I LIKE TO CALL IT A MEETING OF THE SOUTHLAND COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION TO ORDER.
[I. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
I'M GOING TO ASK IF EVERYONE WAS STAYING AS WE RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO OUR FLAG.I WANT TO ASK IF EVERYONE WOULD REMAIN STANDING AND MR. CHESSON WILL COME DOWN AND GIVE US A BRIEF INDICATION.
DEAR FATHER. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE THINGS YOU DO FOR US.
WE THANK YOU FOR BEING IN CONTROL.
BUT WE ASK THAT YOU BE IN THIS MEETING TONIGHT.
THE GUIDE AND DIRECT TO EACH OF US.
LORD WE THANK YOU FOR THIS COUNTY AND THANK YOU FOR OUR STATE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE UNITED STATES.
AGAIN, I JUST ASK THAT YOU GUIDE US AND DIRECT US AND THE DECISIONS THAT YOU WANT US TO MAKE.
I PRAY THESE THINGS IN YOUR SONS NAME.
MAY BE SEATED. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE TONIGHT TO OUR APRIL MEETING.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH JUST TO REMIND EACH ONE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF MEMBERS THAT ARE OUT OF TOWN OR I THINK WE HAVE ONE THAT'S SICK, BUT WE'VE GOT ENOUGH FOR A QUORUM.
ANY DECISION WE MAKE TONIGHT, WE'LL GO FORWARD TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS A RECOMMENDATION, EITHER FOR APPROVAL OR DENIAL, OR IT COULD BE THAT WE DELAY ACTION TONIGHT. SO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT.
BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE GO DOWN OUR AGENDA LIST.
[II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PAST MEETING.I HOPE YOU ALL RECEIVED YOUR PACKETS IN A TIMELY MANNER LIKE EVERYBODY'S GOT THEM IN FRONT OF THEM. ANYBODY HAVE ANY ISSUES, ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
I MOVE THEY BE APPROVED? I HAVE A PROPER MOTION TO BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
DO I HAVE A SECOND SECOND? SECOND. HAVE A PROPER SECOND? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED SAY AYE.
OKAY. ITEM NUMBER THREE, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED TONIGHT FOR A REZONING
[III. PUBLIC HEARINGS]
APPLICATION, AND I'M ASKED IF BETH LEWIS WILL PROCEED WITH THAT PRESENTATION.IT'S AN APPLICATION BY BENJAMIN AND SANDRA BRYANT, THE OWNERS FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FROM THE CURRENT DESIGNATION OF A1 AGRICULTURAL TO CRR CONDITIONAL RURAL RESIDENTIAL TO PERMIT THE CREATION OF TWO BUILDING LOTS.
THE REQUEST INCLUDES A SIX ACRE PORTION OF TAX PARCEL 1- 1621, WHICH TOTALS 158.75 ACRES.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF SUNBEAM ROAD, WHICH IS STATE ROAD 680, APPROXIMATELY 3100 FEET SOUTH OF ITS INTERSECTION WITH SANDY RIDGE ROAD, WHICH IS 685.
THE PROPERTY IS IN THE NEWSOMS VOTING AND MAGISTERIAL DISTRICTS.
THIS IS A TYPICAL REQUEST TO CREATE TWO LOTS OUT OF THE 150 ACRE FARM.
YOU HAVE A SURVEY, AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH IN THERE THAT THE APPLICANTS PROVIDED THAT SHOW APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE TWO LOTS THAT ARE SORT OF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROPERTY NEXT TO EACH OTHER, EACH THREE ACRES BY ZONING ORDINANCE, THEY NEED TO BE LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN FIVE ACRES APIECE.
THIS PROPERTY IS NOT IN THE VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT, SO YOU DON'T HAVE ANY REQUEST TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE DISTRICT.
THEY HAVE INCLUDED THE THE TYPICAL PROFFER TO BE PAID AT THE TIME OF A BUILDING PERMIT.
I SENT OUT THE NOTICES TO ALL THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS.
I'VE GOTTEN ANY PHONE CALLS OR ANY CONTACTS, AND THE APPLICANTS ARE HERE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL.
[00:05:02]
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS LEWIS BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH THE HEARING? OKAY, I GOT ONE, I GUESS, AND I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE, BUT THEY, THE PROFFERS DID HE SUBMIT ANOTHER PAGE? YES. OTHER THAN WHAT'S BEEN PROVIDED.THE PROFFERS WERE INCLUDED, RIGHT? YEAH. SAW IT SOMEWHERE, BUT YES.
HAVE YOU SEEN IT, MR. CHESSON? NO, SIR. BUT YOU KNOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T EXIST.
I THINK THE PAGE THAT WE GOT WAS BLANK.
YEAH, I SAW IT IN THE APPLICATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS, BUT I DID SEE IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. I NOTICED THAT BOTH LOTS ARE THREE ACRES, RIGHT? YES. SO HOW DOES THAT WORK IN THE FUTURE? CAN THEY BE DIVIDED INTO TWO OR THREE BUILDING LOTS IN THE FUTURE? THESE TWO LOTS? WELL, THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN A1 ZONING DESIGNATION IS 40,000 SQUARE FEET.
RIGHT, WHICH IS LESS THAN AN ACRE.
SO BUT, SINCE RESIGNING IS CHANGING I GUESS THEORETICALLY THEY COULD.
YOU CAN ONLY DIVIDE UP AGRICULTURAL LAND USING THE RATIO BUT IT ONCE YOU CHANGE THE ZONING TO RURAL RESIDENTIAL I GUESS THEORETICALLY YOU COULD.
YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH A MINIMUM LOT WIDTH.
WHICH YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OUT A THREE ACRE LOT FOR MORE THAN ONE LOT, BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE DESIGN OR WHATEVER.
I JUST ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE TO TRY TO KEEP THE LOTS LESS THAN THE 80,000 SQUARE FEET SO IT CAN'T BE SUBDIVIDED AND CREATE TWO LOTS OUT OF A SINGLE LOT, THAT'S ALL.
AND THAT THE RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS ARE ALWAYS PERMITTED.
GRANNY FLATS, MOTHER IN LAW SUITES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM.
BUT IN ALL THE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, THOSE ARE PERMITTED.
THAT WOULDN'T BE A SEPARATE LOT, HOWEVER.
IT WOULD NOT. NO, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE ON THE SAME LOT AS THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE.
MR. MAYOR, WE CAN ASK THE APPLICANT.
I UNDERSTAND. I'M JUST WANTING TO GET THAT OUT ON THE TABLE.
AND I JUST BE NOTED THAT AS IT'S IN THE FORESTED, THE WOODED PORTION OF THAT TRACT.
SO I AGREE, MY SENTIMENT IS WITH YOU IF IT WAS THAT PRIME FARMLAND.
BUT IN THIS CASE, BOTH LOTS ARE WOODED SO, BUT WE'LL WE ASKED APPLICANT WHEN THEY COME FORWARD.
IS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE PROCEED.
IS THIS TIME I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M GOING TO ASK IF THE APPLICANT, MR. AND MS. BRYANT IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND THEN I'LL ANYONE ELSE CAN COME FORWARD AND SPEAK.
I'VE ALREADY CALLED YOUR NAME.
BUT FOR THE RECORD, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE FOR THE RECORD. IT'S BEN BRYANT, [INAUDIBLE] 32394 SUNBEAM ROAD.
WELCOME TONIGHT. I DO WANT TO SPEAK TO MR. MANN'S QUESTION. BOTH OF THESE LOTS ARE BEING SOLD AS SINGLE BUILDING LOT.
ONE LOT ALREADY HAVE A PURCHASER FOR.
AND THEIR INTENTION IS TO BUILD A HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT LOT.
SO THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY WAY THAT IT COULD BE SUBDIVIDED.
TO CLARIFY TOO, THERE IS NO CROPLAND INVOLVED.
ONE LOT IS ENTIRELY WOODED WITH APPROXIMATELY TEN YEAR OLD PINE.
THE SECOND LOT IS ABOUT 45 TO 50% WOODED, WITH THE REST OF IT HAVING BEEN HARVESTED IN THE LAST YEAR.
SO IT'S [INAUDIBLE]. SO IT IS PART OF IT IS [INAUDIBLE] BOTH OF THESE LOTS IN THAT THREE ACRES ON THE BACK SIDE OF IT PROBABLY THREE FOURTHS OF AN ACRE OF IT ON THE BACK IS GOING TO BE SWAMP. SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING..
[00:10:01]
LIKE A WETLAND MAYBE.YEAH, IT GOES DOWN TO THE WETLANDS [INAUDIBLE] SO THERE'S REALLY NO OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ANYTHING ELSE. AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE LOCATION.
JEFF MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOAM, BUT IT WAS THE PLACEMENT BECAUSE OF BEING AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD, NOT WANTING TO DISTURB ANY OF THE PROPERTY.
PRETTY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. AND MS. BRYANT? WHAT IS THE ROAD FRONTAGE ON THOSE TWO LOTS? DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA? LIKE 200 FEET ON EACH LOT? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GENERATE A LOT OF TRAFFIC OUT ON SUNBEAM ROAD.
I DON'T THINK WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A TRAFFIC COUNT, WHICH OF COURSE, YOU COULD PROBABLY AUTHORIZE THAT, PROBABLY.
BUT ANYWAY, IT'S ON KIND OF A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD.
AND I DON'T I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.
WAS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME FORWARD CONCERNING THIS APPLICATION.
ANYONE ELSE. IF NOT, I'M A CLOSED THE HERON.
LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING MEETS THE CRITERIA.
THAT'S CORRECT. THE REZONING OF THE AGRICULTURAL LAND IS THE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BETWEEN THE BOARD MEMBERS.
I MOTION WE WILL RECOMMEND IT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR APPROVAL.
I HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD SUPERVISORS FOR THIS APPLICATION. I ALSO HAVE A PROPER SECOND.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED, LIKE SIGN, IT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
ALL RIGHT. AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GO DOWN TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON OUR AGENDA ON THE
[IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.AND WE'LL TAKE WHERE WE LEFT OUR LAST MEETING.
ON THE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR DISCUSSION WITH THE REVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.
AND MS. LEWIS AGAIN I'LL CALL ON YOU TO BRIEF US ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT.
I THINK THAT THE ORDINANCE THAT I PUT TOGETHER FOR YOU AND THAT YOU HAVE IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU ASKED FOR IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
IF IT'S NOT, JUST LET ME KNOW AND WE'LL GET IT CHANGED UP.
AT YOUR LAST MEETING, ONE OF THE FINAL THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS A BUFFER AROUND ANY FIVE MILE BUFFER BETWEEN PROJECTS.
SO IF YOU SEE THE MAP THAT WAS INCLUDED THAT WAS MADE BY THE OUR GIS COMPANY, THE DARK GOLD IS IS ONE MILE AROUND ALL THE TOWNS, INCORPORATED TOWNS, WHICH IS PART OF THE ORDINANCE AND THE AND FRANKLIN AND SUFFOLK BECAUSE THEY ARE INCORPORATED PLACES AS WELL.
AND THEN THE LIGHTER GOLD IS A FIVE MILE BUFFER AROUND THE EXISTING SOUTHAMPTON SOLAR.
AND THE GIS COMPANY LOOKED AT SOLAR FACILITIES IN OTHER COUNTIES TO SEE IF ANY OF THEM WERE LESS THAN FIVE MILES FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE WITHIN THAT FIVE MILE AREA.
I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT ONE IN EMPORIA THE ON THE SADDLER ONE MIGHT BE, BUT HE SAID IT'S MORE THAN FIVE MILES.
SO THIS IS THESE BY THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD BE AREAS THAT SOLAR DEVELOPMENT COULD NOT TAKE PLACE BY THIS ORDINANCE.
AND ANOTHER THING YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS THE RATIO BETWEEN FARMLAND AND FOREST LAND AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY PROVIDED THAT THERE'S 69 ACRES.
I MEAN, 69% OF THE COUNTY IS FORESTED LAND.
HE GAVE ME THE THE ACREAGE THAT LEAVES 31% IS AGRICULTURAL LAND MINUS THE PLACES THAT HAVE HOUSES ON THEM.
BUT IT'S NOT VERY MUCH, SO THAT IF YOU TOOK THE TOTAL ACRES IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, DID
[00:15:04]
THE 1%, TOOK OUT THE SOUTHAMPTON SOLAR THAT'S ALREADY DEVELOPED, THAT WOULD LEAVE YOU 2437 ACRES AVAILABLE FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR DEVELOPMENT UNDER THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE.69% OF THAT IS 1682 ACRES OF FORESTED LAND THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED AND 755 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED.
THAT RATIO MAY CHANGE AS YEARS GO BY, BUT THAT'S THAT'S THE FIGURES.
THAT WAS ON MARCH 25TH WHEN I GOT IT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY.
AND YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON HOW.
WELL, IF THIS IS EVENTUALLY PASSED AS PRESENTED IS THIS SOMETHING WE NEED TO REVIEW EACH YEAR TO GET THOSE FIGURES UPDATED? WELL, I THINK YOUR DISCUSSION HAS BEEN AT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT MEETINGS THAT WOULD BE THE APPLICANT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AT THE TIME THEY SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION.
RIGHT. RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, USING A FIGURE THAT IS NOT UP TO DATE.
THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER STUDIES THAT HAVE TO BE DONE. OKAY, VERY GOOD.
YOU DID A GOOD JOB AND YOUR TABLE AND IT'S VERY UNDERSTANDABLE.
THANK YOU. AND THE MAP WITH THE SHADED AREAS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE TECHNICAL ABILITY THEY CAN SHARE WITH US.
BUT IF IT GOT TO WHERE? I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO COME BACK AND SAY, WELL, YOU MISSED IT BY QUARTER OF A MILE. WELL, A THOUSAND FEET, WHATEVER.
IS IT ON A BIGGER SCALE? IS THERE SOME WAY TO NARROW IT DOWN? WELL, THE MAP WOULD TYPICALLY NOT BE PART OF THE ADOPTED ORDINANCE.
IT'S JUST A VISUAL REFERENCE, RIGHT? SO WHEN AN APPLICANT SUBMITS AN ACTION, THEY WOULD HAVE TO SHOW HOW FAR IT IS FROM THE AND SINCE THE ONLY EXISTING SOLAR FACILITY SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS PLOTTED ON THE COUNTY'S GIS WITH METES AND BOUNDS MEASUREMENTS, THEY CAN THEY CAN DO THAT.
OKAY. SO I CONCUR WITH MR. CHESSON AND SOME OF THE SOME OF YOU SPOKE EARLIER BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED THAT.
YOU'LL HAVE A LOT OF HARD WORK, A LOT OF A LOT OF DISCUSSION, A LOT OF GOOD POINTS BROUGHT FORWARD AND A LOT OF COMPROMISE WAS DONE.
BUT I THINK THE FINISHED PRODUCT, I THINK PERSONALLY IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD DISCUSSED AND ASKED FOR. AND I ASKED FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO COMMENT.
WHAT YOUR FEELINGS ARE? IS ANY OTHER YOU SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE? NOW, JUST TODAY I RECEIVED AND I FORWARDED TO YOU AND YOU HAVE PAPER COPIES OF A LETTER FROM A COMPANY CALLED US SOLAR OUT IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER PERMITTING DISTRIBUTED SOLAR LESS THAN 20 ACRES ABUTTING OR WITHIN 300 FEET OF OF AN OTHERWISE APPROVED UTILITY SCALE SOLAR PROJECT.
I FEEL PARTICULARLY HONORED THAT SOMEBODY IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, WOULD CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY TO SENT US A LETTER.
AND AFTER READING THIS IT'S OBVIOUS THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO HELP US OUT.
HE WANTS TO SWING THINGS BACK IN HIS FAVOR SO HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS.
SO I THINK IT INDICATES TO US WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD ORDINANCE.
AND AT THE MEETING LAST MONTH, I DID BRING UP VARIOUS INCENTIVES THAT MAYBE YOU COULD CONSIDER FOR RE-USING BROWNFIELD PROPERTIES LIKE THE OLD SCHOOL OUT BY DREWRYVILLE AND AN OLD HOG FARMS IN THE PACKING PLANT FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE LESS THAN 20 MEGAWATTS AND THERE WASN'T MUCH INTEREST.
SO I TOLD THEM THANK YOU AND THAT I WOULD PROVIDE THIS TO YOU AND YOU COULD DIRECT YOUR QUESTIONS TO THEM.
DO WE HAVE US SOLAR SOLAR IN THE COUNTY, AS FAR AS ON A PROJECT THAT YOU'VE SEEN ANYWHERE? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY OUTSTANDING OR PENDING PROJECTS.
[00:20:08]
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS ANY IN THE PAST THAT THEY'D SENT IN AND PULLED BACK OUT OR WHATEVER. SO THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME I'VE SPOKEN TO THEM? I EXPECT I TO ADMIT I HAVE A STACK OF BUSINESS CARDS.IT'S NO KIDDING. AN INCH AND A HALF THICK OF SOLAR COMPANY, SO.
IF I DUG THROUGH MY PHONE MESSAGES, PERHAPS I EXPECT I'VE SPOKEN TO THEM, BUT I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC PROJECT.
NO. ANYBODY HAVE ANY LITTLE TWEAKS HERE AND THERE, ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, ANYTHING THAT'S UNCLEAR? THE WAY THE ORDINANCE WAS BEFORE DIFFERENT YOU KNOW, IT TALKED ABOUT WHAT'S REQUIRED IN A SITE PLAN IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PLACES.
I TRIED TO GATHER THEM ALL TOGETHER.
SO THE ORDINANCE KIND OF MADE SENSE.
BUT IF YOU SEE ANYTHING, JUST LET ME KNOW AND WE'LL GET IT FIXED.
MR. JOHNSON IS COORDINATING WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AS TO WHEN CAN HAVE A JOINT MEETING BEFORE YOUR PUBLIC HEARING.
IT MAY BE AT THIS MEETING NEXT MONTH.
WE HAVE A NEW MAN COMING ON JUNE ONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM INVOLVED.
GREAT, GREAT. AS LONG AS YOU HAVE, AS LONG AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS THEIR PUBLIC HEARING AND MAKES THE RECOMMENDATION NO LATER THAN YOUR JULY MEETING, THEN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN HAVE THEIR PUBLIC HEARING AND MAKE THEIR DECISION AT THEIR AUGUST MEETING, AND THAT WILL BE BEFORE THE MORATORIUM EXPIRES.
SO A SEPTEMBER 13TH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? YEAH, IT'S BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.
SO HAVE WE GOT A DATE? DID YOU WANT TO WAIT FOR US TO MEET WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS UNTIL THE NEW GUY COMES ON? THAT'S AROUND. YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A NEW GUY COMING ON.
I'D LIKE TO I THINK WE'D LIKE TO SEE HIM GET HIS FEET WET HERE, TOO.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE NEW PERSON WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING BEFORE THEY'RE OFFICIALLY AN EMPLOYEE.
JUST THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT MR. JOHNSON OR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN ASK.
YOU HATE TO RUN OUT OF TIME, YOU KNOW, YOU HATE TO HAVE THE MORATORIUM EXPIRE WITHOUT AN ADOPTED NEW ORDINANCE.
BUT FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING DISCUSSION AND DR.
EDWARDS CAN CONFIRM THAT BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEMBERS WHO EXPRESSED ANY OPINION.
I FELT THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS WHAT THEY WERE SEEKING.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A TENTATIVE DATE.
NOT YET. HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, I CAN LET YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE WORK OUT? WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE MEET THE DEADLINE.
YEAH, YEAH. YOU KNOW, THE SOONER THE BETTER.
RIGHT. SOMETHING MIGHT SET THE MEETING UP, HAVE A TORNADO COME THROUGH AND HAVE TO CANCEL THE LAST. I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET BACK IN.
SO ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? THEY ANY OTHER ADDITIONS, CHANGES, AMENDMENTS, WHATEVER? YEAH, I'LL BRING UP ONE.
AND I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS I FEEL LIKE AND KIND OF ENJOY ABOUT THIS JOB IS SOMETIMES YOU COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I GUESS ONE OF THOSE OTHERS IS IS HERE.
BUT AND HE WAS, I GUESS AND IT MAY COME FORTH IN A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND PUT IT OUT THERE.
IS THAT POSSIBLY IF WE'VE GOT PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS M ONE OR IF IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WE HAVE PROPERTY ALREADY AND ZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL.
WOULD WE CONSIDER ALLOWING THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S WITHIN SOME OF THE BUFFERS? YEAH. I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE INCENTIVE DISCUSSION LAST MONTH TOO.
LIKE THE RACETRACK HAS INDUSTRIAL ZONING, BUT IT COULDN'T HOUSE 20 MEGAWATTS. IT'S ONLY 70 SOME ACRES.
SO. BUT THEN WE ALL ARE TRYING TO THINK WEREN'T WE ALSO TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE M1 AREAS THAT WE WOULD WE WOULD LOOK AT IT IN RECEPTIVE MEANS BECAUSE IT'S CALLED ENERGY GO
[00:25:04]
TO JUST AND I'M JUST THINKING THAT I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM MR. CHESSON BUT IF IT'S JUST A GENERAL M1 DESIGNATION AND NOT ONE THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD ANSWER THAT.YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO THROW IT OUT THERE.
WELL, I'LL THINK ABOUT I'LL JUST USE THE EXAMPLE NOT AND IT JUST MIGHT BE WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I THINK ABOUT THE CAMP PARKWAY PARCEL, SO I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
UH. I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LOOK FAVORABLY UPON, IS PUTTING A SOLAR PROJECT.
WOULDN'T THAT BE WITHIN A MILE OF FRANKLIN? WELL, BUT.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD HOUSE 20 MEGAWATTS.
OKAY. WELL, I GUESS I'D USE THAT AS EXAMPLE, BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE RACETRACK, IF THAT WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY OR I THINK ABOUT THE BILLS PACKING PLANT ON [INAUDIBLE] ROAD LOCATION OR THE SCHOOL SITE, I'M THINKING ABOUT UP IN DREWRYVILLE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SOME OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE PUT ON A STIPULATION TO PUT ON, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS CALLED, LET'S SAY WERE TRYING TO IDENTIFY AREAS, WE WOULD WELCOME IT.
IT'S JUST A GENERAL LET'S TAKE THE TUNNEL TRACK FOR INSTANCE, YOUR BUSINESS PARK OUTSIDE OF FRANKLIN. AGAIN, YOU FOLLOW WITHIN THAT ONE MILE PERIMETER, POSSIBLY.
BUT YOU FOLLOW WHEN I'M GETTING THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST BECAUSE IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A POTENTIAL M1 DESIGNATION OR COULD BE REZONED.
AND ONE FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO.
I THINK YOU BETTER STICK WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE COMES ALONG AND THEY SAY, OKAY, YOU MADE IT.
YOU MADE I DON'T BEND OVER HERE.
YEAH. YEAH, WELL, I DON'T SET A PRECEDENT.
I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE TO CONSIDER.
THAT IT WAS IN ONE MILE, ONE MILE AND ONE MILE OF THE TOWN.
THERE AREN'T A LOT OF AREAS THAT HAVE M1 ZONING THAT ARE NOT ALREADY IN USE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AS INDUSTRIAL ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BUT THEY STILL HAVE AGRICULTURAL ZONING.
RIGHT. SO MOST OF THE M1 ZONING IS RIGHT IN THAT STRIP ALONG 671.
RIGHT. BY THE NEW BIRDSONG WAREHOUSE AND THE PEANUT BUTTER PLANT AND THAT WHOLE STRIP.
BUT THERE ISN'T A LOT OF M1 ZONING.
IT'S AT THE RACETRACK. YOU KNOW, I'LL GIVE THEM A REASON.
REASON BEING THAT IF IT'S LIKE WELL LIKE AN INDUSTRIAL PARK SETTING.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE UTILITIES BEING INSTALLED IN SOME OF THESE LOCATIONS.
AND I DON'T KNOW JUST FOR THAT REASON.
THAT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO BENEFIT A SOLO PROJECT IF YOU FOLLOW ME.
JUST TRYING TO GIVE YOU A MAP IN AN AREA POSSIBLY LIKE THAT.
MAYBE WASTED INFRASTRUCTURE EXPENSE.
LOOK, UNDERSTAND THAT. WHICH WE DID IN THE LAST PROJECT WE BROUGHT THAT AT.
WE HAD SEWAGE LINE RUNNING RIGHT CLOSE TO IT.
NOBODY CARED. BUT THAT MAY COME UP IN THE HEARING AND WE'LL DISCUSS.
GOOD POINT. JUST WANTED TO BRING IT OUT.
GOOD POINT. BECAUSE, I MEAN, THAT'S TO ME, THAT'S OUR JOB AS FAR AS THIS BOARD, THE ISSUES AND RECOMMEND SOMETHING AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN TWEAK IT IF THEY WANT.
EXACTLY. THE JOB OF THIS BOARD TO DO THE WORK.
RIGHT. THESE ARE THINGS THAT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE TIME OR TALENT TO DO.
IS THERE ANY ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY OTHER SECTION THAT WE NEED TO GO OVER.
I MEAN, I REALLY I'M GLAD WE DID IT STEP BY STEP.
IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THROUGH IT, BUT WE DID IT.
AND LIKE I SAID TO ME, I READ THROUGH IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, JUST 30 DAYS, AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT COVERED ALL THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE WERE SEEKING AFTER.
[00:30:04]
AND MS. LEWIS, YOU'VE INTERPRETED OUR SENTIMENT AND PUT IT ON PAPER, AND I THOUGHT, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.ANY OTHER COMMENT, MR. TURNER, YOU GOT A COMMENT? I THINK SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
IT WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION OVER THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.
EDWARDS YOU GOT ANY OTHER COMMENTS? NO, I'M HAPPY WITH IT.
ACTUALLY, IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR.
WELL, SINCE WE'VE TAKEN IT THREE PAGES.
RIGHT. SINCE YOU HAD YOUR WORKSHEETS.
IT WAS THE WORKSHEETS WERE DEFINITELY A GOOD, GOOD WAY TO TACKLE IT.
MR. CHESSON ANY OTHER CONCERNS.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS RECOGNIZED THEIR CONTRIBUTION AND [INAUDIBLE] MR. MANN. SOONER WE GET IT DONE, THE BETTER.
ALL RIGHT. SO CAN CAN WE EMPOWER MS. LEWIS TO MAYBE HELP WITH THE CHAIRMAN [INAUDIBLE] TO MAYBE SET A MEETING? YES. IF THEY LIKE TO COME HERE TO OUR MEETING OR WE'LL COME TO THEM, WHATEVER'S APPROPRIATE FOR THEM. WE'LL CERTAINLY ABIDE BY ABOUT THAT? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
VERY GOOD. THIS IS GOING TO BE A, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH SESSION, BUT WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH IT AND SIGH OF RELIEF, I THINK WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
ALL RIGHT. IF NOTHING ELSE, ON THE SOLAR DISCUSSION, THERE WAS NO NEW BUSINESS LISTED IN
[V. NEW BUSINESS]
THE AGENDA. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO BRING FORWARD? IT'S NOT GOOD.EXCUSE ME. NEXT MONTH, THE LAND FOR HEROES REQUESTS TO COME BACK TO YOU.
THE DAY THAT I PUT THE AGENDA PACKAGES TOGETHER, THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR MATERIAL READY AT THAT. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS 90 DAYS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. IF NOT, IT GOES FORWARD WITH A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD LET THAT 90 DAYS EXPIRE WITHOUT TAKING ANY ACTION.
SO THEY SAY THEY WILL GET SOMETHING TO US IN TIME FOR YOU TO SEE IT NEXT MONTH.
TWO TABLES IN [INAUDIBLE] IS POSITIVE.
UNLESS THIS COMMISSION SAYS MAKES A RECOMMENDATION OF DENIAL.
SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT POSSIBLE NEXT MEETING.
[VI. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD]
IF NOT, WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND OUR OPEN CODE PUBLIC COMMENT, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT OR SOMETHING RELATIVE TO THE COUNTY.MR. UPDIKE WASN'T AT THE MEETING LAST NIGHT TO SPEAK, SO I THINK HE'S PROBABLY SAVED UP A LOT. MR. UPDIKE, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
WELCOME. THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS [INAUDIBLE] SO THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON.
YOU TALK TO INDIVIDUALS AND THEY GAVE IT AND THE PUBLIC MEETING.
JUST TO GET ALONE. I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS.
AND THE FACTS ARE LOOK ALIKE, ECONOMY LOOK ALIKE WITH THE DIRECTION OF FOOD SUPPLY IN THIS COUNTRY. WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO VOTE OR PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT OF.
YOU KNOW, CULTURE, IT TAKES 3%.
INCREASE. WE'LL SEE A BIG DROP IN PRICES.
WE HAVE 30% SHORTAGE AND PRICES FOR OUT OF ITS WORLD.
WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW 24% SHORTAGE OF WHEAT IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THE WORLD. WHERE IS IT IT COMING FROM?
[00:35:01]
YOU CAN PUT IT IN, SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO, WE'RE NOT BE AFFECTED.AND THAT CAN AFFECT IT GREATLY.
AND IF YOU THINK THAT SOLAR PANELS ARE GOING TO ANSWER ALL OUR PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SOMEONE TO TELL ME HOW THE SOLAR PANELS.
COME OVER. AND YOU GOT TO HAVE BACKBONE ENOUGH TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
WE GOT TO HAVE FOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD.
YOU CAN CHECK WITH ANY SOURCE YOU WANT TO.
PEOPLE. THAT'S ONE FOOD FOR THE WORLD.
AND THEY ARE PUTTING IN SOME SHORTAGE OF FOOD.
WE CAN TAKE IT LIGHTLY, SO IT MIGHT NOT AFFECT US.
TAKE YOUR PEN AND SCRATCH IT OFF.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED? WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO OUR COUNTRY? WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SHORTAGE DROUGHT IN WESTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES.
SOME OF THIS YEAR. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU CAN TAKE IT OUT. TO PUT AN INSULT.
THE SECOND THING I WANT TO MENTION.
THE ELECTRIC COMPANIES COULDN'T CARE LESS HOW MUCH IT COSTS.
WELL, WHAT BENEFITS OR WHAT IS NEXT OF ANYBODY? THE MORE IT COSTS, THE RICHER THEY BECOME A STATE CORPORATION.
THEY DIDN'T JACK UP YOUR PRICE 8% AND MAKE THAT'S 8% INCOME.
YOU PUT ALL THESE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO PREVENT YOU FROM DOING THIS AND DOING THAT.
NO. YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE MAKE MONEY FOR THEM.
THEN YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO.
IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN.
THEY SAY NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE AGRICULTURAL LAND PUT ON THE SOIL. NO.
THERE'S A LIGHT. YOU WANT TO COME HERE? WE'VE GOT SOME PROPERTY.
THAT'S, I WOULD SAY, ALMOST USELESS.
TO GIVE THE EXAMPLE LIKE VALUE PROMPTING THAT SO THEY GET, I GUESS, FIVE OR 600 ACRES.
AND THAT PROPERTY IS USUALLY, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, AT COST CONCERN, THINGS LIKE THAT PUT THEM ON THE ROOF TOP WHERE IT'S NOT AFFECTED AGRICULTURE WHATSOEVER.
WELL THE VOTING GO HAVE INTIMATE SO.
THERE'S PLACES WE WILL ACCEPT IT.
AROUND THE EDGE OF THE SWAMP WHERE WE HAVE ABOUT TIMBERLAND IS UNDERWATER.
YET. WE DO EXPECT TO GIVE UP OUR PRIME FARMLAND.
BECAUSE OUR WOODS IS UNDERWATER.
AGREE. I KNOW YOU ALL WORKED HARD AND ALL KINDS OF ARGUMENTS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
I APPRECIATE YOU WORKING TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
ENOUGH TEETH TO SAY WE'LL HAVE.
YOU CAN GO TAKE X, Y AND Z FOR YOUR SOLAR POWER.
[00:40:04]
PUT IT ON THE ROOFTOP.LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF PLACES YOU CAN PUT THEM.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY SHEETS OF PAPER YOU'RE WRITING DOWN, WHERE ARE THEY GOING? THEY GO ON TO THE BEST AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE COUNTY.
AND LIKE I SAY, THEY DON'T CARE HOW MUCH IT COSTS.
THEY MAKE MONEY ON MORE IT COSTS.
SO I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.
I THINK YOU DOWN IN YOUR HEART, YOU KNOW I'M RIGHT.
AND YOU. I'M JUST SICK AND TIRED OF SOLAR PANEL BEING PUSHED DOWN OUR THROATS. SO LIKE I SAY, I KNOW NOBODY'S GOING TO CHANGE THE [INAUDIBLE] AND I KNOW THAT. BUT PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD TO SPEAK YOUR MIND HONESTLY.
THEY'LL TELL YOU THIS NEEDS TO BE KICKED UP.
I'D LIKE TO SAY I THINK A LOT OF US AGREE WITH YOU.
IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS, I'D SAY NO, BUT WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT IT.
IF WE FAIL TO SET UP SOME SORT OF ORDINANCE AND RICHMOND'S GOING TO COME DOWN HERE AND SAID, WELL, YOU GUYS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OVER AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LISTEN TO OUR RULES. SO IT'S A CHOICE YOU GOT TO MAKE THAT'S A REALISTIC CHOICE.
WE'LL TAKE YOUR WORDS AT HEART.
MR. UPDIKE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME FORWARD? DAVID LIEBMANN LEWIS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS PETER COPELAND, MY ADDRESS IS 29075 BETHEL SCHOOL ROAD.
WELCOME. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND SAY THAT MR. CHESSON HAS ALREADY KIND OF BROKEN THE ICE FOR WHERE I'M GOING.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST.
WHEN I STOOD UP TO COME UP HERE, MY WIFE MADE A COMMENT, SOMETHING WE QUITE OFTEN SAY TO EACH OTHER. AND SHE SAID, COOL HEADS PREVAIL.
AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO HAVE A COOL HEAD TONIGHT.
IF I TOLD YOU I WASN'T AGGRAVATED AND FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE SUBJECT, I'M GOING TO ADDRESS I'D BE LYING TO YOU.
IF I MAKE IT THROUGH THIS PLANT HARVEST SEASON.
THIS WILL BE MY 43RD YEAR FARMING SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
THERE'S GOOD NEWS AND SOME BAD NEWS.
LIKE I HEARD YOU TALKING ABOUT PRICING AND.
IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY CHALLENGING YEAR.
I'VE ALSO SERVED ON THE BZA OF THIS COUNTY FOR 20 PLUS YEARS, I SERVED WITH DOUG CHESSON.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I THINK IN THE YEARS I'VE SERVED, WE'VE AGREED AT LEAST TWO TIMES SUBJECT MATTERS. IF YOU'VE SEEN ME AROUND, I'M USUALLY DIRTY.
I'M USUALLY GOT WORK CLOTHES ON.
AND I'M PROBABLY WEARING A SHIRT WHICH HAS MY NAME ON THE FRONT.
TOPEKA FARMS. AND ON THE BACK.
I'M NOT GOING I'M NOT GOING TO SHOW YOU MY POLITICAL STATEMENT, BUT IT'S A PICTURE OF A FARM SCENE. AND SAID, SAYS AMERICAN FARMERS.
WORKING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH FOOD, FIBER AND ENERGY.
[00:45:06]
MICHAEL, DO YOU PRODUCE ANY ENERGY ON YOUR FARM? DO I PRODUCE ANY ENERGY? I PRODUCE COMMODITIES THAT'S USED FOR ENERGY, YES.AT THAT POINT, I WAS GETTING THAT WHEN I WAS GETTING THAT.
I BELIEVE ENERGY AND ITS MANY DIFFERENT FORMS, THIS LIFEBLOOD OF THIS COUNTRY.
RIGHT NOW THE WAR GOING ON BECAUSE OF ENERGY IN MY OPINION.
IT'S A LIFEBLOOD OF THIS COUNTRY IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE WORLD.
SOME CROPS WE GROW ARE, AS MICHAEL SAID, RELATED TO OR ACTUALLY PRODUCE ENERGY.
THEY GO THEY GO IN BIODIESEL FUEL.
THAT COMPETES WITH AND REPLACES POLYESTER, WHICH IS MADE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.
SO BY GROWING COTTON, WE'RE ADDING TO THE SUPPLY OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.
CORN IS [INAUDIBLE] IN THE ETHANOL IS PREDICTED THIS YEAR.
THAT'S 35 TO 40% OF THE CORN ACRES GROWN IN THIS COUNTRY WILL GO INTO ETHANOL PRODUCTION.
THAT'S A LOT OF CORN. THAT'S A LOT OF ACRES THAT'S BEEN USED TO FUEL THIS COUNTRY.
YOU PROBABLY HEARD ON THE NEWS THAT THE IMF BUMPED IT UP TO 15.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO INCREASE ACRES TO GO IN ETHANOL PRODUCTION.
I FOLLOW THE MINUTES OF THIS COMMISSION AND I GET IT.
I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU GUYS ARE COMING FROM.
I'M A FARMER. I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
THIS COUNTRY HAS A DEEP HERITAGE OF AGRICULTURE, PRODUCTION AND FOLLOWING FAMILIES.
I WANT TO SEE THE FAMILY FARM GO ON JUST LIKE ALL.
I ALSO ALSO BELIEVE THE ASPECTS, ALL THE ASPECTS WE NEED TO LOOK AT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME TALKING TO FARM FAMILIES.
MICHAEL MANN, HE'S GOT A SON, COLE, COMING ON BOARD ALREADY ON BOARD.
MICHAEL DRAKE'S GOT A SON, WESLEY ALREADY ON BOARD.
HE'S AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN MY FARMING OPERATION.
SO I GET WHERE YOU ALL ARE COMING FROM.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I'M ALSO AN ADVOCATE FOR LANDOWNERS RIGHTS.
I GREW UP THINKING THAT IF I OWNED SOMETHING, I CONTROLLED IT.
BUT THAT'S THE WAY I WAS RAISED.
IF YOU OWN SOMETHING, IT'S YOURS.
YOU CONTROL IT. BUT SADLY, THAT'S NOT THE WAY OF THE WORLD.
IT'S NOT THE WAY OF THE WORLD.
PRODUCERS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE MANY CROPS TO CHOOSE FROM.
JUST AS FARMS ARE DIVERSIFIED, I FEEL WE NEED ENERGY DIVERSIFICATION.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT A TREE HUGGER.
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL.
I THINK THOSE PEOPLE ARE CRAZY.
BUT DO I FEEL WIND AND SOLAR ARE THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING? NOT IN ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.
BUT I DO FEEL THEY HAVE A PLACE AND THEY ARE PART OF THE OVERALL SOLUTION.
ACCORDING TO THE US EIA, WHICH IS THE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION.
THIS PAST YEAR, RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES PRODUCE 21% OF THE ELECTRICITY THAT THIS COUNTRY USED. 21%.
IT WAS PRODUCED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.
THAT EXCEEDS BOTH COAL AND NUCLEAR.
THIS YEAR, IT'S EXPECTED THAT THIS AMOUNT WILL INCREASE BY 10%.
WIND AND SOLAR THEMSELVES CONTRIBUTED 13%.
IN 2020, THE VIRGINIA CLEAN ECONOMIC ACT WAS PASSED INTO LAW.
THIS LAW MANDATES, AND MR. UPDIKE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT, UP IN RICHMOND.
THIS LAW MANDATES THAT DOMINION ENERGY IS TO TRANSITION TO 100% CLEAN ENERGY BY 2045.
HOW IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN. HOW'S THAT GOING TO HAPPEN IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IF ONLY 1% OF THE LAND IS ALLOWED TO GO INTO SOLAR FARMS. I DON'T SEE HOW IT CAN HAPPEN.
[00:50:04]
YEARS AGO, I ENTERED INTO A SOLAR CONTRACT ON TWO PARCELS THAT I TAKE THAT BACK, I DON'T OWN THEM FARM CREDIT, I OWN ONE AND I DO OWN A FARM BY MYSELF? THEY'RE STILL BEING PAID FOR.OK THESE THESE TWO PARCELS, IF YOU DON'T MIND CAN I GIVE YOU A MAP WHICH SHOWS THE LOCATION? TO SHOW.
SO YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ALRIGHT, AS I WAS SAYING YEARS AGO.
I ENTERED INTO A SOLAR CONTRACT WITH TWO FOSSILS THAT I OWNED.
THEY'RE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A SUBSTATION AND MAJOR OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINES RIGHT ALONG HIGHWAY 58.
IF YOU SEE WHERE I'M TALKING ABOUT A 25 FOOT BERM, IT RUNS ALONG 58 FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THE DISTANCE. AND THEN THERE'S AN 80 FOOT FOREST BUFFER THAT'S BEEN LEFT ON THE BALANCE.
THESE PARCELS ARE LABELED AS INDUSTRIAL UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
I HAD THE PERFECT SOLO SONG, I'LL SAY.
I MEAN, IT'S THE THOUGHT OF IT WAS PERFECT FOR A SOLAR FARM.
BUT AS MR. CHESSON SAID, UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, THE SITE ISN'T ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE RIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD. IS AN INDUSTRIAL PARK, [INAUDIBLE] INDUSTRIAL PARK.
AND THAT'S THE CITY OF FRANKLIN.
SO MY REQUEST IS KIND OF LIKE WHAT DOUG SAID.
I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER TO ALLOW A SITE WHICH HAS AN INDUSTRIAL ZONING.
I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM ON THE INDUSTRIAL SITE.
BUT BUT LET ME JUST PUT LET ME JUST THROW THIS OUT THERE.
THIS SITE WAS PUT UP FOR CO BIDS WHEN I BOUGHT IT.
IF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WARNED IT FOR INDUSTRIAL SITE, WHY DID THEY BUY IT? I BOUGHT IT.
I HAVE NO INTENTION OF SELLING IT.
A LEASE GETS MY INTEREST, A SALE DOESN'T.
ALL RIGHT. AND ANOTHER THING I KEEP HEARING.
SOLAR, MOST SOLAR PROJECTS ARE 20 TO 25 YEARS.
I DON'T SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN GOING IN AND PULLING SOLAR UP AS I DO CLEARING FOREST, LAND OR FARMLAND.
MAYBE YOU CAN CORRECT ME, BUT I MEAN, IT CAN COME BACK TO FARM LAND.
IT COULD COME BACK THE INDUSTRY COULD COME BACK TO ANYTHING AS FAR AS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE SITE.
NUMBER ONE, IT'S NOT FOR SALE.
NUMBER TWO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS LOCATION, IT'S ON A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY.
YOU'VE GOT TO CUT THROUGH SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY TO GET TO IT FROM 58.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT IT'S NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
AND ONE MORE THING IN CLOSING, YOU KNOW, I'LL LOOK AROUND THIS COUNTY.
I DON'T SEE A LOT OF INDUSTRY.
WHERE IS OUR TAX BASE? WHERE DOES THIS COUNTY GET MONEY FROM.
AND WHEN I TALKED TO THIS DEVELOPER, I WAS CONCERNED, CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD PULL OUT AND LEAVE IT OR WHATEVER.
HE SAID, PETER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE A $40 MILLION INVESTMENT.
ISN'T THERE A LOT OF MONEY TO BE MADE TAX WISE FROM SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU WANT ME TO HEAR, I'LL STAND RIGHT HERE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. COPELAND? JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHAT'S THE ACREAGE THAT YOU OWN IN THAT AREA THERE? PROBABLY 450.
[00:55:08]
THANK YOU PETER, THANK YOU.ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO COME FORWARD? LAST CHANCE.
IF NOT, I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?
[VII. BZA MATTERS]
NO BZA MATTERS.ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE THIS BOARD BEFORE WE ADJOURN? BZA WENT, ACCORDING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION LAST TIME.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MS. LEWIS, YOU'LL KEEP US POSTED WITH THE PROPOSED MEETING, A TENTATIVE MEETING DATE, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE EACH ONE OF YOU, IF YOU CAN, ONCE THAT DATE COMES OUT, TRY TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT. SO TO MAKE THIS A VERY SUCCESSFUL MEETING.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A GROUP OF US.
AND WE'LL TAKE WE'LL TAKE THE WORDS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORTH TONIGHT INTO CONSIDERATION.
AND IN A WAY, WE'VE GOT AN AUDIENCE IN FRONT OF US.
WE'VE GOT TO HOPEFULLY HAVE A HEARING ON HERE SHORTLY.
SO ANYWAY, AS A SHOW OF UNITY, WE NEED TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE.
I AGREE. ANYTHING ELSE, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP ONE THING, AND I BROUGHT THIS UP EARLIER ABOUT THE THREE ACRE LOT.
AND I'VE HAD PEOPLE LATELY, YOU KNOW, CAUGHT ME ABOUT THIS AND THEY BOUGHT A FARM AND AND SOMEBODY HAD A LIVE RIGHT TO A HOUSE.
AND THEY WERE THEY WANTED TO SET IT UP SO IT DIDN'T INTERFERE WITH BORROWING MONEY AGAINST THE REST OF IT. AND SO I THEY ASKED, COULD THEY PULL THE HOUSE RIGHT OUT OF A FARM AND SET IT UP A DIFFERENT TRACK? AND I TOLD THEM, YES, BUT I, I TOLD THEM, I SAID, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, TRY TO KEEP IT SO THAT YOU'RE NOT PULLING OUT SO MUCH LAND THAT SOMEBODY IN THE FUTURE COULD NOT TAKE IT AND AND TRY TO KEEP IT BELOW 80,000 SQUARE FEET.
SO THEY COULDN'T GO IN THERE AND DIVIDE IT AND MAKE TWO HOUSES OUT OF IT.
NOW, IN THIS CASE, I THINK WE GOT WETLANDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND YOU GOT TO HAVE, WHAT IS IT, 150 FEET ROAD FRONTAGE.
IT'S JUST IN THE FUTURE WE WON'T KEEP AN EYE THAT WE DON'T SET THE STAGE THAT SOMEBODY COMES IN. AND I HEARD MR. BRYANT SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD A HOUSE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
BUT YOU AND I BOTH KNOW DOWN AT THE OUTER BANKS, THEY'LL TAKE AND EXCAVATE AND TEAR PERFECTLY GOOD HOUSE DOWN.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN [INAUDIBLE] BUT I DIDN'T THINK I'D SEE SLOTS AND HOUSES SEVEN FOR WHAT THEY DO NOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT FROM GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.
WE WANT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE DO A REAL RESIDENTIAL.
SEE WHAT THE POTENTIAL IS OF HAVING A BIG LOT AND THEN TURN AROUND AND CHANGE IT INTO THREE SMALLER LOTS.
JUST BE COGNITIVE OF THAT IN THE FUTURE.
WHO'S GOING TO DO THE HONORS TONIGHT? MAKE A MOTION WE ADJOURN.
GOT A MOTION TO ADJOURN. GOT A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
Y'ALL HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.