[00:00:01]
LET'S OPEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.[I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL]
AND THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING.[Additional Item]
I'D LIKE TO START THE MEETING OFF BY.WE'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE INCLUDE CHAIRMAN DRAKE TELEPHONICALLY.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ALL OPPOSED? SO, THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY FOR MR. DRAKE TO SIT IN TELEPHONICALLY THOSE THAT YOU KNOW THAT MR. DRAKE HAD A FARMING ACCIDENT, AND HE IS GETTING WELL VERY QUICKLY.
IS THAT CORRECT, MR. DRAKE? THAT IS CORRECT. AND I'M PLANNING ON GOING HOME TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY, WE CAN BEGIN OUR MEETING, BY SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF EVERYONE COULD STAND AND REMOVE THEIR CAPS, IF ANY.
. MR. CHESSON, COULD YOU DO THE INVOCATION FOR US, PLEASE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN ME? PLEASE JOIN IN PRAYER.
DEAR FATHER LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HEALING POWER.
AND LORD, I THANK YOU FOR MICHAEL DRAKE.
AND I JUST ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WORK IN HIS LIFE.
AND AS FAR AS LORD, WE PRAY FOR THE CONTINUED HEALING.
LORD, I THANK YOU FOR THE STRENGTH AND ENERGY YOU'VE GIVEN EACH OF US TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
LORD, I JUST ASK THAT YOU HELP US USE THIS ENERGY FOR YOUR PURPOSES AND YOUR GLORY.
BUT I PRAY THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON JESUS' NAME.
DECEMBER 14TH, 7:30 AT THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION.
THIS WILL BE OUR LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR.
AND WE HOPE EVERYONE HAS A VERY SAFE HOLIDAY.
WANT TO MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
IF WE COULD LOOK OVER THE MINUTES IN OUR PACKET.ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS ON THE MINUTES? MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND.
SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANYONE OPPOSED? THERE BEING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR DOING THE MINUTES.
MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[III. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD]
AND THIS IS A PERIOD THAT WE GIVE ANY CITIZENS OR ANY OFFICIALS FOR THAT MATTER, UM, ANY COMMENTS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE.SO, I WOULD OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THIS TIME.
FRANKLIN DISTRICT, FORKS OF THE RIVER.
GOOD EVENING TO MRS. ALSTON AND MRS. LEWIS AND EVERYBODY ELSE UP HERE.
I DO HAVE SELF-STORAGE BUILDINGS IN AB2 ZONING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A PAST ZONING ADMINISTRATOR.
I ALSO HAVE SELF-STORAGE BUILDINGS THAT EXIST IN AM1 ZONING.
SO APPARENTLY, I STAND CORRECTED AND MY APOLOGIES FOR ANY CONFUSION.
ANOTHER ITEM I'D LIKE TO SHARE, AND IT INVOLVES ONE OF Y'ALL'S FAVORITE SUBJECTS, SOLAR.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE AN EXCERPT FROM AN ARTICLE I READ IN THE RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH.
[00:05:01]
I WILL SHARE THE ARTICLE WITH YOU AT THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.IF NOTHING ELSE, I ASK YOU TO READ THE LAST PARAGRAPH.
I'M GOING TO QUOTE ONE PARAGRAPH OUT OF THE ARTICLE.
FOR VIRGINIA'S ECONOMY TO GROW, WE NEED MORE ENERGY TO POWER IT.
AND THIS NOTION IS THE BACKBONE OF GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN'S ENERGY PLAN.
WE MUST MOVE CLOSER TO ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AS A COMMONWEALTH.
GOING BACK IN TIME, I ADDRESSED THIS COMMITTEE.
AT THE APRIL 20TH APRIL 2022 MEETING, I ASKED THIS COMMISSION TO ALLOW SOLAR ON LAND WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DESIGNATED INDUSTRIAL UNDER PAST AND PRESENT COMPREHENSIVE PLANS.
NOT EXACTLY THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION OF THIS COUNTY'S NEEDS.
AFTER THIS MEETING, MISS LEWIS, AT SOME POINT AND WE TALKED TO MISS LEWIS.
DID YOU EVER GET A CHANCE TO LOOK? YOU AND I AND YOUR WIFE SPOKE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
AND YESTERDAY I MAILED YOU A WHOLE PACKAGE OF INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD ASK FOR LAST FRIDAY.
AFTER THIS MEETING, MISS LEWIS INFORMED THIS COMMISSION AT SOME POINT THAT THE ZONING REQUEST FOR MY PROJECT HAD BEEN PULLED AND MONEY HAD BEEN REFUNDED TO THE SOLAR COMPANY. THIS WAS NEWS TO ME AS I EXPRESSED WHEN SOME OF YOU QUESTIONED ME ON THE MATTER.
WHAT I WAS AWARE OF IS THAT IN 2016, I SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH SUNPOWER ON APPROXIMATELY 400 ACRES PRIOR TO 2020.
THE SUNPOWER CONTRACT WAS PURCHASED BY A COMPANY CALLED CLEARWAY.
CLEARWAY, ADDING NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF ME.
IT WAS A WAREHOUSING PROJECT JUST OUTSIDE OF FRANKLIN.
I RECEIVED THE OPTION MONEY FOR THE ENTIRE TIME.
I WAS NEVER FAILED A CONTRACT.
THIS WAS A 700-ACRE PROJECT ON LAND ALREADY DESIGNATED INDUSTRIAL, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A $40 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THIS COUNTY. I'M PUSHING 70 YEARS OLD.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE FAMILY FARMING OPERATION FOR OVER 50 YEARS IN THIS COUNTY.
I RECKON I'M STUCK IN MY WAYS.
I BELIEVE TOO MANY ARE CORRUPT.
TRULY BEING A SWAMP FULL OF DISHONEST PEOPLE WHO USE THEIR POSITIONS TO GAIN WEALTH.
I AM AGAINST SOCIALISM AND BELIEVE IN LIMITED GOVERNMENT.
I THINK GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ARE EXCESSIVE WITH WAY TOO MANY PERMITS REQUIRED.
STATISTICS SAY ONE IN EVERY SEVEN WORKERS OF THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE.
OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PURCHASE OF SEVERAL FARMS IN THE HOOD RIVER AREA.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT IF YOU OWN SOMETHING, YOU CONTROL IT.
THIS LAND A SOLID INVESTMENT IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
AS AN OWNER, DO YOU CONTROL YOUR LAND? I DON'T THINK SO.
AND IF I ASKED YOU TONIGHT, I DON'T THINK I'D GET AN ANSWER AGAIN TONIGHT.
[00:10:02]
IF THIS COUNTY COULD GENERATE MORE INDUSTRY-BASED TAXES, THE CITIZENS REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES COULD BE REDUCED.DOES THIS COUNTY NOT NEED INDUSTRIAL BASED TAXES AND ALL WE CONTENT TO ACCRUE TAXABLE INCOME THROUGH PERSONAL TAXES, WHILE ALSO THE DOLLAR IS NOT CONSIDERED? WHILE WE CAUGHT UP IN PRESERVING FARMLAND ALREADY DESIGNATED INDUSTRIAL.
DO WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH? SO, FARMERS WHO DEPEND ON RENTAL LAND CAN CONTINUE TO RENT WITHOUT OUTSIDE INTERVENTION TO ENSURE THEIR PROFITABILITY? WHERE DO THE RIGHTS OF LANDOWNERS FIT IN THIS THOUGHT PROCESS? IN THIS SOLAR PROJECT, TWO OF THE LANDOWNERS WERE FARMERS.
TRYING TO ADD FINANCIAL STABILITY TO EXISTING OPERATIONS.
THE THIRD LANDOWNER IS A GENTLEMAN IN HIS UPPER 90S TRYING TO MARK THIS PROPERTY.
YOUR ORDINANCES KILLED HIS SOLAR ATTEMPT, BY THE WAY.
HIS LAND IS FARMED BY A LARGE FARM PARTNERSHIP FROM SUFFOLK, WHAT I CALL A CORPORATE FARM.
THIS OPERATION IS FAR FROM THE FAMILY FARMS YOU SEEK TO PROTECT.
HIS NEXT ATTEMPT WAS TO MARKET HIS LAND, BUT THAT ALSO FAILED BECAUSE HE HAD TOO MANY USES LISTED.
[INAUDIBLE] AVAILABLE FOR HIS AND OTHER SITES AT CYPRESS COVE.
WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PLANS FOR THIS SITE OTHER THAN ALLOWING A SANDPIT? I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY CHANGES IN THIS AREA IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.
ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PASS UP SOLAR POSSIBILITIES FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS ON LAND WITH NO WATER AND SEWAGE AND LIMITED 58 ACCESS GOES BACK TO THE QUESTION DOES THIS COUNTY NEED TAXABLE INDUSTRY? DRIVING BACK HOME FROM SUFFOLK.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE PASSED A SOLAR FARM UNDER CONSTRUCTION JUST EAST OF HOLLAND.
MY WIFE ASKED, HOW WAS THIS ALLOWED IN TEN MILES EAST AT OUR SITE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
I SAID, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
IT SHOULD BE REFERRED TO OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR PLANNING COMMISSION.
THAT OPPORTUNITY CAME AND THE CONVERSATION ENDED WITH THAT PERSON RELAYING THAT.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS PROPOSED AND PUSHED THROUGH.
JUST SO YOU WILL KNOW THAT SOUTHLAND IN SUFFOLK IS FARMER OWNED AND HE RENTS A LARGE AMOUNT OF LAND IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. HOW CAN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FARMS COMPETE AGAINST FARMERS LIKE THAT? SOUTHLAND COUNTY FARM TO OWN LAND DID NOT HAVE THAT OPTION.
HOW ABOUT SOME ORDINANCES THAT PREVENT OUTSIDE FARMERS WITH SOLE INCOME FROM FARMING IN THIS COUNTY? IT WOULD ONLY BE FAIR.
YOU, AS MEMBERS MAKE DECISIONS WHICH AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES AND FINANCIAL PROSPERITY.
YOU HAVE CHANGED THE COURSE OF TWO FARMING OPERATIONS.
AND MR. STORMS, WHO CHOSE TO INVEST IN LAND IN THIS COUNTY.
I THOUGHT THIS PROJECT WAS A WIN-WIN FOR ALL INVOLVED.
THANK YOU. AND ONCE AGAIN, I'LL PASS THESE AROUND.
AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ THE WHOLE TWO PAGES, I'D APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD READ THE LAST PAGE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. COPELAND.
SECTION THREE. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD REMAINS OPEN.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
SORRY, I WAS GOING TO GET YOU ONE.
[00:15:02]
COPELAND GAVE US A TWO AND ONE QUARTER PAGE DOCUMENT TITLED RURAL COUNTIES SHOULD EMBRACE, NOT OUTLAW SOLAR ENERGY, BY THE RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH LANDOWNERS RIGHTS, WRITTEN BY SCHUYLER ZONK AUGUST 5TH DATED AUGUST 15TH, 2023.IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? LOOKS LIKE THERE BEING NO ONE THAT IS STANDING UP OR RUNNING TO THE PODIUM.
WE WOULD CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE'D MOVE ALONG TO SECTION FIVE.
EXCUSE ME. SECTION FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO SECTION FIVE, WHICH IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE DISCUSSION AND LANDSCAPE DISCUSSION.WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THAT SECTION FIVE.
AND YOU'RE COMING TO THAT END OF YOUR INFORMATION GATHERING FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS, ADDITIONS, AMENDMENTS, ANYTHING YOU WANT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SO I CAN PUT TOGETHER YOUR NEXT AND MAYBE CLOSE TO LAST DRAFT.
THERE WERE A COUPLE COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE WANTED A HOTEL.
DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER ENCOURAGING, UM, TOURIST RELATED DEVELOPMENT? I MEAN, I THINK YOU'RE CORRECT.
WE DO NEED A HOTEL. BEING THAT WE HAD THE PALM TREE INN AND I BELIEVE THE TORNADO SO DAMAGED IT.
YEAH. SO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD A COMMENT ENCOURAGING TOURIST RELATED DEVELOPMENT? I DON'T SEE HOW THAT HURTS.
OKAY. I MEAN, IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE ANOTHER PALM TREE.
I MEAN, I THINK A LOT OF CONTRACTORS USE THAT.
IT LOOKED LIKE A THRIVING BUSINESS.
I THINK HE KEPT IT PRETTY FULL.
IT WAS SAD THAT IT WAS DAMAGED BY THE TORNADO.
I GUESS IF IT WAS A REAL GOOD THOUGH, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REBUILT PRETTY QUICK.
WELL, I THINK MR. HEDGE WAS GETTING IN THE AGE.
I DON'T THINK HE WANTED TO TACKLE THAT AGAIN.
YEAH. I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON.
YEAH. IT TOOK A LOT, AS I UNDERSTAND.
IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE INSURANCE.
THERE AREN'T TOO MANY PEOPLE JUMPING UP AND DOWN TO DO $1 MILLION.
WAS IT A MONTH AGO? A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OH, HE DID. IT WAS PROBABLY TWO MONTHS AGO NOW.
WAS THAT A CONDITIONAL ZONING OR JUST B-2.
AND HE BUILT IT. IT WAS JUST KIND OF A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.
YEAH. SO THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW INNOVATION.
PALM TREE IN. THEY KIND OF SMIRKED AT HIM, BUT I THINK HE, UM.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE HIRED A NEW HEADMASTER.
NOT THE ONE NOW LIKE TWO BEFORE.
AND WE TOOK THEM TO THE PALM TREE IN.
HE SAID, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE PLACE? JACK? IT'S IN SOUTHAMPTON, I SAID, YEAH, WE GOT THE PALM TREE IN THERE ON 58.
AND HE SAID IT WAS A VERY NICE PLACE.
AS I ALWAYS HEARD, IT WAS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF.
HE COMPLIMENTED AND SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS WITH THE NAME AND WHAT HE WAS GETTING INTO, HE WAS FROM GEORGIA AND BUT HE SAID IT WAS A VERY NICE PLACE AND THE ACCOMMODATIONS WERE.
WELL, I THINK HE STAYED THERE FOR A WEEK.
THERE'RE A FEW TWEAKS IN THE IN THE DRAFT YOU HAVE ONE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS IS TURNED 90 DEGREES, SO I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. AND MISS BRADSHAW IN THE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE IS HELPING ME WITH THE PAGE NUMBERING.
BUT IF YOU ALL ARE GOOD, WE'RE ABOUT READY TO MOVE FORWARD.
[00:20:06]
DOES EVERYONE AGREE WITH THAT? WE'RE JUST ADDING THE ONE PROVISION ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.I MEAN, TECHNICALLY IT COULD BE ANYTHING UNDER THE B2 ZONING, RIGHT? AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THERE.
YOU'D ENCOURAGE TOURIST RELATED DEVELOPMENT ANYWHERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, YOU KNOW.
YES. AND ALL THE BASE OF THE CONCRETE AND THE PARKING LOT IS STILL THERE.
RIGHT. I MEAN, THAT'S AND SINCE THERE WAS ALREADY SO MUCH IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, IF ANYONE WERE TO REDEVELOP IT, THEY WOULD ONLY HAVE TO TREAT ANY EXCESS STORMWATER.
YOU GET CREDIT FOR THE PAVEMENT THAT'S ALREADY THERE WHEN YOU'RE DOING A STORMWATER PLAN.
SO THAT'S VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE THE STORMWATER RULES GET NOTHING BUT MORE STRINGENT.
AND I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS.
I JUST KNOW JUST TO NOD AS EVERYONE WAS THAT ACCEPTABLE.
EVERYONE WANT TO MOVE ON OR ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, I GUESS WE'LL MOVE ON.
NOW WE HAVE THE LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE.
I TOOK OUT ALL THE UNDER STRIKES AND BOLDS AND IT'S REPLACED TONIGHT.
YOU HAVE ONE THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE AN ORDINANCE.
IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME WORDS, BUT IT'S JUST SECTIONED OFF.
SO, IT WOULD FIT INTO THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
AND ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? MR. DRAKE, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU OUT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT HE EVER GOT HIS PACKAGE.
WHEN I TALKED TO HIM THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, HE HADN'T GOTTEN HIS PACKAGE IN THE MAIL.
MR. DRAKE, HE'S GOING TO FIND IT, THOUGH.
I KNOW MR. DRAKE. MR. CHAIRMAN, I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT.
I'M HEARING YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
BUT, SIR, I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
AND THEY DIDN'T DOUBLE MY PAY TO TAKE OVER FOR YOU.
I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT.
YOU'RE DOING A FINE JOB, MY FRIEND.
AND SOMEPLACE WHERE IT TALKED ABOUT WHAT, UM, STOCK TO USE, I ADDED, OR OTHER LOCALLY APPROPRIATE REFERENCE MATERIAL. THE HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION PUTS TOGETHER, PUT TOGETHER A BOOK, NATIVE PLANTS FOR SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
IT BREAKS IT UP IN THE TREES, SHRUBS.
IT TELLS HOW MUCH GRASS THEY NEED, I MEAN, HOW MUCH SUN THEY NEED, HOW MUCH WATER THEY NEED.
BUT THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY REFERENCES.
BUT THIS ONE IS VERY SPECIFIC TO OUR VERY LITTLE PIECE OF THE WORLD.
CHANGES TO THE LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS YOU WANT TO LOOK AT.
WE PLANTED SOME LONG LEAF PINE TREES FOR LANDOWNER TWO WEEKS AGO, AND WE PICKED THEM UP FROM THE GARLAND GRAY NURSERY, AND WE HAD A FORM THAT WAS FILLED OUT, GIVEN TO US SAYING THAT THE TREES WERE FREE FROM FIRE ANTS.
IS THAT AN ORDINANCE FROM THE STATE NOW? OR EVERY NURSERY WILL GIVE A CERTIFICATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO COME OUT NOW, WHEN? WHEN WAS THAT INITIATED? BECAUSE THIS, REMEMBER THIS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER GOTTEN ONE.
OKAY. FROM THE GARLAND GRAY NURSERY.
THEY MAY HAVE TO PRODUCE IT TO YOU NOW, BUT MOST OF THEM, IF THEY GO TO GET THEIR LICENSE TO SELL LIKE WHOLESALE OR RETAIL, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A CERTIFIED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO BE PEST, WHICH INCLUDES FIRE ANTS.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THAT CERTIFICATION ON FILE.
OKAY. THEY'RE SAYING THEY GOT A HECK OF A PROBLEM UP IN THAT AREA.
OH, YEAH. IT'S BAD. YEAH, YEAH, EVERYBODY'S FIGHTING FOR, I MEAN, BUSINESSES AND HOMEOWNERS.
AND WHAT AREA ARE YOU REFERRING TO? UH, GARLAND GRAY NURSERY UP BIG WOODS ROAD.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A BAD PROBLEM HERE.
I MEAN, IS THERE ANY PLAN TO COMBAT THEM? UM, BACK WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED, I KNOW IN FRANKLIN, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WOULD COME AND TREAT THEM, BUT NOW THEY'VE OVERRUN.
AND LIKE, THEY'RE JUST SAYING IT'S ON THE PROPERTY OWNER TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
THEY CAN'T TREAT THE WHOLE AREA.
WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED TREATMENT? I MEAN, IS THERE SOME TYPE OF SPRAY.
[00:25:05]
BUT THERE IF YOU WATCH SOME YOUTUBE VIDEOS, THEY PROTECT THE QUEEN.SO, THEN THE QUEEN WILL GO AND START ANOTHER MOUND 2 OR 3FT AWAY.
SO, THE BAIT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF THEM.
AND UM, THERE'S A CHEMICAL CALLED EXTINGUISH AND YOU PUT IT AROUND THE MOUND, THE WORKER ANTS TAKE IT DOWN, IT STERILIZES THE QUEEN AND THEN BASICALLY KILLS THE MOUND AND WANT LIKE A POUND WILL TREAT LIKE AN ACRE.
I HAVE TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.
BUT IT WORKS IN ANY KIND OF LIKE PHARAOH ANTS.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ONES OUT THERE, BUT SONGBIRDS.
GUN. NO, I MEAN, DOES IT CAN AFFECT THE BIRD POPULATION? IT DOES NOT. IT DOES NOT.
YEAH. CAN UNDER THIS ORDINANCE I GUESS CAN I ADD.
ALL RIGHT. IF I ASK A QUESTION ON THE FIRST PAGE, THE SECOND UP, THE SECOND, THE BULLET AT THE BOTTOM, BUT THE SECOND ONE UP, WHICH THAT SECTION IN THE BULLETS IS EXCEPTIONS, AS I UNDERSTAND THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN.
WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? IT'S THE FIRST PAGE OF THIS ONE THAT YOU GOT THE NEW ONE.
YES. OKAY. JUST MAKING SURE I'M FOLLOWING.
PLANNED OFFICE AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
WHAT? IT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT PROPERTY.
BUT YOU SEE THE ONE ABOVE THAT IS UTILITY SCALE SOLAR, BECAUSE THE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR ORDINANCE HAS THEIR OWN LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS, AS DOES THE PLANNED OFFICE AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
THOSE BOTH HAVE THEIR OWN SINCE THEIR NEWLY ADOPTED ZONING DESIGNATIONS.
OKAY, SO THAT'S WHY THOSE TWO DISTRICTS, UTILITY SCALE SOLAR AND PLANNED OFFICE AND INDUSTRIAL ARE EXEMPTED FROM THIS BECAUSE IN PLANNED OFFICE AND INDUSTRIAL, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS IN THAT ZONING DISTRICT.
OKAY. DOES IT MAKE MORE STRUCTURAL SENSE TO GO BACK AND CHANGE THOSE TWO CODE SECTIONS AND MAKE THEM REFERENCE? THEN THEY WOULD BE LESS STRINGENT THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE THAT WAY.
I'M NOT ASKING ABOUT NOT RECOMMENDING EVEN CHANGING IT THE MORE STRINGENT, BUT JUST TO HAVE ONE DOCUMENT THAT DEALS WITH LANDSCAPE AND IT'S GOING TO BE A SECTION FOR UTILITY SCALE.
YOU MEAN PULL THE LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS OUT OF THE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR DESIGNATION AND PUT THEM IN HERE? YEAH. AND IT'S JUST A STRUCTURE THING.
I MEAN, WE WOULD HAVE ONE DOCUMENT THAT ALL DEALT WITH LANDSCAPE STUFF.
I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'D WANT TO DO THAT.
I THINK YOU PROBABLY WANT TO LEAVE THEM.
THOSE TWO DISTRICTS HAVE ALL THE REGULATIONS FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR IN ONE PLACE, AND ALL THE REGULATIONS FOR PLANNED OFFICE AND INDUSTRIAL IN ONE PLACE. AND THIS JUST COVERS EVERY PLACE ELSE EXCEPT ONE AND TWO FAMILY.
THANK YOU. CAN I ASK A QUESTION? SURE. UNRELATED.
MR. COPELAND WAS SAYING THAT HE WAS AN ERROR.
THAT SELF-STORAGE WAS ALLOWED IN M-1 AND B-2.
UP TO 20,000FT² AND OVER 20,000FT².
SURE. THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING.
YES. MAKING SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.
RIGHT. AND BUT HE MADE THE STATEMENT THAT IT WAS NOT RIGHT.
HE MADE THE STATEMENT THAT HE UNDERSTOOD IT WAS ONLY PERMITTED IN M ONE.
OKAY. BECAUSE I THINK THE PRIOR MEETING WHEN HE TALKED, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE, MR. BARNETT THAT MADE HIM GO ONE WAY WHEN HE COULD HAVE DONE IT.
THE ONES THAT HE BUILT MAY HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 20,000FT².
GOTCHA. SO THAT'S PERHAPS WHY HE NEEDED THE INDUSTRIAL ZONING DESIGNATION.
AND THEN IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE LOTS, THEN YOU CAN DO 20,000 PER LOT.
[00:30:03]
APPLICATION WAS WITHDRAWN, AND HE WANTED THE FREEDOM OF HE WANTED THE CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST INFORMATION.HE PROBABLY HASN'T GOTTEN IT YET.
SO, WOULD YOU LIKE THE LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE TO BE ADVERTISED FOR A PUBLIC? YOU DO HAVE ANOTHER APPLICATION SO THAT YOU'D HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
EVERYBODY OKAY WITH THAT? OKAY. ANY COMMENTS, MR. DRAKE? NO, SIR.
OKAY, JUST I'M JUST CHECKING ON YOU NOW.
OKAY. AND I'M GOING TO GET DOCTOR EDWARDS TO SEND YOU THAT SOLAR ARTICLE WE GOT.
ALL RIGHT. GREAT, I APPRECIATE IT.
FIGURE OF TELL MR. COLE, BUT SOME POWER IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR.
WELL, THAT'S LOUIS IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN NEW BUSINESS, RIGHT.
YEAH. AND YEAH, WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
SO, WE'RE GOOD WITH THE LANDSCAPING.
WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING NEXT MONTH AND PUBLIC HEARING EVERYONE AGREE WITH THAT.
OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S UNANIMOUS.
OKAY. UM, SO LET'S MOVE ON FROM UNFINISHED BUSINESS SECTION FIVE TO SECTION SIX.
[VI. NEW BUSINESS]
NEW BUSINESS. AND I SAW MISS LEWIS.I RECEIVED THIS FROM SUSSEX COUNTY.
THIS IS A I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ACRES, 8000-ACRE SOLAR DEVELOPMENT ON THE SUSSEX SIDE OF THE SUSSEX SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY LINE.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY'VE HAD ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THIS YET.
BUT, UM, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY'S ORDINANCE SAYS YOU CAN'T HAVE A SOLAR INSTALLATION WITHIN FIVE MILES OF ANY OTHER SOLAR INSTALLATION. SO, IF THIS IS APPROVED, THAT WOULD MEAN FIVE MILES INTO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, UP IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTY, UP NEAR IVOR WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO BE DEVELOPED WITH SOLAR.
BUT HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANYONE ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THIS ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH? THEY'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH ON THIS.
SUSSEX COUNTY HAS BEEN BACK AND FORTH ON THIS WITH CLEAN AIR FOR ABOUT A YEAR.
SO, I THINK, AND THEY'VE MADE SOME UM, THEY'VE SHIFTED SOME THINGS AROUND AND MOVED SOME THINGS.
SO THIS IS GOING TO COMPLETELY TRANSFORM SUSSEX COUNTY.
IF THIS IS I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL BE APPROVED, BUT I EXPECT THERE WILL BE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IS ANYONE ELSE AWARE OF THAT? IT LOOKED LIKE A SMALL PROJECT, BUT THEY HAVE THEY DO HAVE SOME APPROVED SOLAR UP THERE, BUT THIS ONE AND IT LOOKED LIKE MAYBE 100 ACRES. AND THAT'S WHEN Y'ALL WERE WORKING ON THE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR ORDINANCE.
THE ATTORNEY THAT CAME AND SPOKE, HE WAS WORKING WITH THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR PLAN WAS TO HAVE.
ANOTHER. 30% OF THIS PROJECT IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO STRADDLE THE COUNTY LINE, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE CUT BACK THE PROJECT OR JUST SHIFTED IT ALL TO THE SUSSEX SIDE OF THE LINE. BUT THIS IS JUST A FYI KIND OF THING.
IS THE SOUTHAMPTON BOARD? HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH SOME SUSSEX REPRESENTATIVES OR BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE, I MEAN, SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS JUST I MEAN, YOU SIT AND LOOK AT IT.
I MEAN, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY TRANSFORMATIONAL BECAUSE THE SPILL OVER TO THIS PROJECT TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY, WHETHER YOU'RE PRO OR CON, I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT AND MR. DAY'S MORE OF THE EXPERT IN THE FOREST INDUSTRY, BUT THE LOGGING INDUSTRY, FORESTRY, I MEAN, THIS IS THE FARMING INDUSTRY.
I MEAN, THIS IS I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF LAND MASS, BUT I MEAN, THIS IS I MEAN, THIS IS A VERY LARGE MAP, AND IT IS COVERING. 40, 40% OF IT, 8000 ACRES BECAUSE THE NEWSOME'S PROJECT WAS 1400. IS THAT? HOW MANY ACRES? THAT'S HOW MANY ACRES ARE UNDER PANEL TO THAT? I MEAN, I JUST THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND MAYBE I'M OUT OF OUT OF PLACE HERE, BUT I THINK THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WAS SOMETHING SO TRANSFORMATIONAL.
[00:35:04]
I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.AND I THINK THE PLANNING COMMISSION FEELS LIKE THAT.
AND I DO MYSELF THAT PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION, RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD THAT WE START TALKING TO THESE PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO GET THIS TO THE BOARD.
I MEAN, AND THEY PROBABLY ALL KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S PRETTY SHOCKING.
THIS IS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS ONE MAJOR LANDOWNER, CORRECT? I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT IS AND ISN'T WESTERVELT.
WESTERVELT. YEAH. AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE MILLS, PAPER MILLS, SAWMILLS WILL NOT TAKE THE WOOD OFF OF A SOLAR FACILITY BECAUSE IT'S NOT A RENEWABLE RESOURCE ANYMORE.
WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'VE TALKED NOT OFFICIALLY, BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND WE'RE AWARE OF, BUT I THINK LIKE I SAID, TO GET THE BALL ROLLING, I THINK PLANNING COMMISSION SHOULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD.
LOOK, WE WANT YOU TO START LOOKING AT THIS.
I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE MAJOR IMPACTS WITH THE MILL HUNT CLUBS.
I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO PUT THIS IS CATASTROPHIC AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST HOAX, THE BIGGEST MESS.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE HARDLY ANY AUDIENCE AT ALL.
WE UNDERSTAND AS FAR AS THAT'S WHY THEY GOT PICKED ON.
NOW THAT'S HOW THESE COMPANIES ARE DOING.
AND SUNPOWER HERE, I TOLD YOU, IS UNDER INVESTIGATION IN SEVERAL STATES ALREADY.
WELL, THIS IS THE PROPOSED MAP.
HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE ALREADY IN SUSSEX TO FILL IN THE GAPS HERE? IS IT SOME ALREADY BUILT IN SUSSEX COUNTY? I BELIEVE THEY HAVE; SOME GOT SOME STONY CREEK.
WELL, I THOUGHT SOMEWHERE I HAD SOMEBODY SAID THAT THEY WOULD CUT SOME TIMBER AND THEY COULDN'T, THEY COULDN'T HAUL IT OUT FAST ENOUGH AND THEY WERE JUST TOLD SET IT TO THE SIDE. NOW ANY TRUTH TO THAT? I DON'T KNOW THAT NOW.
BUT ANYHOW. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT SUSSEX COUNTY GOVERNING BODY IS DOING WITH THIS OR THINKING ABOUT? I KNOW THERE'S A FACEBOOK PAGE WHERE THERE'S ALL KINDS OF COMMENTS WHERE THEY POST THE AGENDA, BUT I, I JUST HOPE THAT OUR BOARD. BECAUSE SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN VERY SOON.
HEY, WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE AND.
AND WE KIND OF MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK.
WE'LL MAKE SOME SORT OF RECOMMENDATION OF WHAT YOU WANT THE BOARD TO DO.
WE'LL TAKE IT. I MEAN, I'D MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT THAT WE GIVE THIS INFORMATION TO THE BOARD AND THAT THEY WOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, UM, AS THEY DEEM PRUDENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH SUSSEX COUNTY.
WE JUST KIND OF LEAVE IT OPEN ENDED.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S BEEN BEFORE THE BOARD.
BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN MORE THAN PRELIMINARY STEPS TAKEN BECAUSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, THE TIMMINS GROUP WHO'VE DONE ALL THE ENGINEERING ON IT AND.
I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE CITIZEN IN SOUTHAMPTON KNOWS THAT OUR BORDER IS GOING TO BE FILLED UP WITH OR 8000 ACRES OF SOLAR PANELS.
BEEN DISSEMINATED ENOUGH IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE THERE ARE SOME SPILLOVER EFFECTS THAT COULD HELP.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'LL NEED SUSSEX HELP ONE DAY ON SOME ISSUES WE'RE HAVING.
I ATTENDED SEVERAL OF THE SUSSEX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETINGS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, UM, TO SPEAK ABOUT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SOME ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY WERE DOING THERE, THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE RIVER SYSTEM. AND IN THAT DISCUSSION, THEY UM.
WERE INCLINED TO THINK OF SOLAR FACILITIES AS BEING A STRONG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, DIRECTION FOR THE COUNTY, THAT IT WOULD BENEFIT THEM FINANCIALLY AND IMPROVE THE COFFERS OF SUSSEX COUNTY.
[00:40:09]
WELL, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT OUR BOARD ESPECIALLY, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, TOO, THAT WE'VE WENT THROUGH THE SOLAR PANEL.UM. SO MAYBE WE, THE BOARD CAN BE OF SOME ASSISTANCE.
I MEAN, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD BECAUSE IT OPENED JUST IN ME SPEAKING, UH, AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS, IT OPENED THEIR EYES TO THE FACT THAT THEY NEEDED TO PROTECT THEIR COUNTY'S ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS AND LOOK AT OTHER WAYS OF DEVELOPING AND HAVING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR COUNTY BEFORE THEY GO INTO WHOLESALE SOLAR OR OTHER TYPES OF DISRUPTIVE DEVELOPMENT THAT TAKES AWAY THE PRISTINE AREAS AND THEIR FARMLAND AND BEAUTIFUL FOREST AND ALL OF THAT.
SO, WELL, YOU KNOW, IN HAVING THE NEWSOM'S PROJECT.
IT. IT OPENED MY EYES AND HUNTING THERE AS A KID, AND I RECALL ALL THE THINGS THEY PROMISED AND HOW IT WAS A COMPLETE UNDER-DELIVER OR ABSOLUTE OMISSION OF DELIVERY.
MAY NOT HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE TO SAY HEY TO MR. DRAKE, WHO LIVES IN NEWSOMS, TO COME OUT AND MAYBE TOUR THE FACILITY.
I MEAN, AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS? YEAH, WELL, WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THAT.
I'LL GUARANTEE YOU THIS SCARES THE HECK OUT OF US.
WE ARE ALL AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WELL, I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
BE VERY HELPFUL TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY HEAR IT FROM CITIZENS, BUT THEY NEED TO HEAR IT FROM OTHERS WHO ARE IN A GOVERNMENTAL SITUATION AND HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS IN GOVERNMENT.
SOMETIMES WE SAY, WELL, WELL, MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
AND THAT'S IT. YOU REALIZE THAT? THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
THAT'S WHY THEY WENT TO SUSSEX HERE.
OKAY. YOU WANT TO BE REASONABLE? COME IN. YOU KNOW, WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THINGS THAT ARE REASONABLE.
SO, THEY'RE GOING OVER TO A COUNTY HERE THAT HAS NO ORDINANCE AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEM.
PURPOSES OF SOLAR POWER IS FALLING OUT OF.
WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENED OVER THERE.
MR. DRAKE, ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU HAVE? AND I'M REFERENCING YOU AND YOU'RE NOT HERE, BUT CHAIRMAN RANDALL, ALL THIS IS ALL, THE COMMENTS AND, UH, YOURSELF AND MRS. OLSEN AND DR.
ELLIS, Y'ALL ARE ALL SPOT ON WITH YOUR COMMENTS, AND I AGREE.
I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF MAYBE CONFERRING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN SUSSEX.
BECAUSE THAT IS A VAST PROJECT, THE BIGGEST PROJECT IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
I WAS INVITED TO ATTEND, UM, TO HEAR SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHEN THEY WHEN THEY SHOW IT UP ON THE EASELS UP FRONT IT'S COMING RIGHT DOWN OUR NORTHWESTER BORDER OF THE COUNTY. AND, UM, I AGREE IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR COUNTY.
IT WAS A LOT OF CINEMAS OPPOSED TO IT.
ESPECIALLY UP AROUND THE SUMMER, BUT ESPECIALLY SOME OLD TIMBERLAND THERE.
IT WAS GOING TO BE CUT AND THE LAND CLEARED, AND IT REALLY DISTURBED HIM.
AND MY ONLY COMMENT AS I LEFT RIGHT THERE, YOU KNOW, UH, ONE THING VERY OBVIOUS.
THANK YOU. WHERE IS ALL THAT WILDLIFE GO? YOU KNOW THEY'RE SO IN TUNE TO PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES.
[00:45:06]
BUT REALLY, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF SIMPLE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.BUT WHY IS ALL THE WILDLIFE THAT LIVES IN OUR TIMBERLAND GO? SO, I WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE THAT.
I DO THINK THAT SUSSEX HAD A RATHER WEAK ORDINANCE.
AND I AGREE, THESE COMPANIES, FROM WHAT I HAVE TOLD TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE IF YOU HAVE A WEAK OR NO ORDINANCE, THESE PEOPLE ARE TRAINED TO COME IN AND PERSUADE THE LANDOWNERS TO SIGN UP.
I JUST HOPE ONE DAY THEY DON'T, UH, REGRET WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.
AND I'M ALSO WITH A FACILITY IN NUISANCE, WHICH I DO FIND SOME LAND NEXT TO ONE OF THE SOLAR PROJECTS. AND THIS SUMMER.
I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'M TALKING ABOUT 5 TO 6 WEEKS.
HONESTLY. THAT IS PART OF THE PANELS WERE ALL THE WAY POINTING WEST.
POINTED PANELS WERE NEUTRAL, LIKE FLAT HORIZONTAL.
AND THE OTHER PANELS, AND I'M GONNA SAY IT WAS ABOUT 30% OF EACH.
HONESTLY, I'M BEING VERY HONEST.
IF THIS IF THIS WAY OF CAPTURING AND PROVIDING ENERGY IS SO IMPORTANT, WHY WASN'T THAT CHECKED ON, SAY, WITHIN A WORKING WEEK, A FIVE-DAY PERIOD? BUT IT DIDN'T GO ON, I MUST SAY, FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS.
AND MY SON AND I, MY WIFE, WE WERE FACED WITH THAT, AND WE JUST WONDERED.
IS NOBODY LOOKING? OR IS IT? IS IT EVEN WORKING? I HATE TO SAY THAT.
IS IT EVEN? IF IT'S EVEN WORKING.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S MY COMMENT AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME CLUE IN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DRINK. TALKING ABOUT SPECIES EXTINCTION, HOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THIS AREA? THOSE SPECIES THAT MAY BE EXTINCT BY THIS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT? YEAH. MR. DRAKE MADE A COMMENT OF OUR NORTHWEST, BUT IT ENCOMPASSES EACH SIDE OF THE 4H CENTER, THE MAJORITY OF OUR BORDER WITH SUSSEX COUNTY.
AND MANY OF THE PROPERTIES ABUT RIGHT UP TO THE LINE.
IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO THE TOWN OF WAKEFIELD, TO WAKEFIELD AT THE TOP.
JUST ABOUT. MISS AUSTEN, GO AHEAD.
DID YOU STATE A RECOMMENDATION? I DID, I MADE I SECOND IT AND YOU SECOND IT.
OH, I DIDN'T I WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
SO, WOULD WE LIKE TO CALL FOR THE QUESTION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AND, UH, I THINK I'M GOING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MR. SHAW TOMORROW AND TELL HIM WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT AND SEE IF WE CAN GET IT ON THE AGENDA FOR JANUARY.
AND I EVEN GO TALK TO TIDEWATER NEWS AND SEE IF MR. MUELLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND GIVE HIM A COPY OF THIS.
SO, START GETTING IT OUT AND LET PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
IF THAT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THERE DOES THIS TO THAT COUNTY.
THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THEY REPRESENT.
THEY SAID THEY HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPACT.
AND SOME OF THEM JUST DON'T KNOW.
WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ECONOMIC BOON AND IT'S GOING TO LOOK GREAT.
AND THEN YOU RIDE BY NEWSOM'S.
IT'S JUST I MEAN, IT'S JUST NOT THE CASE.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, OVERPROMISE AND UNDER-DELIVER.
AND I THINK WHAT THEY THINK THEY'RE GETTING; IT'S NOT BEEN DELIVERED IN ANY OF THE FACILITIES THAT I'VE SEEN IN CAROLINA OR VIRGINIA.
WHERE DO YOU THINK ALL THESE MATERIALS MADE? WELL, THEY'RE CHINA.
[00:50:04]
ALL THIS MATERIAL FOR THIS COMES FROM CHINA.WE IMPORT ABOUT 92% OF OUR SOLAR PANEL STUFF MADE IN CHINA.
WELL, IF Y'ALL ARE GOING TO TOUCH BASE WITH SUSSEX COUNTY.
I TALKED TO, MR. FULLER PRIOR TO THE MEETING, AND WE'VE HAD A FEW MORE FIRES AROUND THE SOLAR FACILITIES IN OUR AREA.
AND I THINK HE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THEY WANT TO TRY TO PUT A CHART TOGETHER TO SHOW THE FREQUENCY OF THEM, HOW MUCH DAMAGE IT DID, THE ONES THAT WENT OUT OF THE FACILITY, THE ONES THAT WERE MAINTAINED AND CONTAINED IN THE FACILITY.
SO MAYBE, MAYBE IF WE CAN GET THAT TOGETHER BEFORE Y'ALL CAN, YOU KNOW, TOUCH BASE WITH SUSSEX BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEVER CAME UP. FIRE HAZARD.
WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE THE NUISANCE FACILITY.
I MEAN, YOU CAN JUST RIDE BY IT, AND I'VE READ BY IT SEVERAL TIMES.
I MEAN, JUST FROM CUTTING THE GRASS.
ALMOST. WE'LL GO TO 60 AND LOOK AT THE STRAWBERRY THAT'S PLANTED ON THE BERMS. ABOUT HALF OF IT IS DEAD.
AND HALF OF IT WILL NEVER GET BIG ENOUGH TO SHIELD YOU OFF FROM THE, YOU KNOW, HOW IT LOOKS.
SO, THAT'S ANOTHER THING YOU LOOK AT.
LOOK AT THOSE STUFF ON 460 AND MR. DRAKE. AM I WRONG ABOUT THAT? I MEAN, I RODE BY MAYBE AUGUST AND THE GRASS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH.
UH, IT WAS, YES, MR. RANDALL, THAT IS CORRECT.
BUT THEY ACTUALLY DID CUT THAT.
I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETIME BY MID-SEPTEMBER THAT I RECOLLECT.
BUT IT WAS IT WAS PRETTY DOGGONE TALL THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER UNTIL THE VERY END OF SUMMER.
YES. I MEAN, IT WAS NOT PRESENTED THAT.
AND THE APPLICATION IT WAS GOING TO, IT WAS GOING TO LOOK PRISTINE.
I REMEMBER ONE PERSON SAID, I MEAN, AND THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE FOR 6 TO 8% OF OUR ELECTRICITY.
DO YOU REMEMBER THAT, MR. DIRECTOR? THAT'S WHAT IT WILL SUPPLY.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE KEPT NEAT.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CUT AS REQUIRED.
BUT SO FAR AS THE SITE ON 671, I AGREE.
I THINK THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE SUMMER IT WAS CERTAINLY NEGLECTED.
THERE WERE WEEDS, PROBABLY THREE FOOT IN HEIGHT, AND THE GRASS WAS PROBABLY 20IN OR MORE.
OKAY. AND I CHASED HIM AND TOLD.
YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] EFFECT? IF THAT'S THE CASE, THAT LANCE WILL BE GONE FOR 30 YEARS TAKING CARE OF BUS DRIVERS.
SO, IT'S A LONG TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
AND, UH, THE SUNPOWER COMPANY IS.
THEY APPROACHED PEOPLE WHO MAYBE NEED THE MONEY, WEREN'T THEY? AND THEY MAKE THESE DEALS AND WITH GRANDPA, WHO'S 90 YEARS OLD, AND THEN, UH, FAMILY FINDS OUT ABOUT IT AND IT'S TOO LATE.
SOME OF THESE AREAS ARE GOING TO BE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED.
LIKE, WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED THERE? JUST BEING IN PROXIMITY TO THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON FOR SOUTHAMPTON TO HAVE SOME INPUT AND CONCERN ABOUT THIS FACILITY AND THE PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENT.
THERE'S NO, IF IT'S AN ADJOINING LANDOWNER AND IT'S IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT IF IT'S IN A YES, IF IT'S AN ABUTTING LANDOWNER, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT COUNTY IT'S IN.
THEY HAVE TO GO. THEY HAVE TO RECEIVE NOTICE.
THAT'S A THAT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT.
THAT'S CORRECT. AND THAT WELL, THAT'S A GOOD THING.
IS THERE ANY MORE NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION? ANYTHING. DEPUTY.
WYCHE. ANYTHING FROM GOOD OF THE ORDER.
[00:55:02]
OKAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU ATTENDING TONIGHT.ALL RIGHT. A SECOND MOTION TO ADJOURN.
YEP. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? EFFICIENT MEETING.
AND THE TIME IS WONDERFUL, MR. DRAKE. IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU TODAY.
I HOPE YOU CONTINUE, UM, TO HEAL UP.
AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO TUNE IN TO THE MEETING.
AND I HAD A GREAT MEETING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SIR.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.