IT'S SEVEN? [I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL ] [00:00:03] I'VE BEEN INFORMED IT'S SEVEN. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT A MEETING IS STARTING ON TIME AND ENDING ON TIME. SO WE'LL OPEN THE MEETING. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS THE COMBINED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION [INAUDIBLE] WORKSHOP REGARDING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 22 OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CODE, WHICH IS THE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR PROJECT FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, A NEW ORDINANCE WHICH WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME. WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, OUR NEW ADMINISTRATOR HERE AS OF JUNE ONE, MR. BRIAN THROWER. I MIGHT SAY, BRIAN, THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST MEETING YOU CAN RELAX IN THIS ROOM. [CHUCKLING] SO ENJOY IT TONIGHT. OK, WE'LL GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY AND WE'LL ALL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. [INAUDIBLE] WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO LEAD US IN A SHORT INVOCATION BEFORE WE GET STARTED. REVEREND LUCAS. LET US PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER. FATHER, WE STAND TOGETHER NOW TO ASK YOU TO BE IN THE MIDST. FATHER, WE ASK YOU TO GUARD OUR HEARTS, OUR MINDS AND OUR TONE [INAUDIBLE] TO YOU IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. OKAY, FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, WE HAVE ONE MEMBER WILL BE WITH US BY PHONE, WILLIAM HART GILLETTE, AND WE NEED A MOTION TO OKAY THAT. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY. CHAIRMAN DRAKE. [INAUDIBLE] PHONE CALL TONIGHT. MAKE A MOTION [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S YOUR GROUP. THEY VOTE. [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT. OKAY. HE'S IN. WE DIDN'T VOTE ON WILLIAM HART, DID WE? EXCUSE ME? WE DID? YEAH. OH, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK. YEAH, WE GOT HIM IN. OKAY. CARL SECONDED, WE ALL VOTED. YOU VOTED YES. OKAY. OKAY. I SLEPT THROUGH IT. OKAY. WITH THAT, OUT OF THE WAY, I THINK I'LL JUST OPEN THE MEETING UP, AND SEE IF MRS. [The Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission will hold a workshop regarding proposed amendments to Art. XXII of the Southampton County Code, “Utility Scale Solar Project for Southampton County” ] LEWIS WANTED TO GET UP AND GIVE US A RUNDOWN ON WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO. GOOD EVENING. IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD TO GET HERE. AS YOU RECALL LAST AUGUST 5TH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAD A JOINT MEETING AT PAUL D. CAMP COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO TAKE IN COMMENTS ABOUT THE SOLAR UPDATING THE SOLAR REGULATIONS. THAT MEETING, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ASKED THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO START THE PROCESS TO SET A MORATORIUM FOR NEW SOLAR APPLICATION. ON SEPTEMBER 9TH OF LAST YEAR, PLANNING COMMISSION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAD A JOINT MEETING IN THIS ROOM. PLANNING COMMISSION HAD A PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT INSTALLING A MORATORIUM, AND THEY FORWARDED A RECOMMENDATION OF A SIX MONTH MORATORIUM. TWO OF THE MEMBERS PREFERRED THE 12 MONTHS, BUT THE OVERWHELMING VOTE WAS FOR A SIX MONTH MORATORIUM. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAD A PUBLIC HEARING AND THEY IN THE END VOTED FOR A 12 MONTH MORATORIUM. SO THAT STARTED SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2021, AT 12:01 A.M.. SINCE THAT TIME, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS BEEN WORKING ON REPLACING THE EXISTING SOLAR REGULATIONS. THEY HAD HELP FROM AN ATTORNEY, SCOTT FOSTER, WHO WORKS FOR A RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANY. HE ALSO WORKED ON REVISIONS TO THE CAROLINE COUNTY UTILITY SCALE SOLAR ORDINANCE AND A COUPLE OF OTHER COUNTIES. HE WAS VERY HELPFUL. PLANNING COMMISSION CHOSE TO USE THE CAROLINE COUNTY ORDINANCE AS THE BASIS OF THE REVISED SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY ORDINANCE. SO THESE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ORDINANCE. PLANNING COMMISSION WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY. THEY BROKE IT DOWN INTO SECTIONS AND TOOK A FEW SECTIONS AT A TIME AND THEY HAD HOURS OF DISCUSSION AND LOTS OF STUDY AT HOME AND CONTEMPLATION AND TOOK COMMENTS FROM WHOEVER HAPPENED TO BE AT THE MEETING [INAUDIBLE] MEETS [00:05:07] DESIRES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS BEFORE THEY HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A MINIMUM OF 20 MEGAWATTS AND A MAXIMUM OF 100 MEGAWATTS [INAUDIBLE]. THE MINIMUM WAS SO THAT THERE WEREN'T SMALL PROJECTS SCATTERED AROUND THE COUNTY. SOME OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS HAVE SEEN SMALLER PROJECTS IN NORTHEAST AND NORTH CAROLINA THAT ARE OFTENTIMES UNKEMPT. THEY DIDN'T WANT THAT SPREAD THROUGHOUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. THEIR FEELING IS THAT LARGER PROJECTS ARE PROBABLY BETTER KEPT. [INAUDIBLE] THIS ORDINANCE IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT ONLY 1% OF THE COUNTY LAND AREA BE [INAUDIBLE] UTILITY SCALE SOLAR. NOW OTHER COUNTIES [INAUDIBLE] HAVE PERCENTAGES, THAT PERCENTAGE RANGES FROM 1 TO 4%, BUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS 1%. YOU CAN SEE THE MATH IN THE LITTLE SUMMARY I DID. THE TOTAL ACRES IN SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES, 385,508, 1% WOULD BE 3855 ACRES. SOUTHAMPTON SOLAR ALREADY USES 1418 ACRES, SO THAT LEAVES 2437 ACRES, AND THE COMMISSION WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WASN'T JUST AGRICULTURAL LAND THAT WAS USED FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR. TAKING THE BEST EASIEST TO USE PROPERTY OUT OF AGRICULTURAL USE. SO THEY RECOMMEND HAVING A RATIO BETWEEN FORESTED LAND AGRICULTURAL LAND IN EACH PROJECT AND HAVE THAT RATIO BASED ON WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY SAYS IS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY RATIO BETWEEN THOSE USES AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION. TODAY, THAT IS 69% OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS FORESTED. SO THAT WOULD BE 1682 ACRES OF FOREST LAND ABOUT 755 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND. THAT IS--THERE'RE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS WHO WISH THERE WASN'T ONE MORE ACRE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY LAND USED FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR, AND ESPECIALLY NOT ONE MORE ACRE OF VALUABLE, PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL LAND. THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES THE PROJECTS BE AT LEAST ONE MILE FROM INCORPORATED PLACES. THAT WOULD BE THE SIX INCORPORATED TOWNS, THE CITY OF FRANKLIN AND [INAUDIBLE]. WE KNOW, THERE AREN'T [INAUDIBLE] WOULD HAVE TO BE FIVE MILES FROM EACH OTHER. SO I HAVE A MAP AND A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. [INAUDIBLE] AND AFTER THAT, SLIDE NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE. DO YOU WANT TO CLICK? THAT'S THE ONLY SLIDE. JUST THAT NUMBER FOUR. THIS SHOWS THE DARKER MUSTARD COLOR AREA IS THE ONE MILE BOUNDARY AROUND EACH OF THE INCORPORATED PLACES, AND THE LIGHTER MUSTARD COLOR IS FIVE MILES AROUND SOUTHAMPTON SOLAR. SO THOSE AREAS WOULD BE IN THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE NOT AVAILABLE FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR DEVELOPMENT. WE CAN JUST LEAVE THAT UP IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. THERE AREN'T ANY PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THAT WOULD BE WITHIN THE FIVE MILE RADIUS. I HAD THE COUNTY'S GIS PERSON CHECK. I THOUGHT PERHAPS THAT ONE IN GAINESVILLE COUNTY WAS WITHIN FIVE MILES, BUT IT'S NOT, AND THERE AREN'T ANY IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT WITHIN FIVE MILES EITHER. SO THIS IS THE ONLY AREAS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED. THE RECOMMENDATION IS IF THE PROPERTY IS WITHIN A VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT, THAT PROCESS BE COMPLETED BEFORE THEY SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION. THAT WOULD MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING TO TAKE LAND OUT OF THE DISTRICT AND PUT IT INTO UTILITY SCALE SOLAR, NOT TRY AND SLIP IT IN, MIX IT AND MAKE IT ALL PART OF ONE PROCESS. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A SEPARATE STANDALONE PROCESS AND IT MAY NOT GET APPROVED AT THAT STAGE AND NOT THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAY NOT CHOOSE TO TAKE THAT PROPERTY OUT OF A VOLUNTARY AGRICULTURE DISTRICT, AND THE PROCESS WOULD STOP AT THAT POINT. [00:10:08] THE STATE LAW REQUIRES SITING AGREEMENTS NOW, WHICH [INAUDIBLE], BUT THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT THE SITING AGREEMENT PROCESS BE COMPLETED, WHICH REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BEFORE ANY APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED. SO THAT PROCESS WOULD ALSO BE OUT IN THE OPEN AND FREE STANDING AND AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO SEE BEFORE AN APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED REQUIRES THAT SUBSTATIONS AND OTHER PARTS OF A SOLAR INSTALLATION BE 500 FEET FROM DWELLING, SCHOOLS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, [INAUDIBLE], RIVERS, RIGHTS OF WAY AND THE INVERTERS AND TRANSFORMERS HAVE TO BE 250 FEET. THAT'S MUCH GREATER SETBACKS THAN THE M-1 ZONING DISTRICT REQUIRES FOR ANY OTHER TYPE OF USE. THIS ORDINANCE REQUIRES LANDSCAPING AND BUFFERING. THE CURRENT ORDINANCE ISN'T VERY SPECIFIC. IT JUST SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE SHIELDED, BUT THIS ORDINANCE IS MUCH MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT THE LANDSCAPING NEEDS TO BE, AND IT REQUIRES THAT THE LANDSCAPING BE INSTALLED DURING THE FIRST PLANTING SEASON AFTER THE [INAUDIBLE] DISTURBING PART OF IT IS ISSUED. SO IT HAS TIME TO GROW WHILE THE REST OF THE PROJECT IS BEING PUT IN. THIS ALSO GIVES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SOME OPPORTUNITY TO SHRINK AND GROW THE BUFFERS DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT AND WHAT'S AROUND IT . IF IT IS ABUTTING, NOT A STATE SCENIC RIVER, BUT A LESSER RIVER, YOU MIGHT NOT NEED AS MUCH OF A BUFFER BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO IMPACT ANYONE THERE, BUT IT GIVES THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SOME GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT THE BUFFER SHOULD BE. IT DISCOURAGES NON-NATIVE VEGETATION, WHICH IS HELPFUL. SO IT STAYS ALIVE, [INAUDIBLE] A PROBLEM OUT AT SOUTHAMPTON SOLAR, SOME AREAS WHERE THE BUFFERING IS NOT [INAUDIBLE]. THIS ALSO REQUIRES A $50,000 LANDSCAPE BOND THAT'S HELD FOR THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT SO THAT IF THE OWNERS OF THE PROJECT OR OPERATORS DON'T FIX DEAD LANDSCAPING [INAUDIBLE]. WE HAVE A $50,000 BOND THAT HAS TO BE RENEWED IF WE EVER HAVE TO USE IT. THIS PROHIBITS TOPSOIL BEING ON SITE SOUTHAMPTON SOLAR, [INAUDIBLE] OF TOPSOIL AND REMOVING THE TOPSOIL MAKES IT DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, FOR THE PROPERTY TO EVER REVERT TO AN AGRICULTURAL USE AGAIN UNLESS THEY BRING ALL THOSE TRUCKLOADS OF TOPSOIL BACK IN. THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT THE COMMUNITY MEETING BE HELD NO MORE THAN SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED. IN THE [INAUDIBLE] AREA, THERE WERE COMMUNITY MEETINGS. [INAUDIBLE] THREE YEARS AGO ON THAT PROJECT WHEN THEY WERE THINKING THAT PEOPLE WERE THINKING ABOUT DOING A PROJECT IN THAT AREA [INAUDIBLE] HAVING A COMMUNITY MEETING, THAT WHEN YOU WAIT A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE YEARS, PROPERTIES CHANGED HANDS AND PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T THERE WHEN THE MEETINGS WERE HELD. SO THIS REQUIRES THAT THE COMMUNITY IS MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER. IT REQUIRES THAT THE SITE PLANS AND THE DECOMMISSIONING PLANS AND THE SITING AGREEMENTS ALL BE REPORTED WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] SO IT'S NOT JUST. IT'S DEPENDENT ON SOMEONE REMEMBERING SOMETHING, [INAUDIBLE]. IT'S A COURT RECORD, AND ONE OF THE LARGER THINGS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS DISCUSSED FOR YEARS IS GIVING ZERO SALVAGE VALUE AT THE DECOMMISSIONING STAGE. THE COMMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO SADDLE THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WITH CLEANING OUT THESE PROJECTS 35 YEARS FROM NOW, [INAUDIBLE] GUESS WHAT THE SALVAGE VALUE OF THE MATERIAL MAY BE? IT MAY BE SUBSTANTIAL, AND PERHAPS WHOEVER DOES THE DECOMMISSIONING IS GOING TO BE FINANCIALLY REWARDED FOR IT. MORE POWER TO, BUT IT MAY NOT BE, BUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS FELT STRONGLY FOR YEARS THAT THE SALVAGE [INAUDIBLE] VALUE SHOULD BE ZERO. PLANNING COMMISSION LOOKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TONIGHT. IF THERE ARE CHANGES THAT YOU WANT, THE COMMISSION IS MORE THAN WILLING TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES. IF THE CHANGES ARE TOO EXPENSIVE OR NEED A LOT OF DISCUSSION [INAUDIBLE] THAT MEANS THAT THEY [00:15:08] COULD PASS, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND PASS THIS ON TO THE SUPERVISORS FOR THEIR JULY MEETING, WHICH GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ORDINANCE TO REPLACE [INAUDIBLE]. ANY QUESTIONS? BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I JUST WANT TO CHECK. WILLIAM HART, ARE YOU WITH US? I AM. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HOW ABOUT DOUG? CHESSON, ARE YOU WITH US? HE'S REALLY ON VACATION. [CHUCKLING] HE DID SEND ME A TEXT, MR. CHAIRMAN, SAID THAT HE WAS LISTENING IN. SO, HE'S UNABLE TO TALK, BUT HE IS LISTENING. DR. EDWARDS, I THINK WE OWE A BIG THANK YOU TO BETH AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BECAUSE THEY WORKED HARD FOR A LONG TIME AND MADE SOME GOOD IMPROVEMENTS. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A PROJECT THAT WAS BATTERED BACK AND FORTH AND DISCUSSED AND RE DISCUSSED AND TORN APART AND PUT BACK TOGETHER. AS MUCH AS THIS ORDINANCE WAS AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND I'VE GOT TO SAY, MRS. LEWIS DID ONE HECK OF A JOB ORGANIZING ALL THIS. SO WE OWE ALL OF THEM A ROUND THE THANKS. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. I'D GIVE THEM FIVE AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE. LOOKS GREAT. THANK YOU ALL. ANYBODY WANT TO DISCUSS ANY PART OF IT? WILLIAM HART. MADE SOME GOOD IMPROVEMENTS. YES, SIR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT, SIR? WELL, I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO ADD. THE MORE I READ, THE LESS I LIKE SOLAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO DECOMMISSIONING. NOBODY YET KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S CERTAINLY NOTHING, AND I KNOW IN THE ORDINANCE YOU CAN'T COUNT ANY RECYCLABLE REVENUE AS PART OF THE DECOMMISSIONING REVENUE. SO THAT'S A GOOD THING, BUT ALL I CAN SEE IS WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, WE'LL HAVE SOME EXCELLENT SITES FOR CONTAMINATED LANDFILLS. SO THAT'S YET TO BE PROVEN. I HOPE IT NEVER IS, BUT IT SURE LOOKS LIKE TO ME THAT'S WHERE IT'S HEADED. THE OTHER THING THAT TROUBLES ME IS THE ENERGY THAT GOES BACK TO THE END USERS, OUR CITIZENS, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH NOTHING EXCEPT AN INCREASE IN THE MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILL. I NEVER HAVE BEEN A PROPONENT OF THE GOVERNMENT PICKING AND CHOOSING WINNERS, AND THIS IS A HUGE PROJECT THAT THEY HAVE VENTURED OFF INTO PICKING AND CHOOSING WINNERS, AND THE FINANCIERS ARE THE TAXPAYERS WITH VERY LITTLE, IF ANYTHING, TO SHOW FOR IT. GREEN ENERGY HAS NEVER BEEN DEBATED THOROUGHLY IN CONGRESS OR IN ANY OTHER PUBLIC FORUM THAT I KNOW OF , BUT THAT'S NOT TO MINIMIZE THE HARD WORK THAT THIS PLANNING COMMISSION DID. THEY DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HARD WORK. THE QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE TO ADOPT? SO IF THAT'S MANDATED BY THE GOVERNMENT THAT CHANGES THE WHOLE PICTURE IN MY MIND, BUT I JUST CAN'T SEE TAKING SOMETHING LIKE THIS AWAY FROM PRIVATE BUSINESS [INAUDIBLE]. IN THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM, IT WOULD BE UP AND RUNNING STRONG ALREADY, AND SABOTAGING ONE BUSINESS TO IMPLEMENT ANOTHER ONE JUST DOES NOT ADD UP IN MY MIND, BUT I'LL JUST END MY COMMENTS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MINIMIZE IT. IF YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE BETTER ONES THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN ARRIVED AT. [00:20:07] THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. ANYBODY ELSE? MR. RANDALL. CAN I ASK MRS. LEWIS A QUESTION? YOU CERTAINLY CAN. MY PEN WASN'T FAST ENOUGH WHEN YOU WERE UP THERE. SO JUST SO I'VE GOT MY FIGURES RIGHT. SO THERE IS 2437 DEVELOPABLE ACRES LEFT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR PANELS. THAT'S CORRECT. SO NO MORE THAN 1% OF THE AREA. SO THAT IS WHAT IS LEFT AND DOES THAT INCLUDES ALL THE BUFFERS? BASICALLY THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT SPACE, BECAUSE ONE [INAUDIBLE] HAS, I WOULD SPECULATE, AT LEAST 60 ACRES OR 50 ACRES THAT IS PART OF THE PROJECT THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE SOLAR PANELS. SO DOES THAT ENTIRE SITE PLAN QUALIFY? SO IF WE GET ANOTHER ONE, AND IT'S THE ENTIRE PARCEL THAT IT'S TAKING OUT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. LET'S JUST SAY HYPOTHETICALLY, IT'S 1000 ACRES. THE ENTIRE SITE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE OFFERS AND EVERYTHING THAT WOULD GO INTO THE 2437. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE [INAUDIBLE]. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? YES. YES, SIR. I CERTAINLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND COMING UP WITH THIS ORDINANCE, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT YOU'VE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE INTEREST OF THE COUNTY, AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BUT NOW I WAS READING THIS CORRESPONDENCE FROM US SOLAR. IS THAT SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONSIDER? CAN I ANSWER THAT? IN MY OPINION, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, THE LETTER FROM SOLAR TO ME INDICATES THAT WE'VE GOT A VERY GOOD ORDINANCE. OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T BE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. SO I THINK IT'S A COMMENT. I MEAN, IT'S A POSITIVE COMMENT, IS THE WAY I LOOK AT THAT. ALL THAT COMPANY WANTS TO DO IS COME IN HERE, DO THEIR BUSINESS, AND GET THE HECK OUT AND LEAVE US WITH WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT. SO MY CONSIDERATION TO THEM IS ZERO. I MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE. I MEAN, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LAST SOLO DEVELOPER. HE CAME IN, MADE HIS PITCH, SOLD IT, AND HE'S GONE. HE MADE HIS MILLIONS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, AND THEY'RE GONE. SO, YEAH, THAT US SOLAR IS JUST LIKE I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE COMPANY THAT CAME IN AND PITCHED IT? THE ONE WE'VE GOT. I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE TIME, SO I JUST REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, BUT IT WAS THE DEVELOPER IS THE ONE THAT MADE ALL THE MONEY, YOU KNOW. SO HE KIND OF SNOWED US THE WAY I FEEL BECAUSE WE WERE, WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SOLAR, AND WE HASHED THAT THING OUT FOR, WHAT, EIGHT MONTHS, TEN MONTHS, TRIED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO IT, AND WE FINALLY--WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO LOOK TO. YEAH. [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY WAS THE ONLY [INAUDIBLE] THAT HAD A SOLAR INSTALLATION OF ANY SIZE. SO WE LOOKED AT [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY. WELL, ALSO, I JUST REMEMBER I TRAVELED THROUGH THERE ALL THE TIME GOING BACK AND FORTH TO NORTH CAROLINA, AND I JUST REMEMBER THE GUY SITTING RIGHT HERE TELLING US THEY WEREN'T GOING TO UPSET ANY TOPSOIL OR BE HAVING ANY HEAVY EQUIPMENT, ANY BIG BULLDOZERS. I RODE BY THERE AND THEY HAD TO HARD DRIVE SIXES OUT THERE PUSHING ALL THE TOPSOIL OFF WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO PUT THE LAYDOWN YARD AND ALL THE TRANSFORMERS AND ALL THAT. SO THEY SAT RIGHT THERE AND LIED TO US. SO I GOT A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH FROM THAT. I WAS JUST THINKING, OKAY, WE HAVE 2437 ACRES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND SOLAR COMPANIES ARE COMING IN, WILL BE COMING IN TO ASK TO USE THOSE ACRES, AND SO WHAT TYPE OF FORMAT WE HAVE, WHERE WE HAVE THE ORDINANCE AND THAT WOULD ELIMINATE US SOLAR FROM BEING ABLE TO COME IN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THEY WANT IT TO, BUT OUR ORDINANCE ORDINANCE DOES NOT ELIMINATE PEOPLE COMING IN, SATISFYING THE ORDINANCE AND USING THOSE 2437 ACRES. THAT'S CORRECT, SHOULD THIS ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED IN SOME FORM, YES. [INAUDIBLE] A COMMUNITY AND THIS IS UTILITY. SMALLER SCALE. [INAUDIBLE] YES. REMEMBER ANYTHING THAT COMES IN, IT'S GOT TO GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. [00:25:06] GO THROUGH YOU GUYS, AND COME TO US. SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT, THEN I THINK WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IT. A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES. WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE COUNTIES TO THE EAST OF US ABOUT PROBLEMS, AND WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THOSE MISTAKES THAT THEY MADE. IF YOU LOOK IN EUROPE, EUROPE WENT TOTALLY OUT AND IT WENT HOG WILD OVER SOLAR. NOW THEY'RE GETTING OUT OF IT. THEY'RE ALSO GETTING OUT OF THE WINDMILL BUSINESS, AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT AND IF YOU TALK TO WHAT DOMINION SAYS, IT'S ONLY GOING TO SUPPLY 6 TO 8% AT MOST OF OUR ELECTRICITY AND MOST OF THAT'S GOING TO GO ON THE GRID TO THE BIG CITIES. NOT GOING TO GET US AND IT'S GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE. SO YOU HAVE TO FIGURE HOW MUCH DESTRUCTION OF GOOD CROPLAND OUR AND OUR SCENIC VALUE HERE YOU WANT TO PUT UP WITH FOR THAT AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY OR WHATEVER THE COST. IF YOU REALLY GET DOWN, I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL ENGINEERS. ONE HAD RETIRED FROM DUKE POWER HE TOLD ME HE SAID--I TRIED TO GET HIM TO COME HERE TO SPEAK, BUT HE'S IN HIS LATE EIGHTIES AND HE HAD SOME SICKNESS IN THE FAMILY--ANYWAY, HE TOLD ME THAT THE REALLY KNEW WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE WAS IN THIS STUFF, WE NEVER APPROVED A SINGLE ONE , AND THEN HE WENT THROUGH THE EMBEDDED COST, THE CARBON FOOTPRINT IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS STUFF. EVERY MATERIAL THAT'S MADE YOU NEVER GET BACK EVEN SAVING THAT OVER 30 YEARS. TO PUT IN A SOLAR FARM, IT TAKES ABOUT 5 MILLION POUNDS OF DIFFERENT ORES AND ALL THE ALL THE MATERIALS THAT GO IN AND THEN YOU FIGURE ALL THE GAS AND ALL THE OIL AND ALL THE CARBON FOOTPRINT THAT TOOK TO MAKE THE MACHINERY AND ALL THE CARBON [INAUDIBLE] GET HERE AND THEN PUT THE THING IN. YOU NEVER GET IT BACK. AND CALL IT GREEN ENERGY. IT'S THE EMBEDDED COST THAT, IN THIS SITUATION, NEED TO THINK ABOUT AND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW WITH OIL, WE'RE NOT GETTING OIL NOW, BUT WE'RE LETTING THE REST OF THE WORLD BURN IT. SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WHETHER THERE'S CARBON PUT IN THE ATMOSPHERE OVER THERE OR HERE? IT'S NO DIFFERENT. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S MY FEELING ON IT, AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THIS BOARD AND FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION STANDING UP AND WHAT I FEEL IS A QUALITY DOCUMENT. I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, MR. CHAIRMAN. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS IN EXTENDING A BIG, BIG, BIG THANK YOU TO BETH AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR GOING THROUGH THE EFFORT TO MAKE THIS DOCUMENT HAPPEN. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT. SECOND, I HAD JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. HOW MANY MEGAWATTS ARE THE FARMS WE HAVE NOW? SOUTHAMPTON SOLAR IS 100. OKAY, AND OF THE 385,108 ACRES WE HAVE TOTAL, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS ZONED M-1 FOR THE LIMITED INDUSTRIAL ZONING? I KNOW THAT'S A TOUGH ONE BUT IT JUST--YEAH, A HANDFUL OF IT'S GENERALLY IN THE AREA OF UM, GENERAL THOMAS HIGHWAY. IT'S NOT SPREAD THROUGHOUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. [INAUDIBLE] M-1 ZONING, AND [INAUDIBLE] HAS PERHAPS M-1 OR M-2 ZONING. BUT THEY WOULD BE LIMITED TO THAT WITHOUT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND APPROVAL FROM US. EVEN WITH THOSE ZONING DESIGNATIONS, THEY WOULD STILL NEED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR. UM, ACCORDING TO THE STATS, 93% OF THIS COUNTY'S A-1 OR A-2. RIGHT. IF SOMEONE HAPPENED TO FIND PROPERTY THAT HAD M-1 OR M-2 ZONING, THEY JUST WOULDN'T BE DESIGNING [INAUDIBLE], BUT THEY WOULD STILL NEED THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. OKAY, THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD ON OUR ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF PAGE SIX, IT MENTIONS TO MITIGATE SITE VISIBILITY. WOULD THAT BE IN ADDITION TO LANDSCAPING THAT'S ALREADY REQUIRED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTIONS OR DOES THAT MEAN SOMETHING ELSE? [00:30:01] NO, IT IS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF DESCRIBING IT. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. QUESTIONS, ANYBODY? YOU GUYS OUT THERE? I WAS GOING TO MAKE ONE A LITTLE COMMENT, AND IN MOST CASES, IF SOMEBODY DOES HAVE M-1 OR M-2 INDUSTRIAL, THEY'D BE JUST ABOUT CRAZY TO PUT SOLAR PANELS ON BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE CLOSE TO A DEVELOPABLE SITE MOST OF THE TIME. SO THAT'S GREAT THAT YOU ALL HAVE GOT IT WHERE YOU STILL GOT TO HAVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, BUT AND GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. BUT NOT MANY PEOPLE WOULD TAKE ALREADY ZONED INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY AND PUT SOLAR PANELS UNLESS THEY WERE DESPERATE. [CHUCKLING]. I GOT A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. ON PAGE THREE, I BELIEVE IT'S F, I WAS WONDERING ABOUT INSERTING THE WORD MUSEUMS BECAUSE THE AG MUSEUM BUTTS UP TO PROPERTY THAT COULD ONE DAY BECOME SOLAR, AND [INAUDIBLE] PERHAPS INCLUDING THE WORDS CULTURAL RESOURCE. YEAH, IT SAYS HISTORICAL BUILDINGS OR SOMETHING. PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND HISTORIC PROPERTIES, BUT THE AG MUSEUM IS NOT ALL HISTORIC. RIGHT, BUT THERE MIGHT BE OTHERS. [INAUDIBLE]. YEAH THAT WOULD BE GOOD, AND ON PAGE TEN, WHAT IS PERENNIAL FLOW? PERENNIAL FLOW MEANS THAT IT'S ALWAYS [INAUDIBLE]. OH, OKAY. INTERMITTENT FLOW MEANS IT'S WET ONLY WHEN IT RAINS. AND THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WETLANDS? YES, WETLANDS ARE SPECIFIC TYPE OF [INAUDIBLE]. OKAY. OKAY, ANYBODY ELSE? WELL, JUST FROM READING THAT, IT'S JUST NOT CLEAR TO ME, AND THAT'S ON ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES. WHEN I PRINTED IT CAME OUT ON PAGE 12 C. WHEN READING THAT, IS THAT CONFUSING TO ANYBODY BUT ME? THOSE SECTIONS THAT REQUIRE THE STUDY ARE DIRECTLY FROM THE CURRENT SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE. THEY ARE PART OF THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE TODAY AND THEY ARE PART OF THE CURRENT SOLAR ORDINANCE AS WELL. I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE IDEA, JUST THE FLOW OF THE WRITING. THE WORD WHOEVER IS KIND OF IN THE WRONG PLACE OR SHOULDN'T BE THERE AT ALL. [INAUDIBLE] THAT THE COUNTY SHALL REQUIRE THAT SUFFICIENT STUDY ANALYSES ARE PERFORMED. THAT WHOEVER DOESN'T NEED TO BE THERE, LETTER C ON PAGE 12 . ANYTHING ELSE, CARL? NO. ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY OUT THERE? PLANNING COMMISSION? PUBLIC? I'LL LET YOU 3 MINUTES. GO AHEAD, AND I'M TIMING YOU TOO [CHUCKLING]. YOUR TIMER IS RIGHT OVER THERE AT THE END. ALL RIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR DIRECTOR FOR HIS WONDERFUL COMMENTS [INAUDIBLE]. SOMEBODY IS LISTENING TO WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN THIS WORLD AND EVEN DR. EDWARDS STATED SOLAR [INAUDIBLE] GENERATE ENOUGH INCOME TO SEE [INAUDIBLE] APPROVAL, YOU KNOW OF ELECTRIC [INAUDIBLE]. THERE'S NO WAY THIS IS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN. [00:35:03] WE WERE HAVING THE SAME DISCUSSION FIVE YEARS AGO. NOBODY WOULD LISTEN. NOBODY, ESPECIALLY THE GUYS, THE PEOPLE THAT OWN LAND AROUND. YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO, BUT I HAD TO SELL HIS HOUSE 30% LESS THAN THE ASSESSOR'S APPRAISAL. [INAUDIBLE] LAND IN THAT AREA GOING TO BE SOLD THAT'S GOING TO REFLECT A BIG [INAUDIBLE] IN ONE [INAUDIBLE] PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE. THEY DON'T WANT TO LIVE THERE. I CAN'T BELIEVE. I'VE FUSSED ABOUT IT BEFORE, FUSSING ABOUT IT AGAIN. I WANT TO KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WANT TO LIVE WITHIN 500 FEET OF A SOLAR PANEL. LET ME SEE THE HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO SEND CHILDREN TO PRISON [INAUDIBLE] A PRISON OVER 250 FEET [INAUDIBLE] SOLAR PANELS. THAT'S RIDICULOUS! TALKING ABOUT DEPRESSION. I UNDERSTAND DEPRESSION, BUT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND NOTHING MORE [INAUDIBLE] CHILDREN THAT HAVE SOLAR PANELS ALL AROUND, SEND THEM TO JAIL; IT'S WORSE THAN THE JAIL. [INAUDIBLE] THINGS WE GOT TO DO IS STAND UP , AND I'LL STOP HERE. I WANT TO KNOW JUDGE WHAT DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL DIVISIONS SENT US A LETTER STATING STATING THAT WE MUST, [INAUDIBLE] CERTAIN THAT MUCH LAND FOR SOLAR PANELS . WHO'S GIVING OUR FREEDOM UP TO SAY WE GIVE UP, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS SEND US A NOTE AND WE'LL DO IT. THAT IS NOT THE WAY AMERICA OPERATES. STAND UP AND SAY THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. PEOPLE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, PEOPLE ON THE BOARD WILL TELL YOU--NOT IN PUBLIC--THAT THEY ARE OPPOSED TO ALL THAT STUFF, BUT YET [INAUDIBLE]. GET RID OF IT. IT IS RIGHT NOW IRRESPONSIBLE TO DESTROY A COUNTY JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY IN A GREEN DEAL IN WASHINGTON OR THE TOWER WANTS US TO DO SOLAR. THAT'S [INAUDIBLE]. SOLAR DON'T PAY, AND WE CANNOT, AND THE ORDINANCES TOO, I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE IN IT. YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE LIKE, DEVELOPERS. DOMINION? ALL THESE PEOPLE GETTING RICH OFTEN, [INAUDIBLE] EXPENSE. YOU'RE PAID FOR IT. I'M PAYING FOR IT AND WE'RE GET NOTHING, BUT A BIG BILL. SO PLEASE DON'T GET TOO BIG A RUSH. I KNOW HOW MUCH HARD WORK YOU ALL PUT INTO IT, BUT YOU'RE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. [INAUDIBLE] AND YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO. OH, HE'S JUST GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] THAT EXTRA 2000 ACRES OF WASTELAND, AND SO, NO, THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE GOING TO THE BEST [INAUDIBLE] AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO PUT IT , AND THEN I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN THERE THAT YOU CAN'T GO TO X, Y AND Z. I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE IT SAYS THIS AREA OVER HERE IS AVAILABLE. IT'S TOO WIDE OPEN, AND YOU THINK, WELL, WE GOT ALL THESE RULES AND REGULATION. [00:40:03] THEY DON'T CARE HOW MUCH IT COSTS. ELECTRIC COMPANIES. PEOPLE WILL GO TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. [INAUDIBLE] JUST CAME IN THIS PAST WEEK. [INAUDIBLE] NEED MILLIONS MORE DOLLARS TO [INAUDIBLE] OPERATE. THIS IS WHY EVERY DIME THEY BORROW, THEY DON'T GET A PENNY OUT OF IT. SO THEY'RE MAKING MONEY ON OUR STUPID BARN. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING ON SOLAR AND OTHER EXPENSES TO THE STATE [INAUDIBLE] SOURCES. SO PLEASE WISE UP AND KNOW THIS IS NOT A GOLD MINE AND FACT REMAINS IS THIS. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THIS LAND AFTER SOLAR IS GONE. WELL, PEOPLE WERE PAYING [INAUDIBLE] FIGURES $2000 ACRE TAXES ON THAT 2000 ACRE LAND. WHEN IT GOES OUT OF BUSINESS, WHAT'S THAT LAND WORTH? JUST HOLDING THE EARTH TOGETHER. [INAUDIBLE] OVER $500 [INAUDIBLE] WASTELAND. THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE THE ROOF. I DON'T BLAME THEM FOR RAISING THE ROOF, BECAUSE THE LAND IS USELESS. YOU CAN TELL ME [INAUDIBLE] THIS LAND'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE PUT BACK IN AGRICULTURE. FORGET IT. THEY ARE LYING TO YOU, B BIG TIME. THEY'RE DIGGING ALL THE TOPSOIL TO PUT DOWN GRAVEL ROADS.[INAUDIBLE] MENTION TO DRAKE, WENT HE WENT BY ONE OF THE SOLAR PANELS, AND IT WASN'T REALLY WORKING, [INAUDIBLE] OVER [INAUDIBLE] DIRECTION NOT EVEN FUNCTIONING. SO, I JUST THINK, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE VALUE WE'RE GOING TO EVEN BREAK EVEN BY RUSHING TO PROVE THAT SOLAR PANELS AND, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN INSIDE OF 200 FEET OF THESE SOLAR PANELS. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? LOOKS LIKE A JAIL TO ME. I'M SURE THE KIDS WOULD THINK THE SAME THING. SO [INAUDIBLE] THE BOARD WOULD FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT THEY KNOW IS RIGHT. THEY WOULD SCRAP IT. ANYBODY ELSE ? [INAUDIBLE] WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT? YOU KNOW, IF YOU READ THE CASES OF SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, ESPECIALLY THE OPINION BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND HE'S TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY RIGHTS. SO IT IS A GREAT DEBATE IN A DEMOCRACY OR IN THE ORDER OF LIBERTY THAT WE ENJOY IN AMERICA AS TO WHETHER TO MY PROPERTY RIGHTS, MY ABILITY TO DO WHAT MY PROPERTY, WHAT I WANT TO STOP AND YOURS BEGIN. BECAUSE THE TREND ON THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES SEEMS TO BE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL. JUST FACTOR THAT IN. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. RANDALL. LOOK AT THIS, I FEEL LIKE WE WENT BACK AND FORTH AND WE DID A BALANCING TEST, AND WE FEEL LIKE THAT WE USED NUMEROUS EXAMPLES THROUGH THE [INAUDIBLE] AND WE FELT LIKE FROM OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND EVERYONE THAT WE HEARD FROM THAT THIS WAS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE THAT WE COULD DO ON A CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS, AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, YOU [00:45:03] CAN'T JUST SAY YOU CAN'T DO X. IT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE UNDER THE LAW, AND MR. RAILY GUIDED US TO THAT POINT. WE HAD AT LEAST THREE NIGHTS THAT WE WERE THERE PAST 11:00 DEBATING THIS ISSUE, BUT I THINK FROM A RESTRICTIVE STANDPOINT, ALL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION BELIEVES WITH OUR LEGAL EXPERT THAT IT WILL PASS CONSTITUTIONAL SCRUTINY, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN BASES IS WHY WE PICKED THIS ROUTE. THANK YOU, SIR. REMEMBER SOME COUNTIES ARE 4 TO 5%. WITH THE LOW END AT ONE. I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD REQUESTS FROM TWO COUNTIES ONE MY HOME COUNTY, ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, FOR A COPY OF OUR ORDINANCE. SO MAYBE WE'RE SETTING SOME GUIDELINES OF SOME PRECEDENT THERE, SOMETHING FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND REMEMBERING WE HAD THE JOINT MEETING WITH DOMINION AND THE REPRESENTATIVE OF DOMINION SAID IF WE'RE NOT WANTED, WE'RE NOT COMING THERE. WE'LL SEE IF THEY LIVE UP TO THAT. [CHUCKLING] ALL RIGHT, THE FLOOR IS STILL OPEN. YEAH, I HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. REGARDLESS OF WHAT ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED, THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA NOW REQUIRES CITING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE LOCALITY AND A POTENTIAL SOLAR [INAUDIBLE]. THAT'S PART OF STATE LAW. I DON'T KNOW IF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HAS TO ADOPT THAT, MR. RAILY ADOPT THE SIGNING AGREEMENT. THEY DON'T? OKAY, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER TASK THAT HAS TO BE DONE. ALSO, THERE'S THE TAXING ISSUE, WHETHER IT BE REVENUE SHARING OR THE [INAUDIBLE] TAX THAT'S DONE NOW. THAT'S A QUESTION THAT THE COUNTY CAN TAKE UP AT A LATER TIME. THE REVENUE SHARING STARTS AT 14,000 MEGAWATTS AND GOES UP 10% EVERY FIVE YEARS, AND [INAUDIBLE] TAXES STEP DOWN [INAUDIBLE] PROPERTY PANELS DECREASE IN VALUE OVER THEIR LIFE. SO THAT'S JUST THE BALANCING ACT THAT. SOMEBODY WHO'S MUCH BETTER AT MATH THAN ME CAN FIGURE OUT AS TO WHICH WAY THE COUNTY WANTS TO GO, BUT SHOULD THE COUNTY MAKE A DECISION TO ADOPT THE REVENUE SHARING? YOU DON'T GET TO CHANGE WITH EACH PROJECT. THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO IT FOR ANY PROJECT THAT COMES IN. SO THAT'S A CONSIDERATION [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE? THAT 1400 DOLLARS A MEGAWATT IS ALMOST A SLAP IN THE FACE BECAUSE THAT'S $140,000. THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND 350 MILLION BUILDING A PROJECT AND THEY'RE GOING TO OFFER $140,000 A YEAR. [CHUCKLING] IT'S A JOKE. DON'T PAY FOR THE ADVERTISING. [INAUDIBLE] CAN I ASK MR. RAILY A QUESTION? YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MR. HART. WELL, I'VE GOT SOME FRIENDS OUT IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST THAT HAD PROPERTY THAT HAD COAL ON IT. CAN THEY MINE THAT COAL AND SELL IT? COAL IS SUBJECT TO REGULATION, JUST LIKE NUCLEAR PLANTS ARE SUBJECT TO REGULATION, JUST LIKE WHAT YOU CAN BUILD ON YOUR PROPERTY. THE QUESTION IS HOW FAR CAN THE REGULATION GO OF WHEN DO MY RIGHTS INTERFERE WITH YOUR RIGHTS? AND THAT'S A CASE BY CASE THING THAT THE COURTS, NOT ONLY THE VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT, BUT THE FEDERAL COURTS DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME, GOING BACK TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER, IF THEY'VE GOT COAL, THEY MAY, THROUGH SOME TYPE OF FEDERAL REGULATION, BE PROHIBITED FROM MINING THAT COAL. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CASE I JUST HEARD THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ON TELEVISION TODAY SAY THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PUT THEM ALL OUT OF BUSINESS. SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP TO ME, BUT THAT'S ABOUT ALL I'LL SAY. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? [00:50:08] PLANNING COMMISSION? UP HERE? I THINK WE HAVE A VERY GOOD AUDIENCE. I THINK WE DID THE BEST WE COULD WITH, AS MR. RANDALL, MR. RAILY HAVE STATED, NOT OVERSTEPPING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND STATE OF VIRGINIA, AND IF IT GETS CHALLENGED, MY FEELING IS SO BE IT. YOU HAVE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE. THE WORLD'S ALREADY GETTING HUNGRY, AND ONE OF THESE DAYS, WE'RE GOING TO REGRET AND GET RID OF THE FARMLAND WE'RE GETTING NOW. WE'RE LOSING ABOUT A MILLION ACRES A YEAR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TO DEVELOPMENT. GOT TO STOP SOMEWHERE. ONE OF THESE DAYS, I THOUGHT THERE'S GOING TO BE A REVERSE DEVELOPER. A GUY COMES IN AND TEARS ALL THE CONCRETE OUT, AND POURS SOME TOPSOIL AND MAKES A FARM OUT OF IT. WHEN PEOPLE GET HUNGRY, THAT MIGHT BE WHAT HAPPENS, AND FUTURE WARS ARE GOING TO BE FOUGHT OVER FOOD AND WATER, NOT OIL. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. EVERYBODY MADE SOME REALLY GREAT POINTS TONIGHT, AND I HAVE A QUESTION WHETHER WE'RE REALLY ON THE RIGHT PATH. [INAUDIBLE] FIGURE OUT OUR NEXT ENERGY SOURCE. WE ALL ENJOY ELECTRICITY, ALL OUR CARS AND TRUCKS AND TRAVELING, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE AS ECONOMIC AS POSSIBLE. AT THE SAME TIME TO PRESERVE CLEAN LAND, CLEAN WATER. I THINK WE ALL AGREE ON THAT. I DO THINK THE INITIATIVE, THE PROCESS WE WANT TO ABOUT THIS SEEMS TO BE FORCED UPON US. IT'S NOT VOLUNTARY, AND TO ME, WITH THE COMMENTS BEEN MADE EARLY, IT'S NOT REALLY ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE [INAUDIBLE] THAT, BUT TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND I LOOKED AND SEE IF I HAD MY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND I DIDN'T BRING IT TONIGHT. BUT IN THE PREAMBLE TO OUT PLAN OUR DUTY AS THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN IS TO PROTECT OUR RICH SOILS AND OUR [INAUDIBLE] INDUSTRY, AND WE ARE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE EXCELLENT DRINKING WATER. OUR WATER QUALITY [INAUDIBLE]. THAT'S WHY INTERNATIONAL [INAUDIBLE] CORPORATION WAS SO SUCCESSFUL WITH OUR PAPER, [INAUDIBLE] QUALITY WATER. THE AIR WE BREATHE IS CLEAN. WE'RE REALLY FORTUNATE. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR SOILS ARE RICH FOR PRODUCING CROPS OR FORESTRY. WE'RE JUST BLESSED TO HAVE THAT. IT'S NO MORE DIFFERENT THAN TAKING AN OCEANFRONT PROPERTY OR MAYBE NEAR THE OCEANFRONT AND SAY, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A PROJECT HERE. THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, OH, NO, THAT'S NOT THE BEST USE OF THAT LAND, AND IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT. YOU WOULDN'T THINK ABOUT PUTTING A SOLAR PROJECT NEXT TO OCEANFRONT. THAT'S TOURISM. THAT'S THE WHOLE BALLGAME. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE SOLAR INITIATIVE OR THE WINDMILL INITIATIVE OR ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVE PLAN DOESN'T NEED TO DISRUPT AN INDUSTRY THAT'S ALREADY SO, SO OPEN GOING AND FEASIBLE. UM, TO TAKE AWAY FROM ANY OF THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY WE HAVE TODAY OR AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY. WE WILL CONTINUALLY BUILD ROADS, BUILD HOUSES. HOPEFULLY, FACTORIES WILL COME. FACTORIES, [INAUDIBLE]. WE'RE GOING TO FACED WITH ENOUGH OTHER ISSUES THAT THE LAND WILL HAVE YOU TAKEN UP FOR THESE OTHER PROJECTS. BUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SOLAR [INAUDIBLE], IT'S SUCH A VAST AMOUNT SO QUICK, AND, UM , AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE TERMINATION OF THAT, [INAUDIBLE]. YES, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. THE MONEY IS REALLY PUSHING IT BECAUSE I TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT'VE BEEN INVOLVED AND ARE GETTING REWARDED FOR IT. [00:55:05] SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PAY YOU TO BE QUIET AND I KNOW THIS FOR A FACT. IT WOULD BE JUST NOT A COMMON COMPLAINT. SO IT'S A LOT OF MONEY AND MONEY GETS YOUR ATTENTION, BUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS IF WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH IN OUR COUNTY BECAUSE OF OUR LOCATION, BECAUSE OF THE PRIME FARMLAND, [INAUDIBLE] FORESTRY INDUSTRY, AND THAT'S WHAT DRIVES OUR ECONOMY. THAT STILL DRIVES OUR ECONOMY TODAY IS AGRICULTURE. SO THAT BEING SAID, I VOTED FOR THE ORDINANCE. I THINK THE PEOPLE INVOLVED HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB. I WAS ONE OF THOSE. I JUST I FEEL LIKE NO MORE AT THIS TIME. WE CAN ALWAYS REVISIT IT. IF IT COMES A TIME, FIVE OR TEN OR 15 YEARS OUT, THE TECHNOLOGY CHANGES, WE'LL GET MORE BANG FOR OUR BUCK. IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE EATING WELL OR WE DON'T HAVE ANY ELECTRICITY, WE NEED TO PUT SOME SOLAR IN. THAT'S THE ANSWER. I UNDERSTAND THAT [INAUDIBLE] SEVERAL DIFFERENT MEETINGS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS ON MY PHONE. IT'S PROBABLY A LOT OF THINGS YOU ALL AT YOUR HOUSEHOLDS, THAT YOU CAN'T DO WITH YOU YARDS. BUT THE GOVERNMENT TELLS ME ALL THE TIME WHAT I CAN'T DO MY LAND. SO I'M NOT DEBATING. MR. RAILY'S EXACTLY RIGHT. [INAUDIBLE] MR. RANDALL BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF OTHER REGULATIONS THE GOVERNMENT TELLS US WHAT WE CAN'T DO WITH OUR LAND. SO THAT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT SIDE OF THE FENCE YOU'RE ON. UM, YOU KNOW, I STAND HERE. I DO HAVE A BIG PROBLEM. I'M ALL FOR ACCEPTING THIS ORDINANCE. I DON'T GUESS WE'RE GONNA MAKE ANY CHANGES TONIGHT, BUT CERTAINLY NO MORE THAN THE 1%. THAT WAS KIND OF A MINIMAL. WE'VE HEARD FROM 1 TO 4. THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE ONE. I DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE ONE. I WAS ONE OF THE [INAUDIBLE], BUT I AM A GOING TO GO ALONG WITH [INAUDIBLE]. I'LL BE FINE, TOO. THANK YOU. THE LESSER THE DEVIL. YOU KNOW, HE MENTIONED THE SOIL WE GOT HERE. I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF [INAUDIBLE]. THERE'S A SWATH OF CROPLAND, SOIL. IT STARTS AT COLONIAL BEACH. IT'S 50 MILES WIDE AND COMES RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THIS COUNTY. THE BEST CROPLAND PROBABLY IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES. ISN'T IT NORTH OF [INAUDIBLE]? IT'S A STRIP 20 MILES EAST AND WEST OF ACTUALLY COURTLAND TO COLONIAL BEACH UP ON THE [INAUDIBLE]. AND IT GOES OUT TO NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA, AND I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THAT IT'S SOMETHING IN THE FORMATION OF THE EARTH MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO, THE CONTINENTAL SHELF USED TO REACH UP TO THE [INAUDIBLE] LINE AT THE I-95 CORRIDOR AND A LOT OF THE TOPSOIL IS ACTUALLY SILT, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SUCH A RICH [INAUDIBLE], BUT IT'S 20 MILES EAST AND WEST OF COURTLAND, AND THAT'S HOW WE [INAUDIBLE]. SO WE ARE IN THAT PRIME STRIP OF LAND. NOT [INAUDIBLE]. WE'VE GOT [INAUDIBLE]. I'M SAYING--I FORGOT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF IT [INAUDIBLE], BUT IT'S THE RICHEST STRIP OF LAND [INAUDIBLE]. WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, WHAT'S THE STATUS ON CROPS? AREN'T WE PRETTY MUCH NUMBER ONE COUNTY IN THE STATE? WE'RE VERY PROUD--THE FARMING COMMUNITY, AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY IS VERY PROUD OF THE PRODUCTION. YOU HAD TO QUIZ ME ON THAT, BUT I THINK WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN THE [INAUDIBLE] YIELD AT FAR AS COUNTYWIDE, AND ALSO PROBABLY SOY BEANS. I THINK VIRGINIA BEACH SELLS SOYBEANS. UM, I THINK WE'RE TOPS IN PEANUTS, BUT ANYWAY, WE ARE IN THE [INAUDIBLE] TYPE FARMING AND [INAUDIBLE] IS PROBABLY NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE. YES. THANK YOU. WELL WORTH SAVING, HUH? YES, SIR. JUST ONE MINUTE. ONE MINUTE THIS TIME. [INAUDIBLE] LAST WEEK I WENT TO A SPECIALIST IN [01:00:05] SUFFOLK AND THEY SAID THAT I'VE ONLY GOT 60% OF LUNG CAPACITY. SO I'VE GOT A VESTED INTEREST IN TREES. WE NEED SOME OXYGEN, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK SO HARD WITH MY BREATHING. SO WE DO AWAY WITH JUST REGULAR CROPS OR TREES. THEY HAVE PROVEN THIS IS THEIR PROJECTION THAT TREES [INAUDIBLE] ALMOST 90% OF THE OXYGEN [INAUDIBLE] THE SOLAR FARM, HOW MUCH OXYGEN WOULD YOU [INAUDIBLE] BITING OFF MY NOSE [INAUDIBLE] FACE. NEW MEXICO, CALIFORNIA, HAVING WILDFIRE AFTER WILDFIRE.. WHAT'S GOING TO CLEAN THE EARTH? IT'S GOING TO BE TREES NOT SOLAR. I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH SOLAR YOU PUT IN THERE; THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE OXYGEN FOR THE PEOPLE, AND YESTERDAY, THE LARGEST EXPORTER OF WHEAT REFUSED TO INCREASE THEIR [INAUDIBLE] PRODUCTION FOR OTHER WORLD. THAT'S INDIA. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? [INAUDIBLE] THE TALK SHOW, A GUY SAID HE WENT INTO THE STORE TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND SOME [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE CHILDREN. HE COULDN'T FIND IT. [INAUDIBLE] RUN INTO THE RED [INAUDIBLE] BREAD DISPLAYS. [INAUDIBLE] ASKED HIM, WHERE'S TODAY'S BREAD? WE DON'T HAVE IT. SO YOU BETTER BE THINKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] EATING. [INAUDIBLE] FOR NOT ONLY THE UNITED STATES, BUT FOR THE WORLD AS WE CANNOT, SOLAR DOESN'T PROVIDE A BENEFIT TO SOCIETY. ANYBODY ELSE. HAVE WE SAID EVERYTHING? RICHARD, DOES THE PLANNING COMMISSION NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS ON TO THEIR MEETING? NO. WELL, I THINK YOU COULD DO IT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, AND MR. JOHNSON CAN CERTAINLY CORRECT ME, BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TONIGHT IS DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO GO FORWARD AND ADVERTISE. THAT'D BE A FAIR STATEMENT. OKAY, WE CAN DO IT EITHER WAY. YOU AREN'T VOTING UP OR DOWN. YOU'RE JUST VOTING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION. YOU'RE STILL GOING TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS? WELL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADVISE THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN. SECOND. SECOND TO THEIR JUNE 9TH MEETING. NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING JUNE NINTH. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WITH THE CHANGES WE TALK ABOUT. VERY MINOR. VERY MINOR. [INAUDIBLE] WILLIAM HART, ANY COMMENT ON THAT? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY. ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY, AYE. OKAY, WE HAVE IT UNANIMOUS. YOU GENTLEMEN PROCEED TO HAVE IT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNE 9TH AT YOUR NEXT MEETING, AND WE THANK YOU, AND AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO SAY, YOU GUYS AND GIRLS THAT DID A TERRIFIC JOB, AND YOU'VE GOT TO CLOSE THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND THE SUPERVISORS MEETING BECAUSE IT WAS JUST CONTINUED. [01:05:01] [INAUDIBLE] ALL IN FAVOR OF CLOSING OUT THE HEARING. AYE. THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT. SAME HERE. MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. SECOND. WE'RE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.