14/12/2023, 15:01

Again edited for clarity and added bold on certain words for emphasis.


New petition description:

Charlotte County, VA is in danger of being further blighted by unbridled utility-scale solar development. While 7,500 acres has already been approved for Conditional Use by the local governing body, there has been a resurgence within the county government to significantly enlarge the already immense development campaign for utility scale solar. While 2.56% of the total land mass of the county has been approved for development, a recent Planning Commission recommendation would double the saturation to a total of nearly 15,000 acres! The additional 2.44% will make room for another roughly 7,500 acres of development —most— most of which would be parcels in the 50-acre range in your backyard in the form of as many as 100 or more projects scattered throughout the county.

Concerned residents, landowners, and taxpayers are encouraged to add their names to this important cause to protect and defend our rural communities and petition the Board of Supervisors to bring an end and possible reduction to the footprint of the ever-increasing industrial solar complex that will forever plague the place we all love and call home.

Petitioners further affix their signatures and full support to the Letter of Petition to be presented to the Board as more particularly set forth below:

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors

County of Charlotte, VA

250 LeGrande Ave, Suite A

Charlotte Court House, VA 23923

Dear Honorable Chairman and Esteemed Members of the Board:Board:  

In response and overwhelming concern to the unbridled utility-scale solar development plans taking place in Charlotte County, VA, the

Friends of Charlotte, Inc. by its many members and additional supporters seeks to compel the Board of Supervisors to bring an end and even a reduction by ordinance or statute to theenlarging footprint of thethe  ever-increasing local industrial solar complexdevelopment footprint in order to safeguard Charlotte County, Virginia’sVirginia’s  rural agricultural communities, its lands, its waters, and natural sanctity of its forests. This petition is  based on overwhelming concern that Charlotte County citizens have expressed to our organization.  As represented by the signatures of Charlotte County residents, landowners, and taxtaxpayers payers affixedaffixed  hereto, affected citizens are answering the call to preserve the integrity of our farmland,farmlands, forests,forests,  surrounding wildlife, and soil, water, and air qualityquality. while also advocating for energy and economic interest alternatives to utility-scale energy development.

We hereby petition the local governing bodybody  to effectuate ample measures to manifest the Adoption of an Amended Comprehensive Plan andand  any subsequentZoning Ordinance or StatuteCode which which: 

i) preserves Charlotte'sour primary agricultural, silviculture,agricultural and rural valuesvalues, as well asas, related historichistoric  preservation and tourism initiatives; initiatives;  

ii) includes minimal updates required by the Code of Virginia using the research compiled during the new 2023 Comprehensive Plan Draftupdates preparation(as (includedopposed into itsa Appendixcompletely asNew  appropriate)Plan) whichand clearly displays any suggested changes for ample public consumption; consumption;  

iii) clearly includes a saturation cap on solar development of 1% of the total eligibleeligible  land densityacreage throughout the county, but with an allowance to develop up to 2.56% (an additional 1.56%) of the same land throughout to construct projects toto  which the County has already been obligated by the Board of Supervisors unless anyany  previously approved project does not come to fruition, in which case thethe  aforementioned allowance will diminish; diminish;  

iv) clearly states that any new projects considered for solar development within thethe  1% density saturation cap shall be "community/shared type projects" equal to or lessless  than 25 acres in size,size; be no closer than 2 miles apart,apart; withinclude enhanced zoningzoning  requirements includingof increased setbacks and mandates for the plantationplanting of estheticallyaesthetically  pleasing native species trees in vegetativebuffers; buffers,and not be approved for Conditional Use to the objection of any adjacentadjacent  land owner; owner; 

v) clearly states that all future solar and energy storage projects will only bebe  permitted in Industrial Zones and managed under the authority of the IndustrialIndustrial  Development Authority in a way that benefits the County financially equal or financiallyor  superior to any developer to which such a project is awarded; andawarded; and  

vi) creates a Planning Commission composition with equal representation for thethe  (3) most rural districts of Wylliesburg / RedWylliesburg/Red Oak (District B); CullenCullen/Red / Red HouseHouse  (District E); and Bacon / SaxeBacon/Saxe (District G) that is accomplished by adding (1) additionaladditional  member for each of the respective districts thereby bringing the total numbersnumber ofof  members to (14) andwhile maintaining compliance with Code of Virginia § 15.2-2212.15.2-2212.  

Faithfully brought forth on behalf of this and every Petitioner,Petitioner, 

Daniel Weston Dixon

Chairman

Friends of Charlotte, Inc.