERENCE POINT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COME UP IN THE DISCUSSION, SOME OF THE PUBLIC POLICY CHANGES FROM WHAT THEY HAVE, WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AND THEN WHAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING, AND I'LL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW IT THOUGH.
THAT'S WHY, I GUESS, IT'S JUST MORE OF A PROCEDURAL ISSUE THAN A SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE.
BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE YOUR SUGGESTIONS.
>> BUT I WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE CHANGED.
>> I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS.
>> RIGHT. I GUESS IF I START WITH YOUR EXISTING DOCUMENT, THAT WILL BE FALLING UNDER THE MANNER THAT YOU HAVE REGULATED SILVER TODAY.
IF I START UNDER THE CAROLINE DOCUMENT, WE'RE GOING TO BE STARTING UNDER THE REGIME OF THE OVERLAY DISTRICT.
THAT'S HOW THEY ADMINISTER WHERE SOLAR CAN GET.
YOU ALL ADMINISTER INDUSTRIAL ONLY AND, IF IT'S NOT INDUSTRIAL AND APPLY FOR A REASON.
THAT'S THE OVERARCHING UMBRELLA.
THE USE REGULATIONS REALLY FALL UNDER ALL OF THAT AND THAT'S WHERE CAROLINE IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE.
BUT THEY ADMINISTER THE DISTRICT IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN YOU ALL DO.
IF WE'RE GOING TO STAY UNDER THE EXISTING REGIME OF INDUSTRIAL ZONING, IT'S PROBABLY BEST TO START WITH YOURS.
IF WE'RE GOING TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT CAROLINE.
>> FIRSTLY, I LIKE STAYING WITH OURS AND GROWING FROM THEN.
TWELVE MONTHS IS GOING GET PAST QUICK.
BUT I STILL LIKE [OVERLAPPING]
[OVERLAPPING] THAT IS A GOOD TEMPLATE YOU GOT THERE TO GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO TO.
NOW, WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
>> MY MOTION IS TO TAKE THIS AS A BASIS, TAKE OUR NOTES AND SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH EACH SECTION, SEE WHAT WE WANT TO KEEP AND WHAT WE WANT TO THROW OUT, WE CAN COMBINE THE TWO.
WHAT'S THE BEST OF THE TWO? BUT WE HAVE TO WORK ON IT AND HAVE A REGULAR SESSION EVERY MONTH.
AS MS. LEWIS SAYS SHE'S GOING TO PUT ON THERE AND GET THIS DONE.
[02:15:01]
>> I SHOULD THINK IN THREE OR FOUR MEETINGS YOU SHOULD HAVE WORKED THROUGH THIS.
>> THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO GET ON WITH IT AND TO USE CAROLINE COUNTY AS A MODEL AND COMMAND IT TOO.
DO I HAVE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION?
>> I'LL SECOND IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD ASKS US TO DO.
>> WHAT MY DISCUSSION IS THAT I STILL WANT TO USE OURS AND USE IT [OVERLAPPING].
>> ON THE SIDE OF INDUSTRIAL, I STILL THINK IT'S NECESSARY THAT WE RE-ZONE THE SITE TO INDUSTRIAL BECAUSE IT'S ELECTRICITY, IS [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK MR. FOSTER BEING HERE TONIGHT, HEARING THE DISCUSSION, I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS SOME OF WHAT OUR PRODUCT IS AND HOW YOU WANT TO PROCEED.
YOU MAY COME BACK WITH SOME DIFFERENT OPINIONS, BUT YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM AND WE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT ARGUMENTATIVE IF YOU MAKE SOME DIFFICULT CHANGES, BUT YOU KNOW THE DIRECTION WE WILL SEND IT ANYWAY.
>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT CAROLINE COUNTY, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF UNLIKE US, YOU'RE ON THE REP HADDOCK WHEREVER, YOU GOT 30,000 PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY.
YOU DO HAVE FARMING, YOU DO HAVE FORESTRY, YOU DO HAVE MINING, AND BOWLING GREEN IS YOUR CAPITAL THERE, AND EVERYBODY THERE, I THINK ENJOYS THE QUALITY OF LIFE THEY HAVE.
THAT'S WHAT I GET FROM TALKING TO PEOPLE I KNOW THERE.
>> THEY DO HAVE A VERY LARGE FEDERAL INSTALLATIONS THAT YOU ALL LACK FOR THIS.
ANYMORE DISCUSSION? IF NOT I'LL CALL A VOTE.
MS. LEWIS I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO, HOPE THAT YOU AND MR. FOSTER CAN MAKE [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT IN THE MEAN TIME, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO GO BACK AND REVIEW THE CAROLINE DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PRESENCE AND GO BACK AND HIGHLIGHT AND MAKE NOTES SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
WELL, WE DO APPRECIATE YOU, GET THAT ACT MS. LEWIS.
I ENCOURAGE ANYONE THAT HAS NOT SIGNED A NEW GREEN BALL UPDATE.
THAT'S PRETTY INTERESTING TOO.
IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF LOOK OUT IS DOING THE SAME THING WE'RE DOING.
THEY HAD AN ORDINANCE AND NOW THEY'RE GOING BACK AND MADE REVISIONS AND FOR WHATEVER REASON SO WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS BUT I THINK WE MAKE GOOD PROGRESS AND I CAN GET SOME GOOD ASSISTANCE AS WE PROCEED FORWARD.
>> I'D LIKE TO THANK THANK MS. LEWIS FOR SENDING THE LIST TO EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
>> IF YOU ALL HAVE SUGGESTIONS AS YOU GO THROUGH THE ORDINANCE, YOU COULD SEND THEM AS MY PROJECT INFORMATION.
>> WE'LL GIVE IT TO HER AND SHE'LL GIVE IT TO YOU.
>> WILL THAT BE OKAY, MS. LEWIS? YEAH.
>> OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON SOLO VOICES MISMATCH? [BACKGROUND]
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. FOSTER.
>> ALL RIGHT. [NOISE] PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
>> IT'S USUALLY TO STAND A CHANCE.
>> I GOT WORD JUST AS I LEFT HOME, WE DON'T KNOW ANY DETAILS.
IF I DID I PROBABLY COULD HAVE SHARED IT WITH YOU.
BUT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT ON HIS FARM.
>> [OVERLAPPING] A FARM ACCIDENT.
>> OKAY. LET ME OPEN AND CLOSE.
>> ANYONE. IF NOT, I'M GOING TO CALL IT PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
ALL RIGHT, ON NUMBER 7, THERE'S THE BZA MATTERS THAT'S BEFORE US.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT ANYONE [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE WE ADJOURN? ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> WE GOT A LOT OF WORK WITH IT.
>> YEAH. WELL, IT'S THE FALL OF THE YEAR. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
[02:20:01]
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING EITHER.
>> IF NOT, I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADJOURN.
>> THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DISCUSSION AND CONTRIBUTION AND EVERYBODY HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME. SEE YOU IN THE NEXT MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.