>> 2025, WE WELCOME YOU TO THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.
[• Opening]
[00:00:04]
MY NAME IS BEN BUTLER, AND TONIGHT, I AM THE ACTING CHAIR.TO MY RIGHT IS MEMBER MIKE MANN.
TO MY LEFT IS MEMBER KEVIN PARKS.
ALSO TO MY RIGHT, WE HAVE PATRICK THOMAS, THE BOARD ATTORNEY, KATHLEEN MCCAULEY.
THEN TO MY LEFT, WE HAVE MATT KOZINSKI.
THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS HAS THE POWER AND DUTY TO HEAR AND DECIDE APPLICATIONS FOR SPECIAL USE EXCEPTIONS, VARIANCES AND APPEALS, WHERE THERE IS AN ERROR IN ANY ORDER REQUIRE DECISION AND DETERMINATION MADE IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE ZONING CHAPTER OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND.
THE APPLICANT WILL PRESENT THEIR CASE.
WE WILL THEN TAKE TESTIMONY OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION AND THEN TAKE TESTIMONY FROM THOSE IN OPPOSITION TO THE APPLICANT.
ONCE THE TESTIMONY FROM BOTH SIDES HAS BEEN GIVEN, WE WILL ALLOW TIME FOR EACH SIDE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE OPPOSING SIDE.
ONLY THOSE WHO TESTIFIED WILL BE ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.
ONCE CLOSING ARGUMENTS ARE COMPLETE, THE BOARD WILL CLOSE FOR DELIBERATION.
NO ONE FROM THE AUDIENCE MAY SPEAK WHILE THE BOARD DELIBERATES UNLESS THE BOARD ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION FROM THE AUDIENCE.
THE BOARD MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO DECIDE AN APPLICANT THE SAME NIGHT THAT THE TESTIMONY HAS HEARD.
OCCASIONALLY, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE AND A CONTINUANCE WILL BE GRANTED.
FOR RECORDING PURPOSES, ONLY ONE PERSON MAY SPEAK AT A TIME.
PLEASE SPEAK LOUDLY AND CLEAR SO THAT IT IS RECORDED INTO THE MICROPHONE.
THOSE SPEAKING IN-PERSON, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH CASE NUMBER 25-0007.
[• Public Hearings: 1. Olivia C. & David A. Grear – Variance No. 25-0007]
WE GOT A FEW THINGS WE GET TO THAT POINT.YOU'RE FINE. IT IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS WILL HOLD PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 15 AT 6:00 PM.
APPLICATION NUMBER 25-0007, A REQUEST BY OLIVIA C AND DAVID A. GREAR FOR A VARIANCE FOR AN EXISTING 486 BARN TO BE USED AS A COMMERCIAL STABLE THAT DOES NOT MEET THE 200 FOOT COMMERCIAL STABLE SETBACK.
SAID PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 25840 GAREY ROAD, DENTON, MARYLAND, IS FURTHER DESCRIBED AS TAXI MAP 23 GRID 24 PARCEL 186 AND AND IT IS OWNED BY OLIVIA C AND DAVID A. GREAR.
MATT, CAN YOU READ IN THE EXHIBITS?
>> DO YOU WANT TO SWEAR HIM IN FIRST WHILE HE'S STANDING HERE? WE'LL READ THIS. THAT WAY HE CAN SIT DOWN.
>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AFTER THIS.
>> DAVID GREAR, 25840 GAREY ROAD, DENTON, MARYLAND.
>> DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY AND THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY YOU GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> BOARD EXHIBITS. EXHIBIT NUMBER 1 IS A NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 2 IS A STAFF REPORT.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 3 IS A VARIANCE APPLICATION, EXHIBIT NUMBER 4 IS A SITE PLAN, EXHIBIT NUMBER 5 IS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT TAXATION ASSESSMENT SHEET AND A MAP.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 7 IS AN AERIAL ON THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 8 IS A SIGN POSTING.
EXHIBIT 9 IS THE ADJACENT PROPERTY AFFIDAVIT.
EXHIBIT 10 IS THE APPLICANT'S NOTICE.
>> DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE STAFF REPORT?
>> YEAH. I'LL GO AHEAD AND GO OVER THE STAFF REPORT.
AGAIN, DAVID AND OLIVIA GREAR HAVE REQUESTED A VARIANCE.
IT'S A 200 FOOT SETBACK REQUIREMENT ASSOCIATED WITH A COMMERCIAL CLUB OR STABLE LOCATED AT 25840 GAREY ROAD.
THIS USE IS A PERMITTED USE SUBJECT TO SITE PLAN APPROVAL.
THE APPLICANT SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION AND UPON REVIEW WAS DETERMINED THAT IT DIDN'T MEET THE 200 FOOT SETBACK.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. THE VARIANCE IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SITE PLAN APPLICATION.
THE APPLICANTS PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN DECEMBER OF 2024, THAT EXISTING BARN, THE 36 BY 48, WAS PROPERLY PERMITTED FOR PRIVATE USE FROM A PREVIOUS OWNER BACK IN 2006, SO IT IS ALREADY A STABLE.
DEGREES INTENTION IS TO HAVE A TRAINER UTILIZE
[00:05:02]
EXISTING BARN AND THE PADDOCKS AS PART OF THEIR COMMERCIAL STABLE OPERATION.ALSO NOTED IS THAT THE APPLICANTS OPERATE A HOME BASED FIREARMS BUSINESS.
THERE'S AN EXISTING POLE BARN THAT'S THERE THAT WE'VE ISSUED APPROVALS FOR.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO INCLUDE ON THE SITE PLAN.
DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS APPLICATION, BUT AS FAR AS PEOPLE COMING ON SITE, KNOW THAT THERE IS ANOTHER USE THAT'S AVAILABLE HERE ON SITE BARN PROPERTY.
THAT PERMIT WAS ISSUED AS A HOME OCCUPATION IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
WITH THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER, IF NOT, WE CAN OPEN UP THE FLOOR.
>> I THINK I'LL LET MR. GREER GO AHEAD AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS, BUT IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR US IF YOU JUST GO THROUGH YOUR APPLICATION, IT'S GOT QUESTIONS AND YOU HAD ANSWERS, IF YOU JUST ROLL THROUGH THAT.
IT'S JUST TO KEEP IT ON THE RECORD.
>> I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE. I WAS ACTUALLY A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER IN BG COUNTY. I'VE BEEN IN THIS KIND OF SETTING.
WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN DECEMBER AND HAD THE STABLE THERE AND IT LOOKED AWESOME.
I LOVE HORSES. I DON'T KNOW A DARN THING ABOUT KEEPING THEM ALIVE, BUT I LOVE HORSES.
OUR PLAN WAS TO UTILIZE THE SPACE IN ORDER TO SOMEONE WHO DOES WHAT THEY'RE DOING, USE THE SPACE, KEEP HORSES THERE.
ALSO, I HAVE TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS NOW, AND I'VE HEARD THE HORSE GAME TO BE EXPENSIVE.
IF THEY CAN SEE THEM THEY'RE NOT TO PURCHASE THEM, THEN IT'S SOME WIN WIN.
I TRY AND DO IT LEGALLY, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S ALL GOOD, THAT WE WILL GET THE APPROVAL FROM THE MARYLAND EQUINE BOARD, ONCE THIS IS APPROVED.
WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS FOR THE DRIVEWAY TO BE WIDENED TO THE CORRECT DISTANCE.
MY WIFE TAKES CARE OF THAT, SHE'S WAY MORE ORGANIZED THAN I AM.
BUT THAT IS SET TO BE ALREADY IN DETAIL AND TO GO AS SOON AS THIS DOES GET APPROVED.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE A TRAINER THAT WE'VE TALKED TO THAT AGAIN, IF THIS DOES GET APPROVED, THEY WILL BE COMING IN AND STARTING ONCE ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS, THE DRIVEWAY ARE MET.
THAT SHOULD BE RIGHT AROUND MAY 1 FOR THE ACTUAL START DATE, THE COURSE TO COME IN TO BE UTILIZED FOR TRAINING.
>> KATHLEEN, YOU WANT TO PULL UP EXHIBIT 3, PAGE 2 OF 4.
THEN I'LL JUST LET YOU SKIM OVER YOUR ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.
SURE. IT'S CRITERIA THAT WE GOT TO MEET.
YOU CAN START RIGHT WITH A AND JUST READ THE QUESTION AND ANSWER.
>> EXPLAIN HOW THE STRICT APPLICATION OF THE ZONING CHAPTER WOULD PRODUCE UNNECESSARY AND UNDUE HARDSHIP.
THE BARN IN QUESTION IS AN EXISTING STRUCTURE ON 100 PLUS YEAR OLD PROPERTY.
MOVING THE BARN IS NOT A POSSIBILITY AND WOULD CAUSE EXTREME DISRUPTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DO LIVE RIGHT ACROSS FROM WORKFORCE FARM, THE PLACE WITH THE ZEBRAS AND THE CAMELS, WHICH ALSO SHOCKED ME WHEN WE MOVED HERE, BUT IT'S FANTASTIC. MOVING THAT BARN.
THE CONCRETE PADDING IS ALREADY THERE.
THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE ON THE PROPERTY FOR IT TO BE MOVED TO AND TO BE USED EFFECTIVELY.
THE PADDOCKS ARE ALREADY FENCED IN.
ELECTRIC FENCING IS ALREADY IN THE PREVIOUS OWNERS, AND SO IS EXISTING THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY CHANGES WERE MADE FROM WHEN THEY FIRST PUT IN, BUT IT LOOKS GORGEOUS.
MOVING THAT WOULD JUST BE A VERY TOUGH FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ALONG WITH ALL THE EXTRA EQUIPMENT ON THE PROPERTY TO HAVE THEM MOVED.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ASKING FOR IT TO BE ABLE TO STAY WHERE IT IS.
B, EXPLAIN THE ABOVE LIST HARDSHIP AS THE RESULT OF SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES NOT GENERALLY SHARED BY OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE SAME ZONING DISTRICT OR IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AND IS PARTICULAR TO THE PROPERTY STRUCTURE OR BUILDING FOR WHICH THE VARIANCE IS REQUESTED.
THE BARN IS EXISTING. AS MATTHEW HAD STATED, I FORGET THE YEAR HE SAID IT WAS PERMANENT THERE, BUT IT'S BEEN IN FOR QUITE A WHILE.
THERE HAVE BEEN HORSES ON THE PROPERTY PREVIOUSLY WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNERS.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE JUST GETTING INTO IT, AND I DON'T WANT IT ON MY CONSCIOUS JUST TO BUY A HORSE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP IT ALIVE.
BRINGING IN SOMEONE WHO IS LICENSED, WHO DOES A COMPANY, WHO HAS BEEN DOING IT AND MULTIPLE FACETS OF TRAINING, BARREL RIDING, BARREL RACING, AND A COUPLE OF SHOW HORSES, AND JUST GETTING THEM IN THERE TO MAKE SURE THE PROPERTY IS MAINTAINED BY THEM AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
C, EXPLAIN HOW THE ABOVE LIST AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT RESULT FROM THE ACTION OF THE APPLICANTS OR THE APPLICANTS PRESENT CERTAIN INTEREST.
IT WAS BUILT, AGAIN, ORIGINALLY FOR RESIDENTIAL, BUT BEING THAT IT IS THERE AND US WANTING TO PUT IT TO PROPER USE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS TRAINED AND LICENSED.
KEEPING THE SET UP HOW IT IS, AGAIN, MOVING IT.
THERE ARE EVEN NO WHERE ELSE WE PUT OUT THE PROPERTY.
THE PADDOCKS ARE ALREADY ALL FENCED OUT.
POUCHEK FENCING IS ALREADY ESTABLISHED THERE, AND THE FENCING, I BELIEVE IS ALSO RATHER NEW AS WELL.
D, EXPLAIN HOW THE GRANTING OF THE VARIANCE WILL BE IN HARMONY WITH THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND INTENT IN THE ZONING CHAPTER AND WILL NOT BE INJURIOUS TO ADJACENT PROPERTY, THE CHAPTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR THE PUBLIC WELFARE.
[00:10:03]
PROPERTY WOULD CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN HORSES ON IT, ALLOWING FOR THE LAND TO THRIVE.IT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE CONDITIONAL LAND TO NOT CONTINUE ANIMALS ON IT.
THERE IS SPECIAL GRASS THAT WAS PUT DOWN FOR HORSES FOR THEM TO GO AT, AND RIGHT NOW IT'S VERY HIGH BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN NO HORSES THERE SINCE DECEMBER WE MOVED IN.
UP KEEPING THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF WHAT IT WAS MEANT TO BE THERE FOR HORSES TO BE ABLE TO EAT AND GRAZE IS WHAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO.
E, EXPLAIN HOW THE CONDITION SITUATION OR INTENDED USE OF THE PROPERTY CONCERNED IS NOT OF SO GENERAL OR RE-OCCURRING A NATURE AS TO MAKE IT PRACTICABLE, A GENERAL AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING CHAPTER.
THE INTENTION IS FOR THE SINGLE TRAINER TO UTILIZE THE BARN AND FENCED IN PADDOCKS, WHICH IS CORRECT.
THE ONE TRAINER SHE HAS IS GOING TO, IF THIS IS PERMITTED, IT'S GOING TO BE HER BARN.
ALL THE STALLS IN THERE MINUS THE TWO GOATS WE INHERITED, WHICH THEY'RE PHENOMENAL. THEY'RE VERY NICE.
THE GOATS WERE ACTUALLY PREVIOUSLY RESCUED FROM A, I BELIEVE, IT WAS A SCHOOL IN DENTON THAT DEALT WITH CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS, SO THE GOATS WERE ACTUALLY USED FOR THE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH.
THEN THE TRAINER HAS THE TACK ROOM, ALL THE OTHER STALLS IN THERE AND SHE'S GOING TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THE GOATS AS WELL.
F, EXPLAIN HOW THIS VARIANCE WILL BE THE MINIMUM NECESSARY TO AFFORD BELIEF.
THE BARN IMPACTS ARE ALL FENCED IN AND STAND ROUGHLY FIVE FEET WITHIN THE PROPERTY LINES.
AGAIN, SITE PLAN WAS DONE AND I BELIEVE PRODUCED TO YOU GUYS.
THE FENCING IS ALREADY THERE IS WITHIN THAT FIVE FOOT AREA SPAN OF, I GUESS IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AT [INAUDIBLE].
IS THERE A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AS THE ENFORCEMENT OF ZONING REGULATIONS IN QUESTION? IF SO, PLEASE EXPLAIN.
THIS MAY BE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD ONLY WHEN SUCH FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IS SEVERE AND ONLY WHEN AND IF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO EXIST, THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ALONE CANNOT SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR GRANTING A VARIANCE, NOT APPLICABLE.
>> ACTUALLY, I DO. SINGLE TRAINER, HOW MANY HORSES ARE YOU PLANNING ON OR HOPING TO HAVE WITHIN?
>> SHE'S GOING TO HAVE AT LEAST FOUR, I BELIEVE FIVE.
AGAIN, TAKE MY WORK TO THE GRAND OF SALMAN TRY TO AS BEST I CAN.
THEY HAVE ONE HORSE THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT THEY BREED.
HE'S CURRENTLY UNDER BACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BECAUSE HIS GENOME IS VERY RARE, HIS COLOR IS VERY RARE.
THEY HAVE ONE HORSE THAT THEY BREED AND THEY HAVE OTHER HORSES THERE THAT WILL BE USED FOR TRAINING.
I BELIEVE IT'S FOUR, COULD BE FIVE.
>> ARE YOU PLANNING ON THIS TRAINER AND THE HORSES? I HEARD YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT BARREL RACING AND THINGS.
ARE YOU PLANNING ON HAVING PEOPLE COME TO DO THESE EVENTS OR PRACTICE THIS STUFF THERE, OR ARE YOU JUST LIKE PLAN ON HAVING A BOARDING AREA FOR THE HORSES AND A TRAINER TO HELP CONDITION THEM FOR WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING TO BE USED FOR?
>> YES, SIR. SHE'S ONE TRAINER.
SHE'S THE OWNER OF BLACK HAWK EQUINE.
SHE HAS LIKE PERSISTING CLIENTS THAT SHE WILL GO OUT TO THEIR PROPERTIES TO CURRENTLY MEET.
SHE LIVES IN FEDERALSBURG, DENTON HAPPENS TO BE A MUCH CENTRAL MORE MEETING GROUND FOR HER.
SO SHE HAS THE HORSES AT OUR PROPERTY, THE HORSES STAY THERE.
SHE DOES, I BELIEVE IT IS FULL BOARD WHEN THEY TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING THEMSELVES.
THEN PEOPLE WILL JUST COME FOR THE LESSONS ONE BY ONE, HOWEVER, SHE DECIDES TO SCHEDULE THEM OUT.
>> GOOD. THAT'S WHAT I WAS LEADING TO IS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE HORSES THERE, YOU'RE HAVING A TRAINER.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE COMING ON AND OFF PROPERTY AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
DO YOU HAVE A TIME FRAME IN MIND THAT NOT BEFORE THIS AND NOT AFTER THIS HOURS OF THE DAY, AND HOW MANY DAYS A WEEK WILL THIS HAPPEN?
I'M NOT SURE WHAT SHE'S CURRENTLY THINKING, BUT IT WILL BE BETWEEN GENERAL BUSINESS HOURS, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 8:00 AND 5:00 OR 9:00-6:00, NOTHING AFTER OR A LATE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD OR WE'VE DISCUSSED.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN, BUT WHAT I'VE GATHERED SO FAR IS BASICALLY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, GENERAL BUSINESS HOURS IS WHEN SHE WILL BE COMING AND GOING.
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE STANDS TO LIKE, WATCH BARREL RACING.
IT'S JUST FOR THE CONDITION OF HORSES. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> YOU GOT SOME QUESTIONS AGAIN?
>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE COMPETITION THERE?
>> I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE IN OPPOSITION OR IN FAVOR OF THIS CASE?
>> WELL, I KNOW ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS IS HERE.
I'M ASSUMING MAYBE YOU JUST CAME TO SEE WHERE THIS LED TO?
[00:15:04]
>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT MUCH.
SELL GUNS AND STUFF NOW, GUYS. [LAUGHTER]
>> I JUST RECOGNIZED THE ONE NEIGHBOR.
>> I GUESS, SINCE THERE'S NO OPPOSITION, IF YOU WANT TO DO A CLOSING STATEMENT, YOU CAN OR YOU DON'T HAVE TO IT'S UP TO YOU.
>> MY WIFE AND I WORKS HERE AT THE [INAUDIBLE] IN DENTON, MAN.
WE WERE IN CENTERVILLE BEFORE AND JUST RECENT TRANSPLANTS EASTERN SHORE. IT'S BEEN GREAT OUT HERE.
EVERYONE'S VERY LAID BACK AND RELAXED AND I GOT MEDICALLY RETIRED FROM PG COUNTY.
IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL OUT HERE WITH YOU GUYS FARMERS MARKETS AND EVERYTHING.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET INGRAINED INTO THE LOCAL AREA AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
>> MORE FOR MATT. I LOOKED AT THE SETBACKS.
WE'RE REALLY ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BARN IS NOT WHAT'S GOING TO MEET THE [OVERLAPPING]?
>> THEN THE NEIGHBORS NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT IT.
>> NO. THEY LOVE IT. THE KIDS COME OUT OVER AND HANG OUT.
>> BUT THE HORSE'S ACTIVITY IS NOT GOING TO BE ON THE HUNDRED FOOT SIDE.
>> NO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AERIAL PICTURE, ALL THE PADDOCKS ARE LEFT AND BACK.
THE POLE BARN IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY COMES UP, BUT TOP OF MY HEAD, I WANT TO SAY IT'S LIKE TWO OR THREE FULL ACRES OF JUST OPEN SPACE IN BETWEEN THE TWO HOUSES THERE.
>> WELL, THERE'S ANIMALS ALL AROUND YOU.
>> OH, YEAH, THERE IS. WHEN THE WATER BUFFALO GOT OUT LAST WEEK AND THEY WERE EATING THE GRASS THAT THAT WAS GREAT.
MY BUDDY SAID, WHAT'S GOING ON? I SAID YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME IF I TOLD YOU WHAT HAPPENED.
I GOT WATER BUFFALO IN MY FRONT YARD.
I ASKED HER WHERE THE HECK DO YOU LIVE AT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WELL, THERE'S AN OPTION. YOU STILL WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MEET.
>> BUT I THINK WE GO TO THE DELIBERATION.
NOW, AFTER HEARING EVERYBODY'S TESTIMONY AND THE SUMMARY STATEMENTS, THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING WILL BE CLOSED FOR DELIBERATION.
AT THIS POINT, THE AUDIENCE MAY NOT SPEAK OR MAKE COMMENTS UNLESS THE BOARD IS ASKING FOR A CLARIFICATION QUESTION.
>> ONE THING MAKE SURE WITH KATHLEEN THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MAILED IN.
>> KATHLEEN, WAS THERE ANY OTHER THING FOR THIS CASE LIKE MAILED IN OR EMAILED?
>> NOW, WE'LL START DELIBERATING.
LET'S GO THROUGH THESE. SUCH A DIFFICULTY AS A RESULT OF SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES NOT GENERALLY SHARED WITH OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE SAME ZONING DISTRICT OR IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, IS PECULIAR TO THE SAME PROPERTY STRUCTURE OR BUILDING FOR WHICH THE VARIANCE IS REQUESTED. IT'S EXISTING.
>> IT WAS ACTUALLY PERMITTED AS IF THEY WEREN'T TRYING TO DO IT AS A COMMERCIAL OPERATION, IF IT WAS JUST A PRIVATE OPERATION WITH HORSES, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.
>> IT WAS A PERMITTED USE BUILDING.
>> SUCH A DIFFICULTY IS NOT THE RESULT OF OR DOES NOT ARISE FROM THE CONDUCT OF THE APPLICANT'S PREDECESSOR.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY JUST BOUGHT THE PROPERTY.
IT WAS THERE WHEN THEY BOUGHT IT.
>> IT WAS USED FOR HORSES OR WHATEVER BEFORE.
I PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT. TO DO THIS.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT. THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP TO THE APPLICANT AS A RESULT OF THE STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF THE REGULATIONS IN QUESTION MAYBE CONSIDERED BY US, ONLY WHEN THE HARDSHIP IS SO SEVERE AND ONLY WHEN IF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS HAVEN'T BEEN FOUND, THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ALONE CANNOT SERVE AS A BASIS FOR GRANTING A VARIANCE.
>> THERE WAS NO NEW TESTIMONY OF A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
[00:20:03]
>> HE DIDN'T BUILD IT THERE, SO HE DIDN'T MAKE HIS HARDSHIP.
[LAUGHTER] HE BOUGHT THE HARDSHIP.
>> IS BEING USED FOR THE SAME USES.
IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S GOING TO BE RUNNING THE BUNCH IN THERE.
>> BECAUSE HE'S FOUR OR FIVE HORSES.
HE MIGHT HAVE SOME KIDS IN THERE BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TREMENDOUS.
>> I AGREE. I'M GOING TO JUST GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF THESE BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS, STUFF.
THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEAL SHALL NOT GET GRANTED VARIANCE UNLESS AND UNTIL A WRITTEN APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED.
>> IT WAS SUBMITTED. IT IS EXHIBIT 3.
>> A DULY ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING. YES.
>> IT WAS IN THE TIMES RECORD APRIL 2ND, 2025 AT NIGHT. THAT'S EXHIBIT 1?
>> CORRECT. THE BOARD HAS CONSIDERED THAT SKIP THAT PART.
GRANTING OF THE VARIANCE WILL BE IN HARMONY WITH THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THIS CHAPTER AND WILL NOT BE INJURY AS TO AN ADJACENT PROPERTY WHERE THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE.
>> THERE'S LOTS OF ANIMALS ON THAT ROAD. [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE ARE LOTS OF ANIMALS ON THAT ROAD.
>> THAT HAVE GOTTEN OUT FOR YEARS.
[LAUGHTER] THE PROPERTIES HAD HORSES ON IT.
THEY JUST WANT TO USE IT IN A DIFFERENT MANNER FOR THE HORSES AS WHAT IT WAS USED BEFORE.
>> IT'S NOT INJURED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'VE HAD NO TESTIMONY AGAINST IT.
>> SUCH A DIFFICULTY DOES NOT ARISE FROM THE APPLICANT.
THE CONDITION SITUATION OR INTENDED USE OF THE PROPERTY CONCERN IS NOT SO GENERAL OR RECURRING IN NATURE THAT THAT NATURE AS TO MAKE IT PRACTICAL, A GENERAL AMENDMENT TO THE CHAPTER. [NOISE]
>> NO, YOU DON'T SEE THIS ALL THE TIME.
>> I ONLY REMEMBER ONE OTHER TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD AND THAT WAS OVER TO RIDGLEY.
I DON'T REMEMBER ONE OTHER TIME THAT WE'VE HAD THIS COME UP.
>> THEY DON'T BOTHER ON SOME BACK THERE THAT'S ON BUS RAIL AND IT'S JUST GOING FROM RESIDENT TO WHATEVER.
>> THE VARIANCE GRANTED IS THE MINIMUM NECESSARY TO AFFORD RELIEF.
OBVIOUSLY, THE BARN WAS THERE PERMITTED 2006.
WHY MOVE IT FOR THE SAME USE JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE CALLING IT SOMETHING OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL.
YOU GOT ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO IT?
>> SORRY. WE HAVE COMPUTER ISSUES OVER HERE.
>> HE DIDN'T BEAT THE SCREEN OUT OF IT.
>> [LAUGHTER] I'D LIKE TO BEAT THE SCREEN OUT OF IT, KEVIN.
>> NO. COULD THE BARN BE MOVED AND MEET THE SETBACKS? YES. BUT AT A COST OF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THE BARN IS BUILT.
IT COULD BE BUILT TO THE FACT THAT YOU COULDN'T TAKE IT APART AND MOVE IT BECAUSE THE WAY IT WAS BUILT.
BECAUSE HONESTLY YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS MAP CATHERINE HAS UP THERE AND IT'S 213 FEET AND INCHES TO THE ONE SIDE OF THE BARN, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IF THAT PROPERTY LINE WAS FORWARD JUST A SMIDGE MORE, IT WOULD BE 300 ALMOST 400 FEET FROM THERE, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER ON THE ONE SIDE.
BUT RIGHT NOW TO LEAVE IT THERE AND JUST TO MOVE IT.
I THINK THEY WOULD JUST WELL HAVE TO TEAR THAT DOWN, DESTROY IT, AND BUILD A WHOLE NEW BARN.
>> TOO MUCH FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THAT.
THERE'S NO OPPOSITION. IN E, THIS IS NOT APPLICABLE.
WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT THIS, ANY OTHER CONDITIONS OR ANYTHING.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY, SO I DIDN'T ANYTHING TO ASK THAT.
>> I'M NOT SURE WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU OKAY WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING ABOUT?
>> MATT, DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD.
[00:25:01]
>> I THINK YOU'RE COVERING ALL THE CRITERIA.
YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS IF YOU THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE.
THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMED TO REALLY COME UP WAS THAT WAS A POTENTIAL HOURS OF OPERATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY THE CODE.
>> MATT HAS ACCOUNTING FEEL ABOUT THAT.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE DOING SHOWS, AND WHAT I MEAN?
>> YEAH. WELL, WHAT WAS LISTED ON THE SITE PLAN.
MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, 6:00 AM-8:00 PM.
BUT TESTIMONY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THAT.
I WILL SAY THAT THE FIREARMS BUSINESS.
THAT'S MONDAY TO SATURDAY, 08:00 AM-5:00 PM I CLOSE ON SUNDAY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CONSISTENT TIME BETWEEN THOSE TWO USES OR OFFSET THIS TIME, MR. GREER MENTIONED AT LEAST 8:00-5:00 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS EITHER IF THAT'S THE PLAN.
I THINK YOU PROBABLY SHOULD SET SOME HOURS.
I SHOULD HAVE ASKED MR. GREER ONE MORE THING WHEN I ASKED THE AMOUNT OF HORSES.
HOW MANY STALLS ARE IN THAT BARN FOUR HORSES.
IS FIVE HORSES WOULD THAT FILL THAT BARN UP?
>> ONE'S BEING USED AS A TACK ROOM AND ONES FOR THE GOATS.
>> I WAS HOURS WISE, I'M IGNORANT TO THAT.
I NEED TO SET HOURS AND TELL THE TRAINER, SHE'D ABIDE BY THOSE.
I JUST PERSONALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE HAD IN MIND, BUT IF WE HAD SET HOURS, JUST LET ME KNOW WHAT IS THE RIGHT HOURS IS SET, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'LL BE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL GO BY.
>> DO YOU WANT TO GO BY WHAT YOU HAVE MET ON THE WEEKENDS BUSINESS?
>> I WOULD SAY JUST KEEP CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS THE SET FOR THE FIREARMS BUSINESS.
MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM CLOSE ON SUNDAYS.
>> DO YOU NEED US TO MEND THAT OR YOU GO FOR THOSE HOURS?
>> I'M GOOD WITH THAT. JUST LET ME KNOW WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL GO WITH.
>> WHAT HE'S GOT ON THE SITE PLAN SHOULD BE FINE.
>> SIDE PLAN SAYS MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, 6:00 AM-8:00 PM.
>> LET'S GO WITH WHAT IS AMENDED TO 8:00-5:00.
>> 8:00-5:00 IS THAT WHAT IT WAS?
>> MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY [OVERLAPPING] AGAIN, I'M IGNORANT TO WHEN THEY WOULD ASSUME WHATEVER.
>> I'M JUST GOING OFF OF WHAT I SEE PEOPLE DOING OUTSIDE OF PRESTON HEADED TOWARDS HER LOCK THAT PLACE ON THE RIGHT.
IF THEY DO RIDING LESSONS AND THEY DO RIDING LESSONS ON SATURDAYS.
IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS APPROVAL AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION, AND I SAY MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 8:00-5:00.
>> YES, SIR. I THINK THAT'S FINE. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF IT'S FINE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T MAKE DECISION.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE NEGOTIATING.
WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO TIE THEIR HANDS, SO TO SPEAK.
>> THEY DON'T WANT THEM TO COME BACK FOR.
>> WELL, MOST OF TIME, A COUPLE OF HOURS.
>> ON SATURDAYS OR SUNDAYS, THEY'RE IN COMPETITION SOMEWHERE.
UNLESS YOU GOT SOME REALLY NEWBIES, THEY MIGHT BE THERE TRAINING, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE.
>> IF HOURS ARE AN ISSUE, YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND AMEND THE HOURS OF OPERATION.
>> THAT CAN BE DONE THROUGH CRYSTAL. NOT US.
>> NO, I HAD TO COME BACK BEFORE.
I WOULD JUST BE A MODIFICATION OF THE PREVIOUS APPROVAL.
>> YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? [LAUGHTER]
APPLICATION NUMBER 25-0007 FOR OLIVIA AND DAVID GREER TO APPROVE THEIR APPLICATION WITH.
>> NO, I JUST I'M TRYING TO FIGURE MY RIGHT WORDS.
WITH EVERYTHING RECOMMENDED THROUGH THE STAFF REPORT AND LISTING HOURS OF OPERATION FROM MONDAY TO SATURDAY TO 8:00-5:00.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> LET'S ALL TAKE THIS SMOOTH. WE'LL BE ROLLING A NIGHT.
[• Public Hearings: 2. William R. Thomas, Jr. – Special Use Exception No. 25-0009 and Variance No. 25-0009]
[00:30:07]
I'M GOING TO ROLL RIGHT INTO THE NEXT CASE.JUST GIVE MY COMPUTER A MINUTE TO CATCH UP.
[BACKGROUND] HEY, CATHERINE, I NEED YOU FOR A SECOND. [LAUGHTER]
>> BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE UNLOCKED UP THERE?
>> IF YOU JUST 30 MINUTES, THAT'D BE GREAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> NO, I KEEP PUSHING THAT BUTTON.
I'M GETTING TIRED OF. YOU HAVE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES OR THAT?
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. JUST BEAR WITH THIS FOR A SECOND.
>> HAVE YOU GUYS ALL SIGNED AND PUT YOUR ADDRESSES AND ALL THAT STUFF? IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TONIGHT.
HAVE ANYBODY'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS CASE, MAKE SURE YOU SIGNED IT AND PUT YOUR ADDRESS.
>> DOES THAT GO FOR THE APPLICANT AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT?
>> EVEN ANY OPPOSITION OR ANYBODY ELSE IN FAVOR OF?
>> CLICK ON AND SCROLL, USE IT. CLICK ON IT.
>> APPLICATION NUMBER 25-0009, A REQUEST BY WILLIAM R. THOMAS JUNIOR FOR A SPECIAL USE FOR A FARM MOBILE HOME TO BE OCCUPIED BY A PERSON EMPLOYED ON THE FARM WHO DOES NOT RECEIVE MORE THAN HALF THEIR INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT FROM THE FARM.
SIDE PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 23-211 HALL CREEK ROAD, PRESTON, MARYLAND, AND IS FURTHER DESCRIBED AS TAX MAP 47 GRID 3 PARCEL 3.
IT IS OWNED BY CHRISTIE H AND WILLIAM R. THOMAS JUNIOR.
THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT WAS FOR SPECIAL USE.
WE ALSO HAVE A VARIANCE FOR THE SAME ADDRESS.
SAME APPLICATION NUMBER OR A VARIANCE FOR OUR MOBILE HOME TO BE LOCATED LESS THAN 200 FEET FROM THE NEAREST FARM BUILDING, CLOSER TO THE COUNTY ROAD THAN THE PRINCIPAL FARM RESIDENCE OR BUILDING LOCATED CLOSER THAN 100 FEET FROM THE FRONT SIDE OF THE PROPERTY LINES.
PROPERTY IS 22-311 HALL CREEK ROAD, PRESTON, MARYLAND.
FURTHER DESCRIBE TAX MAP 47 GRID 3 PARCEL 3, AND IT IS OWNED BY CHRISTIE H AND WILLIAM R. THOMAS JUNIOR.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE PROCEEDINGS. WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT.
MATT, DO YOU WANT TO READ THE EXHIBITS?
>> SURE. EXHIBIT NUMBER 1 IS THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 2 IS THE STAFF REPORT.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 3 IS A SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION APPLICATION.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 4 IS A VARIANCE APPLICATION.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 5 IS THE SITE PLAN.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 6 IS A MARYLAND AG LAND PRESERVATION FOUNDATION STATEMENT TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.
EXHIBIT 7 IS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT TAXATION TAX SHEET AND MAP.
EXHIBIT 8 IS AN AREA OF PROPERTY.
EXHIBIT 9 IS AN AREA OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.
EXHIBIT 10 IS ASSIGNED POSTING.
EXHIBIT 11 IS THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER AFFIDAVIT.
EXHIBIT 12 IS THE APPLICANT'S NOTICE.
THEN WE HAVE TWO APPLICANTS EXHIBITS, APPLICANT EXHIBIT NUMBER 1 AND APPLICANT EXHIBIT NUMBER 2 IS AN AERIAL SKETCH WITH LABELS.
>> DO YOU WANT TO JUST HIT THE STAFF REPORT WHILE YOU'RE AT IT AND I'LL SWEAR THEM IN?
>> YEAH. THE APPLICANT, MR. WILLIAM THOMAS JUNIOR HAS REQUESTED SPECIAL USE IN A VARIANCE IN ASSOCIATION WITH FARM MOBILE HOME.
AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, IT'S LOCATED 23211 HOG CREEK ROAD IN PRESTON.
A BUILDING PERMIT WAS ISSUED BY OUR DEPARTMENT IN 2004 TO REPLACE AN EXISTING DWELLING WITH A MOBILE HOME.
THAT MOBILE HOME IS DELINEATED AS DWELLING NUMBER 2 ON THE BOUNDARY SURVEY THAT WAS IN THE APPLICATION PACKAGE.
MORE THAN ONE DWELLING ON A PARCEL IS ALLOWED IN LIMITED CASES, TYPICALLY AS AN ACCESSORY DWELLING OR A FARM MOBILE HOME.
[00:35:03]
FARM MOBILE HOME SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED AS ACCESSORY DWELLINGS UNLESS PERMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS FOR FARM MOBILE HOMES.CHAPTER 17666 OF THE COUNTY CODE OUTLINES THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
UPON REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE EXISTING MOBILE HOME DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE SETBACKS.
IT'S 200 FEET FROM THE NEAREST FARM BUILDING AND NOT CLOSER TO THE COUNTY OR STATE ROAD THAN THE PRINCIPAL FARM RESIDENTS WERE BUILDING, AND LOCATE AT LEAST 100 FEET FROM ALL PROPERTY LINES.
DOESN'T MEET THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED THERE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT IT'S CLOSER TO THE COUNTY ROAD THAN THE PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE, WHICH IS LABELED AS DWELLING NUMBER 1 ON THE SURVEY, WHICH IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FARM AND OBVIOUSLY, LESS THAN 100 FEET FROM FROM THE NEAREST PROPERTY LINES.
THAT'S THE VARIANCE PORTION OF IT.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH 17566E3 OF THE COUNTY CODE, WHICH IS FOR THE FARM MOBILE HOME, IT TALKS ABOUT INCOME.
IT SAYS A PERSON OR PERSONS EMPLOYED ON THE FARM ON A FULL TIME OR PART TIME BASIS AND WHO DO NOT DERIVE MORE THAN HALF THEIR INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT ON THE FARM, PROVIDED THAT SPECIAL USE IS GRANTED BY THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEAL.
CURRENTLY, THE APPLICANT'S SISTER LIVES IN THE MOBILE HOME, BUT DOES NOT DERIVE MORE THAN HALF HER INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT ON THE FARM.
THAT'S WHAT THE SPECIAL USE IS FOR.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I CAN ANSWER THOSE OR WE CAN OPEN THE FLOOR.
>> I THINK I'M GOING TO LET THEM OPEN UP.
BOTH OF YOU GUYS STAND UP, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESSES, AND THEN I'LL GIVE YOU THE OATH.
>> WILLIAM THOMAS JUNIOR, 22924 HOG CREEK ROAD, PRESTON, MARYLAND.
>> YOU'RE THE APPLICANT. GOOD EVENING.
JAMES ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, 5 NORTH FIRST STREET, DENTON, CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND.
>> SAY STANDING. JUST REPEAT AFTER ME.
DO YOU HEAR BY ASYLUM DECLARE UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY AND THE STATEMENT THAT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY YOU GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND START.
>> GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE FILED THIS SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION APPLICATION AS WELL AS A VARIANCE.
I'M GENERALLY SEEKING THREE VARIANCES.
THIS IS ALL IN RELATION TO CODE SECTION 175-66 FOR MOBILE HOMES.
YOU GENERALLY ARE PROBABLY WONDERING WHY WE'RE BEFORE YOU IF WE HAVE A STRUCTURE THAT NEEDS SO MANY EXCEPTIONS, AND IT'S CONSIDERED NON-CONFORMING USE.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THIS PARCEL.
THIS PARCEL HAS BEEN IN MR. THOMAS' FAMILY SINCE THE EARLY 1920S.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IF YOU'VE GONE THROUGH YOUR PACKET, AND YOU SEE THE AREA, WHERE THE CURRENT FARM MOBILE HOME IS, THERE HAS GENERALLY ALWAYS BEEN A DWELLING STRUCTURE THERE FROM ABOUT 1950.
I CAN ONLY GO AS FAR BACK AS 2005, OR ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE IS '95 WITH MY APPLICANT'S SUPPORT, WHICH REFLECTS THERE GENERALLY HAS BEEN A STRUCTURE THERE.
GENERALLY, I BELIEVE THE ARGUMENT COULD BE MADE THAT WHERE THE DWELLING EXISTS, IT MAY PREDATE OUR ZONING CODES.
BE THAT AS IT MAY, THE REAL REASON WE ARE HERE IS ONE OF YOUR EXHIBITS, THE EXHIBIT NUMBER 6. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
MR. THOMAS HAS APPLIED FOR AN EASEMENT WITH MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.
HIS EASEMENT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED.
HE'S GONE THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF SURVEY, A CONFIRMATORY DEED, REMOVING ANY LEASE OR ENCUMBRANCES.
HE WAS AT THE ABSOLUTE FINAL STEP, WHICH IS THE BASELINE THAT THE COUNTY SIGNS OFF ON, AND THAT IS WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE HAD THIS STRUCTURE THERE ON THE CORNER OF [INAUDIBLE].
WE DID, IN FACT, HEAR, IT WAS A PERMITTED STRUCTURE BACK IN 2004, WHERE IT WAS APPROVED, AND IT'S GENERALLY BEEN EXISTING EVER SINCE.
HOWEVER, FOR OUR PURPOSES GOING FORWARD, WE ARE IN NEED OF THE SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION FOR THE FARM MOBILE HOME AND THE THREE VARIANCES SO THAT WAY IT IS BASICALLY A LAWFUL, LEGALLY EXISTING STRUCTURE TO WHICH [INAUDIBLE] WILL THEN GIVE HIM AN EASEMENT OVER THAT 92 ACRES.
BEFORE I DELVE INTO CODE HERE, I'M SURE YOU GENTLEMEN UNDERSTAND THAT WITH THESE MOUTH EASEMENTS, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR MR. THOMAS TO SELL THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS BASICALLY TO THE STATE.
WHAT THAT WILL ALLOW MR. THOMAS TO DO IS TO KEEP THAT IN TWO ACRE CHANGE IN PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND ESSENTIALLY FOREVER, AND HE IS AT THE TAIL END OF THIS CYCLE HERE.
IF HE DOES NOT RECEIVE THE SPECIAL USE FOR THESE VARIANCES, HE WILL LIKELY BE KICKED OUT OF THIS CYCLE.
MOUTH LETTER SAYS THAT, GRACIOUSLY, HE CAN REAPPLY, BUT GIVEN THE FINANCIAL SITUATION WITH THE STATE,
[00:40:02]
IT'S REASONABLY CERTAIN THAT THERE WILL BE NO NEW LAND PRESERVATION APPLICATIONS FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS.UNDER MY SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION, 175-66 FARM MOBILE HOMES, WE CARE ABOUT SECTION 40.
THE PERSON OR PERSONS EMPLOYED WITH FARM ON A FULL TIME OR PART TIME BASIS, AND DID DERIVE MORE THAN HALF THEIR INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT ON THE FARM, PROVIDED THEY MAKE THAT SPECIAL USE OF EXCEPTIONS.
MR. THOMAS'S ADULT SISTER, SHE LIVES THERE.
SHE HAS RESIDED THERE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS IS MY UNDERSTANDING, AND SHE DOES NOT GET PAID FOR MR. THOMAS, BUT SHE ALSO DOES NOT PAY RENT.
THE PURPOSE FOR HIS SISTER BEING THERE, IF I MAY.
MR. THOMAS AND HIS SISTER'S ELDERLY PARENTS, THEY RESIDE HERE, SO SHE ALSO PROVIDES CARE TO THEM.
YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE THAT MR. THOMAS HAS FOUR CHICKEN HOUSES THERE.
MR. THOMAS, WHEN HE IS IN CROP PRODUCTION, HE LIVES THERE.
HE CAN'T SEE HIS HOME, HE CAN'T PROVIDE SECURITY.
HIS SISTER, MISSES JULIE NORTH, SHE BASICALLY MONITORS THIS FARM, THESE FOUR HOUSES, ANY ALARMS, ANY CALL OUTS, ANY FEED TRUCKS.
ADDITIONALLY, SHE ASSISTS MR. THOMAS WITH HIS 14 OTHER CHICKEN HOUSE ALARMS. TOTAL OF 18 ALARMS, HE'S ONE PERSON HE CAN'T DRAW THE BELLS AND WHISTLES.
THAT IS WHY SHE IS THERE AND WHY SHE WOULD QUALIFY UNDER THREE BECAUSE YOU, AS THE BOARD CAN SAY, THAT SHE IS NEEDED THERE BECAUSE THE OCCUPANT PROVIDES THE SECURITY AND THE MAINTENANCE, AND AGAIN, HE'S NOT RECEIVING ANY RENTS.
SHE IS THERE TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHO'S COMING AND GOING AND THAT HE CAN ALSO BASICALLY MONITOR ALL THE SHAKEN HOUSES EFFECTIVELY.
THAT IS WHY WE'RE UNDER THE SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION OF THE EXISTING LAND, LOOKING AT OUR APPLICATION POULTRY, IT'S ALL ROAD DROPS, POULTRY APPLICATION, AND HE'S GOT A PIVOT THAT STANDS ALL THE WAY AROUND, STOP SIGN [INAUDIBLE].
AGAIN, HE IS SEEKING THIS, THE FARM USE MOBILE HOME SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
IT'S BEEN LOCATED AT THIS PLACE, THAT HOME SINCE [NOISE] PRIOR DWELLINGS IN THAT SAME LOCATION SINCE 1950.
AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON RESIDING IN IS NOT MR. THOMAS, WHO IS THE FARMER OR THE TENANT FARMER, AND THE INDIVIDUAL THERE DOES NOT GAIN OR RECEIVE LEAST HER INCOME.
SHE IS THERE FOR THE SAFETY, SECURITY AND OVERALL MANAGEMENT WHO.
WE WOULD BELIEVE THAT UNDER THREE, SHE WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION REQUEST WE HAVE?
>> YOU'VE GOT ANY? NO. YOU GO ANY KEVIN?
>> MOVING ON TO THIS VARIANCE UNDER 175-66.
AGAIN, MY FARM MOBILE HOME, IT'S GOT TO BE LOOKING AT A FARM, WHICH IT IS ONE MOBILE HOME PER FARM, WHICH WE DO NEED TO HAVE.
THAT'S ALL ONE PARCEL, ONE HOME, AND THEN ONE MAIN WELLING.
WE ARE NOT MORE THAN 200 FEET FROM THE NEAREST FARM BUILDING.
I PROVIDED IN MY SKETCH MY TWO.
IT IS GOING TO BE A ZOOMED IN, MAGNIFIED VERSION.
IT'S GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW FAR AND WHAT OUR DISTANCES ARE.
>> I THINK CATHERINE'S TRYING TO PULL THAT UP. THERE IT IS.
>> PERFECT. IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, MY FARM USE MOBILE HOME, IT IS ROUGHLY 342 FEET FROM THOSE FOUR HOUSES, 81.7 FEET FROM THE NEIGHBOR, WHO IS MR. THOMAS'S FATHER, HE WILL BE RECEIVING THAT PROPERTY IN THE NEAR FUTURE THROUGH VARIANCE AND 67.7 FEET FROM THE MAIN ROAD.
GENERALLY, I LOVE TO TELL YOU THAT WE COULD REALLY MOVE THAT MOBILE HOME, BUT IT DOES HAVE A BLOCK FOUNDATION.
IT DOES HAVE A DEEP WELL THAT RIGHT NOW IN MODERN TIMES PROBABLY COSTS YOU $20,000 TO DRIVE IT IN.
IT ALSO DOES HAVE THE MOUND SYSTEM.
REALISTICALLY, THIS CENTER PIVOT HERE, THERE'S EFFECTIVELY NO OTHER WAY TO GO, AND THAT IS PROBABLY WHY THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A DWELLING IN THIS PI SHAPED PIECE BECAUSE YOU CAN PUT IT THERE AND IT'S NOT GOING TO INTERFERE WITH WITH THE FARMERS.
>> BEFORE YOU GO ON, IT'S EXHIBIT TWO, AND ALL THOSE CIRCLE DRAWINGS ARE OUR IRRIGATION PIVOTS.
>> THESE SHOULD REFERENCE BACK TO THE SITE PLAN FROM STEVE WHITTEN, WHICH WAS IN YOUR ORIGINAL EXHIBITS.
BUT THIS IS WHERE HIS CENTER PIVOT IS RIGHT THERE.
HIS STOP, I BELIEVE, IS SOMEWHERE BACK HERE.
THEN OBVIOUSLY COUNTY WE WERE THERE, THAT'S MR. THOMAS, THAT'S MR. THOMAS'S FATHER.
THAT'S MR. THOMAS. THAT IS THE NEIGHBOR, ROBERT WARREN, WHO DOES NOT OBJECT AND MR. THOMAS LOOKS RIGHT THERE.
>> THE OTHER TWO. YEAH. GO AHEAD.
>> THIS SAID MOBILE HOME, IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
>> ABOUT 1950S. NOT THAT VERY MOBILE HOME, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
[00:45:04]
>> WAS THAT DWELLING AT ONE TIME A SEPARATE DEEDED LOT OR WAS IT ALWAYS PART OF THAT FARM PROPERTY?
>> I DON'T KNOW IT TO BE A SEPARATE ONE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SDAT MAP THAT'S IN YOUR EXHIBIT 7, IT'S ALL ONE PARTIAL.
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL IN PREPARING FOR THIS HEARING, IT'S NEVER BEEN CUT OFF AND IT'S ALL BEEN PART OF A FAMILY FARM THEY HAD OWNED SINCE THE EARLY 1920S.
I BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL HOME WAS FOR MAYBE A FARM LABORER IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BASICALLY THROUGH NARROW.
>> YOU OWN BOTH SIDES OF HOG CREEK?
>> YOU'RE NOT INTERFERING WITH JOE SMOW ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD?
>> NO. I GOT 60 ACRES ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND THEN I GOT 28 ACRES THERE.
DAD'S ON THE BACK SIDE AND THEN I GOT 200 ON THIS SIDE.
>> THAT THIRD VARIANCE THERE IS FEET HIGH.
HE IS NOT 100 FEET FROM ALL PROPERTY LINES, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE HE'S WITHIN 80 FEET FROM HIS FATHER.
AGAIN, PRETTY SOON, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE INTEREST TO ANYONE OR HE WILL BE THE OWNER OF BOTH PARCELS.
EFFECTIVELY, WE ARE HERE FOR THAT SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION TO PERMIT HIS SISTER TO RESIDE IN THAT FARM MOBILE HOME.
SHE'S NOT RECEIVING AN INCOME, SHE'S NOT PAYING HIM, BUT SHE IS THERE FOR THE OVERALL SAFETY, SECURITY AND OPERATION FARM.
THEN WE ARE LOOKING FOR THESE THREE VARIANCES.
WE NEED A REVERSE ORDER, ALLOWING HIS HOME TO BE NEARER THAN 100 FEET FROM THE ADJACENT PROPERTY LINES, ALLOWING IT TO BE GREATER THAN 200 FEET FROM ENGINEERS CHICKEN HOUSE OR MANURE SHED.
THE THIRD ONE WAS THIS HOME, IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSER TO THE COUNTY ROAD THAN THE MAIN HOME.
OBVIOUSLY, BY GEOGRAPHY, I CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT IT.
IF I CAN CONVINCE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO PUT [INAUDIBLE] LIKE THAT, I DON'T THINK MR. THOMAS WOULD LIKE THAT BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] LIVE THERE.
>> WELL, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THERE WAS A PERMIT ISSUED IN 2004 FOR THE NEW MOBILE HOME TO REPLACE AN EXISTING HOME THAT'S BEEN THERE FOREVER.
>> YES. THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
AGAIN, JUST ROLLING THROUGH THE APPLICATION HERE.
REALLY, IF YOU STRICTLY ENFORCE THIS ZONING CHAPTER, HE WILL MOST CERTAINLY LOSE A DWELLING.
BUT ULTIMATELY, THE COLLATERAL EXPENSE WILL BE MOUTHED, IT IS GOING TO PULL THIS EASEMENT AND HE'S NOT GOING TO GET RELIEF, EVEN THOUGH MOUTHS TO TELL HIM TO REAPPLY OR WITHDRAW IT.
THE REASONABLE PERSON WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THAT MONEY'S NOT GOING TO BE THERE IN THE FUTURE.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT A CONDITION HE CREATED.
THERE'S GENERALLY BEEN A DWELLING THERE FOR THE MAJORITY OF HIS LIFETIME.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY DID GET A PERMIT FOR THIS.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS BEING A REOCCURRING THING.
THE TENANT HOUSE FROM THE 50S IS GOING TO BE REPLACED AND THAT MEANS A PERMIT.
AGAIN, I THINK FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WILL BE GREAT.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GENTLEMEN MIGHT HAVE.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY READING RIGHT NOW.
>> BESIDES HELPING YOU THERE AND MONITORING THE STUFF, DOES SHE HAVE A FULL TIME JOB OR DOES SHE JUST?
>> NO. SHE DON'T HAVE A FULL TIME JOB.
>> THAT'S WHY I FEEL LIKE SHE'S A FULL TIME FARM EMPLOYEE.
>> SHE TENDS TO YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER.
SHE'S TENDING TO YOUR PARENTS, HELPING WITH THEM AS WELL.
>> BUT THEY'RE ALL [OVERLAPPING].
>> I LOOK AT SHE'S NOT PAYING RENT.
IF YOU TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, THAT CAN BE BASED SOMEWHAT OF A PAY.
>> THEN SHE DON'T HAVE A JOB, SO REALLY HER PAY IS TENDING TO THE CHICKEN HOUSES AND MOM AND DAD.
>> THAT TO ME, THAT'S MORE THAN 51% OF HER INCOME, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT CASH. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
>> I KNOW. THAT'S A STUMBLING BLOCK, SO TO SPEAK.
>> THE BEST QUESTION IS, DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR SISTER? [LAUGHTER]
>> IS THERE ANYBODY HERE IN OPPOSITION FOR THIS CASE IN THE AUDIENCE? NO.
>> WELL, AND I'LL THINK OVERALL, GENERALLY, THE GOAL HERE, MR. THOMAS DOES COMPORT WITH THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THIS CURRENT CLIMATE, WHERE HE IS THE FOURTH GENERATION FARMER OF THIS LAND.
IT'S BEEN IN HIS FAMILY FOR ALMOST CENTURIES.
HE'LL GET THE CENTURY FARM SIGN SOON, BUT HE'S ALSO SEEKING TO PRESERVE THAT SO IT DOESN'T GET CONVERTED TO SOME OTHER USE.
[00:50:03]
>> WELL, THE LAND PRESERVATION, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE BEING DENIED RIGHT NOW? IF YOU GET THIS, THEN YOU CAN PUT IT IN THERE, YOU CAN'T BECOME A COMMUNITY.
ALL THEY'VE GOT TO DO IS INSPECT THE PROPERTY, SURVEY BOUNDARIES, AND IT GOES TO THE ATTORNEY TO GO TO THE LAWYER FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.
>> CORRECT BECAUSE EFFECTIVELY, WE'RE STOPPED BECAUSE THEY DO IT AS A NON-CONFORMING.
BASICALLY, THEY'RE CLOUDING OUR TITLE AND DEPENDING HOW FAR THIS GOES THIS EVENING, IF IT WAS FAIRPLAY, THEN YES, WE WILL PROCEED THE SETTLEMENT WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
>> THE LAST WORDS THAT I GOT FROM THE LADY UP THERE, WHEN SHE SAID THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS RIGHT HERE BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER.
>> MATT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS TO HIM?
>> YOU GOT ANY MORE QUESTIONS?
>> NO, I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> CATHERINE OR PATRICK, ANYTHING WE SHOULD TOUCH BEFORE IT GOES TO DELIBERATIONS?
>> THOUGH ON THE VARIANCE, PATRICK, THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAT, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THERE'S DIFFERENT VARIANCES REQUESTED.
>> DO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY, OR CAN WE COMBINE THEM ALL AS ONE? APPLICATION OF THE REQUEST ON THE VARIANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 175-66C AND 175-66D.
THEN THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, SO DO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THEM SEPARATELY?
>> I WOULD SAY, LET'S ADDRESS THE TWO VARIANCES.
>> I THINK THEY'RE [OVERLAPPING] TOGETHER.
>> THE ONE ADDRESSES THE DISTANCE FROM FARM BUILDINGS AND THEN COUNTY ROAD, SO THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THEN THE 100 FEET FROM THE LOT LINE.
>> WE CAN JUST RUN THROUGH THE VARIOUS CRITERIA AND THEN COME BACK AND SPECIFIC, THE THREE RIGHT?
>> YOU HAVE A SPECIAL USE AND THEN VARIANCES.
WE DO HAVE TWO THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS A SPECIAL USE AND THEN WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE VARIANCE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THE RULES PROPERLY BECAUSE C DOES SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT IT'S NOT MORE THAN 200 FEET FROM THE NEAREST FARM BUILDING, AND THEN D IS MUST BE AT LEAST 100 FEET FROM ALL PROPERTY LINES, SO THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THERE.
>> I THINK WE COULD ADDRESS THE VARIANCES REQUESTED UNDER C AND THEN THE VARIANCES REQUESTED UNDER D AS TWO SEPARATE BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFERENT SUBSECTIONS OF THE CODE, EVEN THOUGH THE ANALYSIS MAY WELL BE THE SAME FOR THEM.
>> WE CAN GO THROUGH THE CRITERIA TWICE?
>> GO THROUGH THE CRITERIA, AND THEN CAN YOU SAY WE'RE ADDRESSING C. [OVERLAPPING]
>> LET'S DO THAT, BECAUSE AGAIN, SOME OF THIS IS GOING TO OVERLAP, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO JUST GO THROUGH THE LIST ONCE AND THEN GO THROUGH IT AGAIN.
IT'S THE SAME THING WE SAID BEFORE.
I THINK AS LONG AS IT'S JUST CLEAR WHICH ONES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SO THAT THE RECORD IS CLEAR.
>> IF YOU DO IT CONTAINING C AND D, AS LONG AS IT'S ON RECORD THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
>> AS LONG AS WE'RE DELIBERATING ON C AND D TOGETHER, AND THE RECORD KNOWS THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
>> IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR ON THE RECORD WHAT YOUR FINDINGS ARE AS TO EACH REQUEST.
>> DO YOU WANT TO DO A CLOSING STATEMENT?
>> WELL, ALL I WOULD SAY, REALLY, LOOKING AT THIS APPLICATION, THERE'S GOING TO BE NO CHANGE IN THIS COMMUNITY AT ALL, AND IT'S GOING TO STAY IN THE PRESENT CONDITION AT LEAST SINCE IT'S BEEN SINCE '04, AND I WOULD ARGUE SINCE ABOUT 1950.
THERE IS A REAL TANGIBLE, SEVERE HARDSHIP TO MR. THOMAS IF HE IS DENIED.
AGAIN, COMMON THEME HERE: MR. THOMAS DIDN'T DO ANY OF THESE THINGS.
HE'S THE ONE THAT CAME WELL AFTER THE FACT, BUT FOR THIS MALPF USE, WE JUST KEPT GOING ON BUSINESS AS USUAL AND PLEASANTLY OBLIVIOUS.
BASED UPON THAT, WE WOULD ASK FOR THE SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION OF THESE CERTAIN VARIANCES.
>> AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING INTO DELIBERATION.
NOBODY CAN SPEAK UNLESS WE ASK A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.
>> WITH THAT, IT'S SPECIAL USE FIRST BECAUSE IT'S ONLY ONE THING THERE.
[00:55:02]
>> LET'S START WITH THE SPECIAL USE.
A, WRITTEN APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.
YES, ON APRIL THE 2ND, APRIL 9TH OF 2025, THAT'S EXHIBIT 1.
3A, WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL OR AN ENDANGER TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY, OR GENERAL WELFARE.
>> IT'S BEEN THERE FOR YEARS OPERATING LIKE THIS, AND IN 2004, THEY REPLACED AN OLD HOME WITH THE EXISTING HOME, AND IT WAS A PERMITTED USE.
>> IT'S GOT A MOUNT SYSTEM AS A SEPTIC.
>> I THINK THERE WAS JUST A LITTLE ERROR THERE, BUT IT'S BEEN IN THIS FAMILY FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
HIS GRANDFATHER GOT THE PERMIT 20 YEARS AGO, WAS AN EMAIL.
THERE'S BEEN NO TESTIMONY ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH OR ANYTHING.
>> THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THAT AREA IS ALL FAMILY, ANYHOW.
>> TRUE. B, WILL NOT BE INJURIOUS TO THE PEACEFUL USE AND ENJOYMENT OF OTHER PROPERTY, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WILL NOT SUBSTANTIALLY DIMINISH OR IMPAIR PROPERTY VALUES.
>> WE HAVE NO PROOF THAT IT WOULD.
>> A LOT OF PROPERTY ON THE ROAD, AND THERE'S NO OPPOSITION FROM ANY NEIGHBORS.
>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD?
>> WILL NOT IMPEDE THE NORMAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY FOR THE USES PERMITTED IN THE ZONING DISTRICT.
>> I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT THE MAIN FARM, HIS PARENTS' PROPERTY, AND THE PIECE ACROSS THE ROAD IS ALL FAMILY, IT'S ALL THEM.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO PREVENT, IS DEVELOPMENT.
HE'S TRYING TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LAND.
>> WHAT EXHIBIT IS THAT? I'M GOING TO USE THAT AS A REFERENCE.
WHAT EXHIBIT IS THAT UP ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW?
>> THAT'S EXHIBIT 8, THE AERIAL PHOTOS.
AERIAL PHOTOS, AND WHAT YOU SAID.
YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD, KEVIN?
>> WILL NOT OVERBURDEN EXISTING PUBLIC FACILITIES, SCHOOLS, POLICE, FIRE, WATER, SEWAGE, PUBLIC ROADS, STORM DRAINAGE.
>> IT'S NOT SINCE 2004 AND PREVIOUS BEFORE THAT, BUT I'M GOING TO JUST SAY THAT 2004 BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THAT WAS PERMITTED TO BE PUT THERE.
>> IF IT WAS PERMITTED IN 2004, WHY IS IT BECOMING AN ISSUE?
>> IT'S ACTUALLY BECOMING AN ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE LAND PRESERVATION.
>> WELL, I THINK WHEN THAT PERMIT WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE THE EXISTING HOUSE WITH THAT MOBILE HOME, I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS, SOMETHING HAPPENED, BUT THAT WAS A HOUSING BOOM.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE MANY PERMITS FOR COMING THROUGH WITH THAT.
IT WAS A COUPLE OF PEOPLE'S FAULT, BUT THEY WERE TRYING TO FIX IT.
>> MATT, HAVE CODES CHANGED SINCE '04 WITH SETBACKS AND DIFFERENT THINGS ALONG THAT LINE?
>> THE ONLY ZONING SETBACKS THAT HAVE CHANGED ARE THE SIDE AND REAR SETBACKS AS OF LAST YEAR.
>> BUT WE HAVE NOT CHANGED THE SETBACKS SINCE THEY WERE ESTABLISHED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE HOUSE THAT WAS THERE BEFORE THE PERMIT, THERE WAS NO ZONING BACK THEN.
>> WHEN THE ORIGINAL HOUSE WAS THERE.
>> WE BELIEVE THAT THE HOUSE WAS PRE-ZONING.
WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN WHY THE REPLACEMENT WAS ISSUED.
>> THERE'S NO OTHER TESTIMONY FROM FIRE AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF, POLICE, SCHOOLS? IT'S BEEN IN THE FAMILY FOR 100 YEARS. IT'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.
IT'S BEEN A FARM FOR A LONG TIME.
ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD?
>> E, CONFORMS TO ALL OTHER RESPECTS TO THIS CHAPTER REGARDING ZONING.
>> WE'LL PROBABLY NEVER SEE THIS AGAIN.
>> HOPEFULLY. IT'S VERY UNUSUAL.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT AGAIN WITHIN
[01:00:01]
THIS CALENDAR DATE OR PROBABLY EVEN NEXT YEAR'S CALENDAR DATE.>> I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD SIX YEARS, I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS.
>> THE TIME THAT I'VE SAT HERE, I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING THIS, SO IT'S NOT SUCH A RECURRING ISSUE.
>> YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT?
>> NO, I'M FINE. I'M GOOD WITH IT.
>> F, THIS IS NOT IN CRITICAL AREAS, SO THAT'S NOT APPLICABLE.
THERE'S NOT REALLY ANY CONDITIONS.
>> OTHER THAN WHATEVER STAFF WOULD HAVE ALREADY RECOMMENDED, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE THAT SHOULD BE ADDED OR CHANGED.
>> SINCE WE'RE TREATING THIS ONE SEPARATE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION ON THIS CASE, WHOEVER WANTS TO MAKE IT.
>> MIKE'S GOOD AT IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> APPLICATION NUMBER 25-0009 FOR WILLIAM THOMAS.
SPECIAL USE UNDER SECTION 175-66E NUMBER 3.
>> I'LL SECOND IT. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> AYE. THERE'S THREE TO NOTHING IN FAVOR.
LET'S GO ON TO THE VARIANCE PART OF IT.
175-152, I'M JUST GOING TO GO RIGHT TO B1.
SUCH A DIFFICULTY IS A RESULT OF SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES NOT GENERALLY SHARED BY OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE SAME ZONING DISTRICT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IS PECULIAR TO THE PROPERTY STRUCTURE BUILDING FOR WHICH THE VARIANCE IS REQUESTED.
>> I'M GOING TO GO BACK ON WHAT WE JUST COMMENTED ON ON THE SIX YEARS SERVING THIS BOARD.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS, AND ONCE AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD NOT BE SITTING HERE IF IT WAS NOT FOR MR. THOMAS TRYING TO PRESERVE THE LAND AS AGRICULTURE.
CERTAIN THINGS WERE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE.
>> HE WAS ISSUED, OR HIS GRANDFATHER, WAS ISSUED A PERMIT OR FILER IN 2004 TO REPLACE AN EXISTING HOUSE THAT WAS ALREADY THERE.
>> IT'S GOT AN UPDATED SEPTIC SYSTEM.
>> IT'S GOT A SEPTIC AND A DEEP WELL.
SUCH A DIFFICULTY IT DOES NOT RESULT OR DOES NOT ARISE FROM THE CONDUCT OF THE APPLICANT AND THE APPLICANT'S PREDECESSOR OR ASSESSORS, BUT THIS STILL COMES BACK TO THE COUNTY.
THEY GAVE HIM A PERMIT, AND IT WASN'T LIKE THEY WERE TRYING TO BE SNEAKY ABOUT ANYTHING, THAT I'M AWARE OF.
>> I DON'T THINK THEY WERE. I THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING BY CODE AND COUNTY.
>> WE HAVE TO GO UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT, BECAUSE NO ONE'S HERE THAT COULD TESTIFY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER UNDER THIS, THAT THE BUILDING PERMIT WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE AN EXISTING DWELLING THAT MAY HAVE EXISTED BEFORE ZONING LAWS APPLIED.
WE CAN ONLY BELIEVE THAT THEY ALLOWED THEM TO PUT IT THERE BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EXISTING DWELLING BEFORE.
>> THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP TO THE APPLICANT AS A RESULT OF STRICT ENFORCEMENT AND REGULATIONS IN QUESTION MAY BE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD FOR GRANTING THIS VARIANCE.
>> I'M GOING TO RESTART THIS PART OF NUMBER 3.
THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP TO THE APPLICANT AS A RESULT OF STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF THE REGULATIONS IN QUESTION MAY BE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD ONLY WHEN THE HARDSHIP IS SEVERE AND IF THE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN TO EXIST,
[01:05:02]
A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ALONE CANNOT SERVE AS BASIS FOR GRANTING THE VARIANCE.I'M STILL WITH THIS IS WELL, EXISTING. IT'S LIKE WE'RE REPEATING.
>> WE CANNOT USE A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AS A REASON TO GRANT.
BUT THERE WOULD BE A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
BASICALLY, I STILL SAY IT'S A STUMBLING BLOCK THERE.
THE PERSON LIVING THERE DOES NOT RECEIVE PAY, BUT THEY ALSO DO NOT PAY RENT.
WITH THE DAY'S RENT PRICES NOWADAYS, IF MR. THOMAS DIDN'T NEED HER TO BE THERE AND HE COULD RENT THAT HOME OUT, THAT MIGHT BE ANYWHERE $1600-2,000 INCOME.
I'D SAY IF MR. THOMAS JUST BUILDS 2, 3 MORE CHICKEN HOUSES, WE'LL GET HER CLOSER TO THE BUILDINGS, AND WE WON'T WORK.
BUT IT'S NOT REALLY A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
THE HARDSHIP WOULD BE TO THE FARM.
THE EXTRA LOAD THAT WE WOULD BE PUT ON MR. THOMAS TO HELP TEND TO NOT JUST THOSE FOUR CHICKEN HOUSES, BUT I BELIEVE YOU SAID 18 IN TOTAL, CHICKEN HOUSES.
>> HELPS TAKES CARE OF PARENTS.
>> HELPS TAKE CARE OF THE ELDERLY PARENTS.
THAT IS A HUGE DEAL RIGHT THERE.
>> I'M NOT USING IT AS A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
I'M USING IT AS AN IMPACT TO THE FARM IN OPERATION.
IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO THE FAMILY TO MAKE IT MOVE.
>> BECAUSE WE DON'T RESOLVE THIS. [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE FIX THIS ERROR.
>> SOME OF THE STUFF IS REPETITIVE, BUT I GOT TO SAY IT BECAUSE THIS IS A VARIANCE.
A WRITTEN APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.
IT WAS DULY ADVERTISED APRIL 2ND TIMES RECORD, 2025, EXHIBIT 1,, 3A.
GRANTING THE VARIANCE WILL BE IN HARMONY WITH THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THIS CHAPTER AND WILL NOT BE INJURIES TO AN ADJACENT PROPERTY AND THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY OR WELFARE.
>> IT WILL NOT IMPEDE OR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN OPERATING.
>> ACTUALLY BY THAT ON THAT TO HAPPEN, IT'S GOING TO HELP THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE WON'T BE NO DEVELOPMENT.
>> SURE. WE'RE PROTECTING SOME PROPERTY.
YOU GOT SOMETHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD?
>> B SUCH A DIFFICULTY IS NOT THE RESULT OF OR DOES NOT ARISE FROM THE CONDUCT OF THE APPLICANT OR HIS PREDECESSORS.
LIKE I SAID, SOMEBODY APPLIED, WHAT WAS YOUR FATHER OR GRANDFATHER?
>> HIS FATHER APPLIED AND GOT A PERMIT TO REPLACE AN EXISTING HOUSE.
>> THE BIG ISSUE IS THAT MAYBE AT THAT TIME, IT WAS NOT MAYBE IT WAS, MAYBE IT WASN'T.
IT'S NOT WE'RE NOT HERE TO DEBATE THAT.
A TENANT HOME FOR SOMEBODY TO HELP WORK ON A FARM.
THE THE BIG ISSUE BECAME IT WAS MORE THAN 200 FEET FROM A FARM DWELLING OR A FARM BUILDING, I SHOULD SAY.
>> CLOSE TO THE ROAD IN THE MAIN RAIL.
BUT THEY THEY GIVE THEM THE PERMIT.
>> THE PERMIT WAS ISSUED FOR THE DWELLING.
THE ISSUE BECAME LAND PRESERVATION.
THINGS DIDN'T MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE CRITERIA.
START A CRITERIA IS ENOUGH TO STOP IT OR CONTINUE TO LET IT GO.
IT ACTUALLY HELPS IMPROVE THINGS.
[01:10:03]
>> THERE'S A LOT CAN GO ON THERE.
IF MR. THOMAS ISN'T HOME, BUT THE PERSON IS HOME THAT'S KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS THAT'S A LARGE PLOT.
THAT'S A LONG LANE. PEOPLE GET UP THERE AND CAN HIDE AND DO.
NOT EVERYBODY LIKES CHICKENS TO BE ON GROWN, SO IT'S A SAFETY FACTOR ALSO. THEY'RE THERE TO HELP.
>> THE CONDITION SITUATION OR INTENDED USE OF THE PROPERTY CONCERN IS NOT SO GENERAL OR RECURRING IN NATURE AS TO MAKE A PRACTICAL OR GENERAL AMENDMENT TO THIS CHAPTER.
IS THIS WHERE YOU WANT TO HIT?
>> THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE FACT THAT IN SIX YEARS, THIS HASN'T COME ACROSS.
THIS IS NOT A NORMAL SCENARIO.
MOST OF THE TIME. IF THERE'S A TENANT HOME, IT'S IT'S PROBABLY CLOSER TO THOSE BUILDINGS.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY FARM ON IN CAROLINE COUNTY THAT HAS A TENANT HOME.
I LIVED ON MY PARENTS FARM FOR 18 YEARS IN A TRAILER.
OF COURSE, I WAS STUCK RIGHT BETWEEN TWO CHICKEN HOUSES.
THERE'S A LOT OF THEM, SENATE ROAD.
THERE'S THERE'S TWO RIGHT ON SENATE ROAD FOR THAT CHICKEN FARM THERE.
YEAH. I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL RE OCCUR ON A REGULAR BASIS.
>> WELL, HE GETS IT IN LAND PRESERVATION.
HE CAN'T DO NOTHING WITH IT ANYWAY, BUT FARM IT.
>> YOU'RE DONE. [LAUGHTER] YOU CAN'T BUILD A HOUSE.
>> D, THE VARIANCE GRANTED MINIMUM NECESSARY TO AFFORD RELIEF.
I THINK THAT IT IS THE MINIMUM.
I THINK THAT ASKING THEM TO MOVE IT. LET'S BE HONEST.
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO DISRUPT MORE EGG FIELD.
>> EVEN DISCONTINUE A WELL ON A SEPTIC AND START OVER, A LOT OF MONEY.
>> E. IT'S NOT IN THE CRITICAL AREA.
IT'S NOT APPLICABLE. YOU WANT TO HIT THE-.
>> THE 17566 C, WHICH IS SHOULD BE LOCATED NOT MORE THAN 200 FEET FROM THE NEAREST FARM BUILDING AND NOT CLOSER TO ANY COUNTY OR STATE ROAD THAN THE PRINCIPAL FARM RESIDENTS OR BUILDING.
IF NO BUILDINGS ARE PRESENTLY LOCATED ON THE FARM, THE FARM MOBILE HOME SHALL BE LOCATED AT LEAST 200 FEET FROM ANY COUNTY OR STATE ROAD.
>> STILL GOING BACK TO I KNOW IF ITS LIKE WE'RE REPEATING KICKING THE DEAD HOS, BUT THE MOBILE HOME WAS PUT BACK IN AN EXISTING HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT.
WHO KNOWS WHEN? IT WAS PERMITTED 2004.
>> SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS A LITTLE CLERICAL LAY ON SOMEBODY'S PART, BUT WE'RE FIXING IT.
>> THERE'S NO ONE HERE OPPOSING.
THAT PARTICULAR HOUSE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE '04.
WHETHER IT WAS WHETHER IT WAS INTENDED TO BE A FARM HELP HOME OR JUST A RENTAL HOME.
>> I THINK THAT WE COULD SAY THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ALLOW THAT RESIDENCE TO STAY THERE TO BE MORE THAN 200 FEET.
>> I KNOW THE MAIN RESIDENCE IS SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSER TO THE ROAD THAN THAT HOUSE IS, BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT THIS FARM WAS LAID OUT.
>> DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN IT WAS LAID OUT WITH THE HOUSING?
>> D LOCATED AT LEAST 100 FEET FROM ALL PROPERTY LINES. IT'S THE SAME.
[01:15:09]
>> I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE SAME THING.
THAT WAS A PERMITTED HOME IN '04.
>> REPLACED THE EXISTING HOME THAT HAD BEEN THERE FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME.
>> PATRICK, BEFORE WE MAKE A MOTION, IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE WE SHOULD COVER IN THIS PART OF IT? WE COVERED EVERYTHING?
>> I THINK YOU'VE COVERED EVERYTHING.
>> CAN THE MOTION BE FOR THE VARIANCE AND THE SPECIAL USE, BUT LIST THE THREE THE 175-66 E NUMBER 3 LISTED AS THAT, OR CAN WE JUST LIST IT AS THE APPLICANT NUMBER? I KNOW WE HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE SPECIAL USE AND WE DID.
>> YOU'VE APPROVED THE SPECIAL USE.
>> WE DO THIS ONE. BUT DO WE NEED TO SAY, IF WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THIS, THE 175-66 C AND 175-66 D?
>> I THINK YOU COULD SAY SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE VARIANCES FROM 175-66 C AND D AS REQUESTED BY THE APPLICANT.
THEN IF YOU WANT TO ADD THE CONDITIONS FROM THE SET FORTH IN THE STAFF REPORT AS WELL.
>> BEFORE YOU MAKE THE MOTION.
>> MATT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD COVER OR ADD OR ANYTHING YOU NEED TO ADD?
>> NO. THERE'S NO CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND.
>> OTHER THAN THOSE STATED IN THE STAFF REPORT.
>> CATHERINE, YOU GOT ANYTHING YOU NEED TO ADD OR YOU THINK WE'RE COVERED?
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERED.
>> WHOEVER WANTS TO MAKE THE MOTION.
>> GO AHEAD FOR PROCEEDING. [LAUGHTER]
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WILLIAM THOMAS' APPLICATION NUMBER 25-0009 FOR A VARIANCE.
IN THE COUNTY CODE OF 175-66 C AND 175-66 D WITH ALL THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> I'D RATHER NOT RATHER JUST GET THIS ROLLING.
>> BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT CASE, IS ANY BY NEED, LIKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK, STRETCH YOUR LEG, SMOKE A CIGARETTE, IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO ROLL ONTO IT.
ARE YOU DO YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK? DO YOU NEED A BREAK?
>> JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE, GET MY PAPERWORK STRAIGHT AGAIN.
ANYBODY THAT'S GOING TO TALK, WHETHER IT'S IN OPPOSITION OR FOR, MAKE SURE YOU SIGN.
PUT YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS ON THE SIGN IN SHEET.
EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU'RE REMOTELY GOT SOMETHING TO SAY OR EVEN ASK A QUESTION.
>> I KNOW. [LAUGHTER] IT'S EASY WHEN YOU GET ROD OF THAT, MAN.
>> LET'S GET STARTED. NEXT CASE, APPLICATION NUMBER 24-0043,
[• Public Hearings: 3. Preston Community Energy Initiative – Special Use Exception No. 24-0043]
A REQUEST BY PRESTON COMMUNITY ENERGY INITIATIVE, LLC FOR A SPECIAL USE FOR[01:20:02]
A NEW TWO POINT MEGAWATT COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY SCALE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY.SET PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON 22945 DOVER BRIDGE ROAD, PRESTON, MARYLAND, AND IT IS FURTHER DESCRIBED AS TAX MAP 53 GRID 19, PARTIAL 55, AND IT IS OWNED BY CHARLES RIGHTSON.
>> MATT, DO YOU WANT TO READ IN THE EXHIBITS? JUST GO TO READ INTO THE STAFF REPORT.
>> EXHIBIT NUMBER 1 IS THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 2 IS THE STAFF REPORT.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 3 IS A SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION APPLICATION.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 4 IS A REVISED SITE PLAN DATED FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 5 IS A REVISED PROJECT NARRATIVE.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 6 IS PRESTON COMMUNITY DECOMMISSIONING PLAN.
EXHIBIT NUMBER 7 IS PRESTON PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES. THAT'S THE TOWN OF PRESTON.
EXHIBIT NUMBER IS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT, TAXATION SHEET, AND MAP.
EXHIBIT 9 IS AN AERIAL OF THE PROPERTY.
EXHIBIT 10 IS AN AERIAL IN THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.
EXHIBIT 11 IS A SIGNED POSTING.
EXHIBIT 12 IS THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER AFFIDAVIT.
EXHIBIT 13 IS THE APPLICANT NOTICE, AND WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY EXHIBIT AS A LETTER FROM AN ADJACENT LANDOWNER. IT'S EXHIBIT 1.
WITH THAT, I'LL GET INTO THE STAFF REPORT.
AGAIN, PRESSING COMMUNITY ENERGY INITIATIVE, LLC, THEY'VE REQUESTED A SPECIAL USE FOR A SMALL SCALE COMMERCIAL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER CHARLES RIGHTSON.
THE SOLAR PROJECT WILL ENCOMPASS APPROXIMATELY 12.5 ACRES LOCATED AT 22945 DOVER BRIDGE ROAD.
THIS USE IN PARTICULAR, REQUIRES NOT ONLY A SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION, BUT A MAJOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
IF THE BOARD DOES GRANT THE SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION, THEY WILL HAVE TO PRESENT THEIR SITE PLAN APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I'VE ATTACHED A REVIEW LETTER THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED AS PART OF THE STAFF REPORT WHICH IDENTIFIES THE OUTSTANDING ITEMS. BASICALLY, WE CAME TO A POINT WHERE WE HAD ENOUGH TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD.
THESE OUTSTANDING ITEMS WILL HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE GOING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
OBVIOUSLY, IF IT GETS APPROVED, OR YOU HAVE ANY CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL THAT JUSTIFIES A MODIFICATION, THEN THEY'D HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE, BUT THERE'S FIVE ITEMS HERE.
NOTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT WOULD AFFECT ANY IN STAFF'S OPINION OR WOULD NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON YOUR DECISION ON THE SPECIAL USE APPLICATION.
THEN THERE'S ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT ARE TYPICALLY REQUIRED AFTER FINAL SLATE PLAN APPROVAL, LIKE A LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT, FINANCIAL SECURITIES FOR PLANTINGS AND FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR DECOMMISSIONING.
THAT WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED UNTIL THE VERY END AFTER FINAL SLATE PLAN APPROVAL.
WITH THAT, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME ON STAFF REVIEW OR I CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS OR WE CAN OPEN THE FLOOR TO THE APPLICANT.
>> WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS AFTER.
I'LL LET THEM PRESENT THEIR CASE.
>> YOU THREE GUYS CAN JUST STAND UP, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESSES, AND THEN REMAIN STANDING UNTIL YOU TAKE THE OATH.
DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AND AFFIRM UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY AND THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY YOU GIVE IS THE TRUTH? THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
YOU GUYS CAN GO AHEAD AND START YOUR CASE.
ANY TIME YOU NEED TO GO THERE AND POINT, JUST LET HER KNOW.
I'M SURE IT HELP ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS AS YOU GO THROUGH PRESENTING YOUR CASE.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WHAT I FIGURED I'LL GO THROUGH.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A CONDITIONAL, SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE CONDITIONS AND HOW WE MEET EACH CONDITION.
I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A PROJECT BACKGROUND.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS TED HASTINGS.
I'M A SENIOR ASSOCIATE WITH BECKER MARTIN GROUP, WHERE THE CIVIL ENGINEERING FIRM REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT.
APPLICANT IS PRESTON COMMUNITY ENERGY INITIATIVE, LLC, AS YOU SEE, SWORN IN, WITH ECA SOLAR, WHICH IS THE PARENT COMPANY OF THE LLC.
WE HAVE MIKE RATING TO MY RIGHT AND JACK ROLLING TO MY LEFT.
THE PROJECT IS LOCATED AT 22945 DOVER BRIDGE ROAD IN PRESTON.
IT'S ACTUALLY JUST RIGHT OUTSIDE THE PRESTON CITY LIMITS.
[01:25:01]
THE CURRENT USE IS AGRICULTURAL AND ROAD CROPS.THE PARCEL IS SPLIT ZONED RURAL AND INDUSTRIAL I2.
THE ENTIRETY OF THIS PROJECT IS IN THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
THE PROPOSED FACILITY BE ACCESS FROM DOVER BRIDGE ROAD.
WE ARE PROPOSING A TWO MEGAWATT AC SOLAR ARRAY.
IT'S A SINGLE ACCESS TRACKER SELLS ONE OF THE ONES AT TRACK WITH THE SUNSHINE.
THE ACCESS TO THE SITE WOULD BE BY A 16 FOOT WIDE GRAVEL ACCESS ROAD BACK TO THE SITE OFF OF DOVER BRIDGE ROAD.
THE PANELS ARE APPROXIMATELY ONE THEY'RE AT TIL, APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET OFF THE GROUND AND WILL BE NO HIGHER THAN 10-12 FEET OFF THE GROUND, SO THAT MEETS YOUR REQUIREMENT OF 15 FOOT HEIGHT.
THE ARRAY IS ROUGHLY 850 FEET AWAY FROM DOVER BRIDGE ROAD, SO IT SET BACK PRETTY FAR OFF THE ROAD AND ALSO ROUGHLY 700 FEET FROM THE NEAREST DWELLING.
THE FACILITY IS PROPOSED TO BE SCREENED BY A 30 FOOT WIDE PLANT BUFFER USING EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS AND A SEVEN FOOT TALL CHAIN LINK FENCE, WHICH IS GOING TO ALSO HAVE A GREEN WOVEN PRIVACY MESH ATTACHED TO IT.
THAT'LL GIVE YOU YOUR SCREEN WHY THE PLANTS HAVE A TENDENCY TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES.
>> CAN EVERYBODY HEAR IN THE BACK? I SHOULD ASK.
>> PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, FINE SUMMARY DEMONSTRATES ADHERENCE TO THE CAROLINA COUNTY REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS FOR THE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS IN SECTION 175-46 AND LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024-003.
ACCORDING TO SECTION 175-42, WE HAVE CONDITIONS THAT WE NEED TO MEET.
THE FIRST ONE A IS PROPOSED USE WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO ENDANGER THE PUBLIC HEALTH OR SAFETY OR GENERAL WELFARE.
THIS FACILITY WILL BE DESIGNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE AND NATURAL FIRE PROTECTION ACT.
THIS FACILITY WILL ALSO HAVE AN EMERGENCY SHUT OFF THAT CAN BE OPERATED AT OR REMOTELY IF NECESSARY.
THE FACILITY IS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A QUICK ENTRY KEY SYSTEM SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN HAVE ACCESS HOPEFULLY NEVER NEEDED, BUT SO THEY HAVE ACCESS QUICK ACCESS TO IT.
DECIBEL LEVEL OF THE INVERTERS WILL BE LESS THAN 50 DECIBELS AND INAUDIBLE AT A DISTANCE OF 100 FEET OR GREATER.
CONSIDERING 850 FEET OFF THE ROAD AND 700 OF THE DWELLING, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR THE INVERTERS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE BUFFER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
LIGHTNING AND GLARE. THERE'S NO LIGHT FIXTURES PROPOSED AT THIS FACILITY.
THERE WILL BE MINIMUM TO NO GLARE FROM THE SOLAR PANELS AS THEY'RE MEANT TO ABSORB THE SUNLIGHT.
THERE'S ALSO ANTI REFLECTIVE COATING ON THEM, AND ALSO THE BUFFER WILL ALLOW FOR ANY SHADING OR THE BLOCK ANY GLARE COMING FROM THE PANELS.
THERE'S NO DIRECT GLARE TO ANY PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAYS.
AGAIN, THE PANELS ARE COATED WITH AN ANTI GLARE FILM.
YOU WILL NOT GET A DIRECT LAYER LIKE YOU WOULD OFF LIKE A STANDARD PANEL OF GLASS.
OF COURSE, THE TREES AND SHRUBS SURROUNDING THE FENCE AREA WILL SHIELD THE PANELS AS WELL.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE PROPOSED USE WILL NOT BE INJURIOUS TO THE PEACEFUL USE OR ENJOYMENT OF THE PROPERTY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THE USE WILL NOT SUBSTANTIALLY DIMINISH PROPERTY VALUES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE FACILITY IS A SELF SUFFICIENT FACILITY CAN BE MANAGED REMOTELY.
THERE WILL BE NO DAILY ACTIVITIES OR TRAFFIC ENTERING AND EXITING THE FACILITY.
PRETTY MUCH IT COMES DOWN TO ONCE IT'S CONSTRUCTED, MAINTENANCE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE 10-12 TRIPS PER YEAR.
THE FACILITY AGAIN IS BEING SCREENED WITH PLANTINGS AND ALSO SET BACK SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE ABUTTING PROPERTIES AND FROM THE ROAD.
NEXT C IS THE PROPOSED USE WILL NOT IMPEDE NORMAL AND ORLY DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENT OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES FOR USES PERMITTED IN THIS ZONING DISTRICT.
THIS FACILITY WILL BE DESIGNED TO MEET THE CURRENT SOLAR ORDINANCE, THE 200 SETBACK THAT'S IN PLACE NOW.
WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN SOME NEW LEGISLATION INVOLVED THAT MAY REDUCE THOSE, BUT WE'RE STICKING WITH WHAT YOU GOT NOW, THE 200 FOOT SETBACK.
THE FACILITY WILL BE SCREENED FROM SITE.
AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE FACILITY ONLY HAD 10-12 TRIPS PER YEAR TO THE SITE FOR MAINTENANCE PURPOSES.
I CAN STATE ENOUGH THAT THIS PROPERTY IS AN I2 INDUSTRIAL.
PROPOSED USE WILL NOT OVERBURDEN EXISTING PUBLIC FACILITIES, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, POLICE, FIRE PROTECTION, WATER, SEWAGE, PUBLIC ROADS, STORM DRAINAGE, AND OTHER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
WELL, THERE'S NO WATER PROPOSED FOR THIS SITE.
[01:30:03]
THERE'S NO RESIDENCY TO IMPACT THE SCHOOLS.THE FACILITY IS SELF SUFFICIENT UNMANNED.
EMERGENCY ACCESS AGAIN WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR ANY EMERGENCY.
THE PROJECT WILL MONITOR 20 FOR SEVEN USER TELEMETRIC AND SECURITY CAMERAS.
THE FACILITY WILL BE INSPECTED QUARTERLY FOR PERFORMANCE CHECKS AS WELL AS FOR LANDSCAPING, MAINTENANCE AS NEEDED.
EXISTING OVERHEAD ELECTRIC SUPPLY SERVICES DISTRIBUTION WILL BE IMPROVED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT AS NEEDED.
CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN WILL BE DEVELOPED AND SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT STAFF BEFORE APPROVAL.
YOU'LL KNOW WHEN THE TRUCKS DURING CONSTRUCTION ARE COMING AND GOING.
THE PROPOSED USE CONFORMS IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS TO THE ZONING CHAPTER OF THE CAROLINA COUNTY CODE, ESPECIALLY TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE ZONING DISTRICT, WHICH IT IS LOCATED.
THE PROPOSED COMMERCIAL SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY IS PERMITTED AND I2 SUBJECT TO ITS SPECIAL USE.
I2 ZONED IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF INDUSTRIAL USES.
THE FACILITY MEETS ALL APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE FOR THIS ZONE.
THE FACILITY IS NOT A PERMANENT STRUCTURE AND ALLOWED FOR THE LAND TO BE CONVERTED BACK TO AGRICULTURAL AFTER THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DECOMMISSIONED.
THE PROPOSED USE WILL NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT WATER QUALITY, ADVERSE IMPACTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE, PLANT HABITAT.
WE'RE NOT IN A CRITICAL AREAS.
THE GRANTING SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CRITICAL AREAS PROGRAM AGAIN, AND WE'RE NOT IN CRITICAL AREAS, NONE OF THAT'S APPLICABLE.
WETLANDS ARE ASSOCIATED BUFFER ARE NOT BEING DISTURBED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.
NO TREES ARE BEING REMOVED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT BEING AS WE'RE IN A ROW CROP SITUATION RIGHT NOW AND WHEN YOU CHANGE FROM ROW CROP TO A METO CONDITION THAT WE'RE GOING IN, EXPECT YOU WHEN THE PROPERTIES IN VALLOW RIGHT AFTER IT'S BEEN HARVESTED, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE REDUCING THE RUNOFF FROM THIS SITE, CHANGING FROM ROW TO A PERMANENT METO CONDITION.
THERE'S GOING TO BE NO IN FLOW PATTERNS.
THE FLOWS AWAY FROM ALL ADJOINING PROPERTIES, AND WE VERIFY THIS BY USING FIELD RUN SURVEY.
CITING. COMMERCIAL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS THAT COMPLY WITH THIS PROVISION OF THIS SECTION MAY BE PERMITTED AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 175-13.
THE TABLE OF USES ACCEPT AS FOLLOWS.
THE COMBINED ADDITIONAL AGGREGATE ACREAGE OF COMMERCIAL ENERGY SYSTEMS UTILIZED WITHOUT THE COUNTY SHALL NOT EXCEED 2000 ACRES.
THIS PROPERTY IS PROPOSING UTILIZING ABOUT 11.2 ACRES OF THE PROPERTY.
I'M GUESSING THAT IF WE WERE OVER THAT CAP, WE PROBABLY WOULD BE SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
PARCELS SHALL NOT BE LOCATED IN THE TRANSFERABLE DEVELOPMENT RECEIVING AREAS.
AGAIN, NUMBER 3 ALSO GOES INTO THE TRANSFERABLE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS.
AGAIN, THIS PROPERTY IS NOT LOCATED IN TRANSFERABLE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS RECEIVING AREAS.
PARCELS UNDER LAND PRESERVATION EASEMENTS EXCEPT RIGHT OF WAYS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE VERY AT LEAST THREE FEET.
PROPERTY IS NOT UNDER LAND PRESERVATION EASEMENT.
WHERE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS ARE PROPOSED FOR PARCELS IDENTIFIED AS GREEN BELTS, GROWTH AREAS, AND ANY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OR INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITY, THE IMPACTED JURISDICTION MUST BE NOTIFIED, AS YOU CAN SEE, ON THE BOARD AS ONE OF OUR EXHIBITS THAT WE HAVE MET WITH THE TOWN OF PRESTON.
THE PROJECT IS LOCATED WITHIN OUR RULE ABOVE IS DEPICTED ON MAP 13 OF THE PRESTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BUT NOT LOCATED IN THE GROWTH OR ANNEXATION AREA.
THERE'S NO CURRENT PLANS FOR THIS PROPERTY TO BE ANNEXED INTO THE TOWN OF PRESTON.
AGAIN, WE MET WITH THE TOWN OF PRESTON ON DECEMBER 10, 2024.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT MAKES HERE.
KEEP YOU SCRAP. DESIGN STANDARDS.
SCREENING. VISUAL SCREENING MUST BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM DOES NOT CAUSE ANY NEGATIVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO THE STATIC AND SCENIC QUALITY OF THE PROJECT AREA LOCATION, PROPOSED SCREENING BUFFERS, SHALL BE REVIEWED BY A LICENSED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT SELECTED BY THE COUNTY AT THE APPLICANTS SPACE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUFFERS CONSIST OF MIXED VEGETATION, INCLUDING TREES, SHRUBS, ORNAMENTAL GRASSES, AND BERMS WHERE APPROPRIATE.
WE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED A LANDSCAPE PLAN AS PART OF OUR SUBMISSION.
[01:35:04]
BECKER MORGAN HAS A FULL TIME LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL STAFF THAT DESIGNED THIS.WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING A POLLINATOR HABITAT UNDERNEATH THE ARRAY, WHICH WILL HELP THE BEES.
WE ARE ALSO A MONARCH BUTTERFLY BELT THAT ACTUALLY LOVES THIS POLLINATORS, SO THAT'S GOING TO HELP OUT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WAY AS WELL.
THE DEPTH OF THESE BUFFERS ARE 30 FEET.
AGAIN, AS I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING A MESH SCREEN ON THE FENCE TO AID THE SCREEN WHILE THE VEGETATIVE BUFFER IS BEING ESTABLISHED.
WHEN YOU'RE ADDING THAT TO THE FENCE, IS THAT JUST THE MAIN ROAD SIDE OR IS THAT GOING TO BE ALL THE WHOLE PROPERTY?
>> YES. SETBACKS REQUIRE SETBACK FOR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM, STRUCTURE.
SO MEET THE MINIMUM ZONING SETBACK FOR THE ZONING DISTRICT IS LOCATED OR 25 FEET, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
IN ADDITION TO SOLAR SYSTEMS MUST BE LOCATED, AT LEAST 200 FEET FROM RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PARCELS AND EXISTING RESIDENCES.
WE COMPLY FOR THAT WITH THAT 200 FOOT SETBACK AS IT IS WRITTEN INTO YOUR ORDINANCE NOW.
AGAIN, WE KNOW THE NEW LEGISLATION IS OUT.
WE'RE NOT ASKING ANYTHING FROM THAT WHERE HERE OR TODAY TO MEET YOUR CURRENT ZONING ORDINANCES.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY SETBACK MODIFICATIONS.
AGAIN, C IS TALKING ABOUT SETBACK MODIFICATIONS. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY.
HEIGHT, SOLAR ENERGY PANEL STRUCTURE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE HEIGHT OF 15 FEET AS MEASURED FROM THE GRADE AT THE BASE OF THE STRUCTURE TO THE APEX OF THE STRUCTURE.
NECESSARY ACCESSORY STRUCTURES LIGHTNING RODS ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL.
AS I STATED BEFORE, THESE PANELS ARE GOING TO BE THREE FOOT AT FULL TILT FROM THE GROUND 10-12 FEET HIGH AT MAXIMUM HEIGHT.
WE'RE UNDER THAT 15 FOOT CRITERIA.
UTILITY CONNECTIONS REASONABLE OR SHALL BE MADE TO PLACE ALL UTILITY CONNECTIONS FROM THE SOLAR INSTALLATION UNDERGROUND DEPENDING ON THE APPROPRIATE SOIL CONDITIONS, SHAPE, TOPOGRAPHY OF THE SITE, AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE UTILITY PROVIDER, ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMERS.
UTILITY INTERCONNECTIONS MAY BE ABOVE GROUND IF REQUIRED BY THE UTILITY PROVIDER.
ALL ELECTRICAL INTERCONNECTION DISTRIBUTION COMPONENTS MUST COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE CODE AND PUBLIC UTILITY REQUIREMENTS.
ALL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE PROJECT PANELS AND VERSION TRANSFORMERS WILL BE INSTALLED UNDERGROUND, AND UNDERGROUND CONDUIT WILL BE INSTALLED FROM THE LAST DELMAR POWER OWN OVERHEAD ELECTRO POLE TO THE PROJECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT POD.
VISIBILITY. SOLAR SYSTEMS SHALL BE DESIGNATED TO BLEND INTO THE ARCHITECTURAL OF THE BUILDING TO BE SCREENED FROM ROUTINE VIEW FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT AWAY OR ADJACENT RESIDENTIALLY OWNED PROPERTIES TO THE EXTENT REASONABLY POSSIBLE.
USE MATERIALS, COLORS, TEXTURES THAT WILL BLEND INTO THE FACILITY IN EXISTING ENVIRONMENT.
AGAIN, USE OF VEGETATION, INCLUDING TREES SHRUBS, GRASSES WILL HELP BUFFER AND BLEND THE FACILITY INTO THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT.
GREEN MESH, AGAIN, COVERING WILL BE PLACED ON THE UPPER SIX FEET OF THATCH TO ALLOW TO AID IN FURTHER SCREENING VIEWS OF THE SOLAR WHILE THE VEGETATIVE BUFFER IS BEING ESTABLISHED.
>> NO SOLAR SYSTEM SHALL PRODUCE GLARE THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE NOISES OF OCCUPANTS NEIGHBORING PARCELS, PERSONS TRAVELING IN OF NEIGHBORING ROADS.
THERE WOULD BE MINIMAL TO NO GLARE FROM THE SOLAR PANELS AS ARE MEANT TO ABSORB SUNLIGHT, NOT REFLECTED.
THERE'S NO DIRECT GLARE ON THE PUBLIC RUNAWAYS.
THE PANEL GLASSES COATED WITH AN ANTI GLARE FILM.
THE TREES, SHRUBS, AND SURROUNDING THE FENCE AREA WILL BE FURTHER SHIELDED [NOISE] THE BROWN VIEW.
LIGHTING OF THE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM, THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURE SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE MINIMUM NECESSARY FOR SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL PURPOSES, AND SHALL BE REASONABLY SHIELDED FROM ABUTTING PROPERTIES.
LIGHTING SHALL BE ACTIVATED BY MOTION SENSORS AND SHALL BE FULLY SHIELDED AND DOWNCAST TO PREVENT LIGHT FROM SHINING ONTO ADJACENT PARCELS OR INTO THE NICE SKY.
WE'RE NOT PROPOSING LIGHTING FOR THE SITE.
FENCING A SECURE CHAIN LINK FENCE AT LEAST SIX FEET HEIGHT, SHALL ENCLOSE THE ENTIRE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM TO RESTRICT UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS.
WE'RE PROPOSING A SEVEN FOOT TALL CHAIN LINK FENCE.
I THINK SEVEN FOOT IS ACTUALLY WHAT'S REQUIRED BY THE ELECTRICAL CODE.
ADDITION TO THESE DESIGN STANDARDS, ALL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM SHALL MEET APPLICABLE STATE REGULATIONS AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY, THE PROJECT CAN'T BE APPROVED WITHOUT THESE.
SEE DECOMMISSIONING, WE PROVIDED A DECOMMISSIONING PLAN AS PART OF THIS SUBMISSION PACKAGE.
SIGNS ASSIGNED NOT TO EXCEED ONE SQUARE FOOT SHALL BE
[01:40:04]
POSTED AT EACH ENTRANCE TO THE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY THE PROPERTY OWNER.THE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM OWNER, 24-HOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT PHONE NUMBER, INFORMATION ON THE SIGN SHALL BE KEPT CURRENT.
THE SIGN SHALL BE POSTED AT THE SITE IN CLEARLY VISIBLE MANNER, WE'RE PLAYING ON PUTTING A COMPLIANT SIGN AFFIXED TO THE GATE ENTRY GATE OF THE FACILITY.
AGREEMENTS, EASEMENTS, RATHER THAN OWNED BY THE SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, ALL PROPERTY WITHIN THE PROJECT BOUNDARY, MUST BE INCLUDED IN RECORDED EASEMENTS OR LEASES OR CONSENT AGREEMENTS, SPECIFYING THE APPLICABLE USES FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT.
PRESTON COMMUNITY ENERGY INITIATIVE, LLC.
WELL, HERE TO THESE REGULATIONS BY RECORDING THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATIONS AMONG THE LAND RECORDS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, PRESTON COMMUNITY ENERGY INITIATIVE, LLC HAS ENTERED INTO THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH MR. WRIGHTSON, LAND OWNER.
PUBLIC SAFETY. IDENTIFY, ADDRESS ANY KNOWN SUSPECTED POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO ADJACENT PROPERTY SPARK ROADWAYS COMMUNITIES AVIATION, WHICH MAY BE CREATED BY THE PROJECT.
NO KNOWN HAZARDS EXIST WHICH MAY THREATEN OR AFFECT ADJACENT PROPERTIES, PUBLIC ROADWAYS, COMMUNITIES, OR AVIATION.
THE APPLICANT WILL COORDINATE THE LOCAL NEARBY EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE APPROPRIATE ACCESS AND INFORMATION NECESSARY TO RESPOND [NOISE] TOTAL EMERGENCIES WITHIN THE PROJECT.
AGAIN, THESE PANELS ARE NON TOXIC.
THERE'S NO POLLUTANTS IN THEM WHATSOEVER.
THE MOST ALMOST 100 % RECYCLABLE.
>> SO NOT TO STOP YOU, BUT AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE AND IT'S IN DECOMMISSION?
>> YOU'RE GOING TO RECYCLE THESE OR IS A DUMP GOING TO TAKE THESE?
>> REQUIRED TO SEND FOR RECYCLING.
OUR DECOMMISSIONING PLAN IDENTIFIES THE FACILITY TO SEND IN THE REPORT.
>> ONE IN NORTH CAROLINA IS PROBABLY CLOSEST.
>> IS THAT ACTUAL RECYCLING OR IS IT?
>> IT'S RECYCLING. BY THE TIME THESE THINGS COME TO FRUITION AT THE END OF THE DECOMMISSIONING PLAN, A LOT OF THESE WILL BE GOING OUT FOR DECOMMISSIONING, SO I GUARANTEE YOU'LL BE SEEING A LOT OF THESE RECYCLING PLANS POPPING UP AROUND THE COUNTRY.
BECAUSE A LOT OF VALUABLE MATERIALS INSIDE THESE THINGS.
FAA MUST DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL.
WE MUST DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO HAZARDS TO AIR NAVIGATION.
A REQUEST FOR A NO HAZARD EVALUATION WAS SUBMITTED TO THE FAA ON MAY 2, 2024.
THE FAA PROVIDED NO HAZARD DETERMINATION ON JUNE 18, 2024, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE COMPLETE NARRATIVE PROVIDED.
WHAT I'M READING TO YOU TODAY IS JUST A READER'S DIGEST VERSION OF THE NARRATIVE THAT I HAS BEEN PROVIDED ALONG WITH THIS PACKAGE THAT WE SUBMITTED TO YOU.
THAT NO HAZARD EVALUATION IS INCLUDED IN THAT.
PROJECT RATIONALE INCLUDING ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE, PROJECT LIFE PHASING.
LIKELY BUYERS AND MARKETS FOR THE GENERATED ENERGY MUST BE PROVIDED.
THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF SOLAR FACILITIES LIKE THIS PROJECT, IS CLEARLY ESTABLISHED BY LAW AND HAS RECENTLY ENHANCED BY NEW LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED ON APRIL 7, 2025.
THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE IS ESTIMATED TO BE 68 MONTHS AND EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2025 AND MARCH 2026.
SIGNIFICANT LOCAL RESOURCES ARE BEING EMPLOYED AS PART OF THE DESIGN ENTITLEMENT CONSTRUCTION AND STARTUP PROCESS.
THE TAX REVENUE YIELD FOR THIS PROJECT AND THE SIZE AND TYPE WILL ALSO BE BENEFICIAL AND LIFE CYCLE OF THIS CURRENTLY PROPOSED EQUIPMENT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE AROUND 40 YEARS.
OBVIOUSLY WE SUBMITTED A SITE PLAN AS PART OF THIS APPLICATION.
OBVIOUSLY, AS WE GO FURTHER ALONG THIS, THE MORE DETAILED AND THE MORE INFORMATION AS WE GO THROUGH A DESIGN WILL BE PROVIDED AND THE FINAL SITE PLAN WILL BE PROVIDED IDENTIFYING ALL ITEMS REQUIRED BY THE CODE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THIS PROJECT BEING IN THE I2 INDUSTRIAL ZONE, BEING OUR PERMITTED USE BY THE CONDITIONS, AND BY THE CONDITIONS I JUST PRESENTED IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU FEEL WE NEED THESE [NOISE].
NOW I WANT TO PASS OVER. MR. [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MICHAEL READING.
I'M WITH ECA SOLAR, HERE ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT.
I JUST WANTED TO WALK THROUGH JUST SOME OF THE EFFORTS WE'VE TAKEN TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ANY CONCERNS THAT OUR ABUTTERS MIGHT HAVE AND ENGAGE THE TOWN OF PRESTON AS WELL.
WE HOSTED A COMMUNITY MEETING WHERE WE SENT OUT LETTERS TO THE SEVEN ABUTTERS TO INVITE THEM.
[01:45:02]
WE MET WITH THEM AT THE TOWN OFFICES ON NOVEMBER 7 OF 2024.JIM AND MARILYN HARRIS WERE THE ONLY ABUTTERS THAT ATTENDED.
THEY'RE THE DWELLING THAT'S THE CLOSEST TO OUR PROJECT RIGHT THERE NEAR THE ACCESS DRIVE.
WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD CONVERSATION WITH THEM, PLEASANT COUPLE.
THEY REALLY WANTED TO JUST LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT SOLAR WAS, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS.
THEN JUST SOME OF THE BASIC DESIGNS, HOW THE DRIVEWAY WAS GOING TO BE INCORPORATED WHERE THE POLES WERE GOING TO BE.
WENT THROUGH ALL OF THAT WITH THEM.
THEY DIDN'T REALLY EXPRESS ANY CONCERNS.
WE DID NOTIFY THEM ABOUT OUR MEETING TONIGHT, AND SO JACK SPOKE WITH THEM AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO ATTEND TONIGHT, BUT THEY SEEMED FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT WE WOULDN'T BE IMPACTFUL ON UNDER THEIR PROPERTY.
WE THEN WENT ON AND CONTACTED THE TOWN OF PRESTON.
WE NOTIFIED THE TOWN MANAGER, AMBER CORRELL, AND THEN ALSO WE MET WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
WE MET WITH THEM ON DECEMBER 11 OF 2024.
WE HAD A REALLY ENGAGING CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF DETAILS.
THEY'RE A VERY TECHNICAL GROUP.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A BUNCH OF ENGINEERS ON THAT BOARD OR NOT, BUT WE WENT INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ON JUST THE DETAILS OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT AS WELL AS JUST THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OF IT, THE ACCESS, THE STORMWATER CONTROLS THAT WE WOULD HAVE, JUST THE LOW IMPACT DESIGN THAT WE'RE USING BY NOT HAVING TO EXCAVATE FOR FOUNDATIONS, BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE POSTS RIGHT INTO THE GROUND AND REALLY REDUCE THE DISTURBANCE TO THE GROUND.
CHRIS WINTER, WHO WAS ONE OF THE BOARD OF MEMBERS WENT INTO SOME DEEP CONVERSATION WITH US ABOUT SOLAR, ITS BENEFITS, THAT THING.
WE'VE ENGAGED WITH HIM A FEW TIMES.
AS WE LEFT THE BOARD, THEY WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SOLAR.
ECAS PUT TOGETHER A PLATFORM ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT RESIDENTS COULD GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND FIND INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THEY COULD SIGN UP TO BENEFIT FROM SOLAR.
THAT WAS ONE OF THEIR REQUESTS.
WE REALLY LEFT THERE WITH A POSITIVE IMPRESSION.
THERE WAS NO MAJOR CONCERNS EXPRESSED TO US, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S OUTLINED IN THE LETTER OR THE MINUTES THAT THEY PROVIDED.
WE'VE ALSO HAD SEVERAL A COUPLE OF CONVERSATION WITH MR. POUCHEK.
HE PROVIDED A LETTER TO THE BOARD WITH HIS CONCERN.
WE'VE TAKEN HIS CONCERNS WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
WE'VE WORKED WITH BECKER MORGAN TO TRY TO SEE IF WE COULD ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ARRAY DUE TO THE LIMITATIONS OF THE SITE, SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS THAT ARE AT THE SITE.
WE'RE ABLE TO RELOCATE THE ARRAY.
BUT WE DID ENSURE THAT ANY CONCERNS HE HAD REGARDING FLOODING WERE ADDRESSED. WE WENT OVER THAT.
CASTINGS WENT OVER THAT WENT OVER THAT WITH REGARDS TO THE CHANGES IN LAND COVER THAT WE'RE IMPROVING.
SO THAT THERE'S NO IMPACTS ON THE CREEK OR ANY OTHER THE DRAINAGE STRUCTURES.
WE'VE EVEN WALKED THE SITE WITH THE LANDOWNER TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THOSE BASED UPON HIS KNOWLEDGE SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THERE WAS NO IMPACTS TO MR. BLUE CHAIR.
THAT PRETTY MUCH COVERS OUR INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I GUESS I'LL LIKE TO TURN IT BACK TO YOU TO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOUR QUESTIONS.
CERTAINLY YOU FEEL THAT WE'VE ADDRESSED YOUR ORDINANCE, BUT WE DEFINITELY LIKE TO GAIN YOUR INSIGHT ABOUT HOW WE'VE DONE. ONLY IF THEY NEED IT.
>> DO YOU WANT TO SEE ANY PICTURES OR ANYTHING THIS TIME?
>> CATHERINE, PULL UP THE SITE PLAN BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE PEOPLE HERE EVEN SEEN IT IF THEY WANT TO SEE IT.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIKE RANDOM BECAUSE IT'S JUST STUCK BY WRITE STUFF DOWN.
>> EXACTLY, WHAT IS COMMUNITY ENERGY? EXPLAIN THAT TO ME.
I ACTUALLY KNOW BUT YOU WANT ME TO ORIGINALLY.
PEOPLE IN HERE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, I DON'T THINK.
>> YES. MY NAME IS JACK ROWLAND.
I'M THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR THE PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT WILL BE PART OF MARYLAND'S PERMANENT COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM.
THE PURPOSE OF COMMUNITY SOLAR IS REALLY JUST MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE TO SUPPORT LOCAL SOLAR POWER AND RECEIVE SOME GUARANTEED SAVINGS ON THE ELECTRIC BILL.
WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT IT IS THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO OWN YOUR OWN HOME, YOU DON'T NEED TO PUT PANELS IN YOUR HOME ON YOUR ROOF, IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, YOU DON'T ON YOUR HOME, YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT.
WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, AND YOU'RE ABLE TO GET A GUARANTEED DISCOUNT ON YOUR MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILL.
THE ONLY CRITERIA FOR SIGNING UP FOR THIS PROJECT IS YOU HAVE TO BE A DELMARVA POWER AND LIGHT CUSTOMER.
IF YOU'RE PART OF A CHOP TANK OR BG, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS ONE WON'T BE AVAILABLE.
WITH THIS PROJECT BEING PART OF THE PERMANENT COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM, IT'S A REQUIREMENT THAT 40% OF THE CUSTOMERS WHO SIGN UP OR OF THE OFFTAKE HAVE TO BE FOLKS WHO QUALIFY AS EITHER LOW OR MODERATE INCOME, AND THOSE FOLKS WILL RECEIVE
[01:50:01]
A GUARANTEED 10% DISCOUNT ON THE CREDITS PRODUCED BY THEIR SHARE OF THE SOLAR FARM.IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO END BEING HIGHER BY THE TIMES PROJECTS BUILT, BUT GUARANTEED THRESHOLD OF 10%.
THEY'VE ALSO REMOVED A LOT OF THE THRESHOLDS TO MAKE THE BILLING PROCESS A LOT EASIER.
FROM THE SIGN UP PERSPECTIVE, THEY NOW ALLOW SELF ATTESTATION.
PREVIOUSLY, WHEN I USED TO SIGN FOLKS UP, I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THEM SEND ME A COPY OF W2, FOOD STAMPS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT WAS JUST A HUGE HASSLE TO SEND THINGS BACK AND FORTH.
NOW THEY CAN VERIFY OVER THE PHONE AND GET SIGNED UP.
THEN ALSO COMING IS CONSOLIDATED BILLING.
NOW THEY WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO GET ONE BILL FROM THE UTILITY AS OPPOSED TO DEALING WITH PAYING TWO SEPARATE BILLS, WHICH WAS A PAIN FOR FOLKS.
STATE'S REALLY PUSHING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FOLKS AND THEN MAKING IT MORE WELCOMING FOR THOSE LOW INCOME FOLKS AND ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER, MAYBE LESS TECHNICAL SAVVY, DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, JUST TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP.
SO IT'S RECENTLY BEEN EXPANDED FOR THE FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME TO 03,000 MEGAWATTS ACROSS THE STATE FOR COMMUNITY SOLAR IN NET METERING.
SO YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT 40%.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 60%? SO THE OTHER 60% WILL BE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T QUALIFY AS LOW INCOME AND THEIR DELMARVA POWER CUSTOMERS.
SMALL BUSINESSES AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESS CAN SIGN UP AS WELL.
BUT TYPICALLY YOU LIKE TO DIVERSIFY YOUR OFFTAKE THAT WAY IF ONE PERSON DROPS OUT, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE NOT LEFT WITH A BIG HOLE IN YOUR OFFTAKE.
SO TYPICALLY IT'S SPREAD ACROSS MORE HOUSEHOLDS VERSUS SMALLER FOLKS.
>> THESE SOLAR PANELS IF THIS PROJECT IS APPROVED, ALL THIS ELECTRIC IS GOING TO BENEFIT CAROLINE COUNTY. NO.
>> IT'S GOING BACK INTO THE DELMARVA POWER AND LIGHT DISTRIBUTION ELECTRIC D. SO IT'S NOT GOING UP INTO TRANSMISSION LINES AND BEING SENT TO GOD KNOWS WHERE, BUT IT'S ALL STAYING WITHIN THIS LOCAL PLACE.
IF YOU SIGN UP, IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE THAT YOU'RE GETTING THE EXACT ELECTRONS FROM THE SOLAR FARM TO YOUR DOOR.
>> ARE YOU A PART OF THE COW BARN OUTSIDE ORIGINALLY? I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE'S A QUESTION.
BECAUSE ACTUALLY, I KNOW SOMEBODY THAT LIVES IN RIDGLEY ACTUALLY BENEFITS FROM COMMUNITY ENERGY.
LIKE I SAID, THESE ARE JUST RANDOM QUESTIONS.
I'M JUST WONDERING, LIKE, WHY ARE YOU USING LIKE THE PRESTON NAME? IS IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST AROUND PRESTON? TO ME, I FEEL LIKE IF YOU'RE USING THAT PRESTON NAME, IT SHOULD BENEFIT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN PRESTON.
IT'S JUST A SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY OR CAROLINE COUNTY?
>> WELL, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE.
WITH THE TOWN OF PRESTON, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS THEIR REQUEST WAS HOW COULD WE DO THAT? WE'VE CREATED AN OUTREACH PIECE TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THEM TO NOTIFY, THEIR RESIDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THEM AND BE AS PROACTIVE AS WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE THAT SIGN UP.
LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONCEPT THAT WE'VE CREATED BECAUSE THAT WAS A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK WE GOT FROM THEM WAS THAT PEOPLE ARE HESITANT.
ARE WE GOING TO GET TRAPPED? IS THIS A SCAM? WHAT CAN I JUST STOP WHENEVER I WANT? THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES.
THERE'S NO LIKE YOU'RE STUCK IN THIS.
>> IT'S NOT LIKE YOU GO WITH THOSE SUPPLIER.
>> BUT I KNOW, I WAS THINKING OF LIKE THE.
>> TIME SHARES. IT'S NOT LIKE A TIME SHARE SCENARIO.
IT'S LIKE YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S DESIGNED FOR IT'S THE STATE HAS WANTED THIS IN PLACE TO TRY TO GET THE GRID TO BE MORE RELIABLE IN THE SENSE OF LOCAL SOURCES, AND THEN ALSO PROVIDE THE BENEFIT OF THAT TO THOSE THAT COULD USE IT THE MOST.
>> BUT SO YOU DON'T HAVE LIKE A PERCENTAGE.
YOU COULD SAY, LIKE A PERCENTAGE OF WHO, HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BENEFIT LIKE IN THE PRESTON AREA OR NOT.
>> THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO ADVERTISE TO THEM, BUT WE CAN'T MAKE THEM SIGN UP.
THEY'LL ADVERTISE THEM AND LET THEM KNOW IT'S AVAILABLE.
THEN THEY'LL SIGN UP, AND THEN THEY'LL BENEFIT DIRECTLY.
IT'S TO SOME DEGREE, IT'S ALL FREE FOR THEM TO SIGN UP.
AS LONG AS WE SAID, WE FEEL LIKE THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DO TRULY IS TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS AND IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT AND WE'VE PROVIDED THAT THROUGH OUR WEBSITE.
I JUST HOPE THAT BARRIER IS NOT SO GREAT.
AGAIN, INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDE HERE TONIGHT, INFORMATION WE PROVIDED TO THE TOWN OF PRESTON, AND THEN THAT ON THE WEBSITE, WE FEEL YOU KNOW GETS THAT RESULT.
WE'VE SEEN THAT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
>> WHO'S YOUR LIKE LOCAL CONTACT FOR THIS AREA?
[01:55:01]
LIKE, SOMEBODY WANTED TO REACH OUT, IF THERE'S A PROBLEM OR IF THERE'S SOMEBODY WANTS TO SIGN UP.IS THERE A LOCAL CONTACT, OR YOU GUYS LIKE OUT OF STATE?
>> TIM AT THIS POINT, WHAT WE DID IS IN TALKING WITH CHRIS WINTER AT THE TOWN PLANNING AND ZONING, WE TOLD HIM THAT WE TOLD HIM THIS IS WHAT WE'RE MAKING AVAILABLE.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE TOWN OF PRESTON AND MAKE THEM YOU KNOW, AWARE, IF WE RECEIVE PROVE AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, THEN THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO FULLY ENGAGE WITH THE TOWN MANAGER, MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAS FLYERS, UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT SHE MIGHT NEED TO HELP FURTHER GET THE MESSAGE OUT, WHETHER IT BE LIKE BOARDS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IN TOWN OR DO THEY EVEN HAVE A TOWN SIGN THAT IMPACTS OUR DRIVEWAY, MAYBE WE WORK AT TRYING TO POST SOMETHING ON THAT FOR THEM.
>> LIKE I SAID, SOME OF THESE I KNOW THE ANSWER TO, I'M JUST GOING TO THROW QUESTIONS OUT SO IT HELPS PEOPLE.
I MIGHT HAVE THE SAME QUESTION.
IS THERE ANY BATTERY STORAGE ON THIS FACILITY?
>> IF THIS IS GRANTED, HOW SOON WILL THIS BE OPERATIONAL, IF IT'S GRANTED?
>> WE PROJECTED IT WAS THE APRIL OF '26, EARLY NEXT YEAR.
>> IT ALSO DEPENDS ON HOW FAST DELMARVA POWER GIVES THE CORRECT EQUIPMENT.
>> WE RECEIVED OUR INTERCONNECTION APPROVAL FROM DELMARVA POWER AND LIGHT IN AUGUST OF 2024, SO WE STARTED MAKING THOSE PAYMENTS.
THEY ESTIMATED A TIMELINE OF 15 MONTHS FROM RECEIVING THAT.
THAT'S THEIR ESTIMATE. USUALLY, SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT SLOWER THAN THAT, SO WE'RE ON TRACK WITH THEM RIGHT NOW.
>> I GOT YOU. I DON'T KNOW MUCH WHAT'S GOING ON UP NORTH, BUT I HEAR RUMORS ABOUT TOPSOIL BEING STRIPPED.
>> ARE YOU GUYS PLANNING ON STRIPPING TOPSOIL?
I'M JUST ASKING IT BECAUSE I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> PART OF MY GRADING PLAN, I'M A MINIMALIST, SO THE ONLY THING WE PLAN ON DISTURBING IS WHERE WE HAVE TO PUT IN THE ACCESS ROAD AND THE EQUIPMENT PATHS.
THE EQUIPMENT WILL BE OUT IN THE FIELD, OBVIOUSLY, DRIVING THE POST WHERE THEY'RE HACKING, BUT WE'RE NOT PULLING UP ANY TOPSOIL IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
>> LEAVE ANY GENERATION THAT WE CREATE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO DISPERSE IT BACK IN THE FIELD SO IT WILL BE PART OF THE LANDSCAPING. IT WILL STAY ON SITE.
>> I'M GOING BACK TO THIS, IF IT IS APPROVED, WHAT ARE THE WORKING TIMES DURING CONSTRUCTION? BECAUSE I BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE.
MY WIFE'S GRANDMOTHER LIVED OUTSIDE HURLOCK OFF PALMERS MILL ROAD, AND THEY'RE OUT THERE POUNDING THESE BIG METAL BEAMS IN THE GROUND FREAKING 10:00 AT NIGHT ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FREAKING SLEEP.
SHE'S DOWN THE ROAD AND IT'S KEEPING HER AWAKE AT NIGHT.
>> COUNTY HAS A CODE REGARDING OPERATIONS?
>> THAT'S 1:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, I BELIEVE IT IS.
>> NO, I THINK IT'S 10:00 P.M.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT MIGHT BE WHY [INAUDIBLE] OUTSIDE OF CHESTER COUNTY. I'M ASKING YOU ABOUT CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> CAROLINE COUNTY MUST HAVE A NOISE ORDINANCE.
>> I THINK I ASKED YOU THIS ONE BEFORE. WHAT IS IT?
>> IS IT 10:00 O'CLOCK? WHAT'S THE CUT OF?
>> I CAN PULL IT UP AND TELL YOU, GIVE ME A SECOND.
BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT USES.
NOW FOR CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT COMING IN, I'M STILL LOOKING FOR WHERE I READ IT IN HERE, THAT WE'RE PLANNING ON HAVING A CONSTRUCTION PLAN SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY FOR ITS APPROVAL.
THAT WAY, THE TRUCKS CAN'T COME AND GO ALL THE TIME AND IT'LL AVOID WHEN THE SCHOOL BUSES ARE OUT.
WE DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH SCHOOL BUSES AND SCHOOL CHILDREN AND WHEN THEY'RE STANDING AT THE BUS STOPS, SO THERE WILL BE A PLAN SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THAT ROAD.
>> THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS MORE FOR MATT.
I KNOW THEY SET THEIR FENCE HEIGHT SEVEN FOOT.
WHAT'S OUR COUNTY CODE? IS IT SIX FOOT?
>> WE'RE REQUIRED TO BE SEVEN FOOT BY THE NATIONAL CODE, SO WE COULDN'T BE ANY LESS THAN THAT.
>> THAT'S WHY THE CHAIN LINK CUT IS SIX FOOT.
THEN THERE'S ANOTHER FOOT OF BARBED WIRE BASICALLY USED ON MOST OF THOSE.
I'M JUST GOING BY WHAT THEY'RE DOING UP TO GREENSBORO.
[02:00:02]
>> ANY OTHER THING I GOT IS WHEN MR. POUCHEK COMES UP HERE.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE'S HEARD.
>> THOSE NOISE LIMITS ARE 7:00 AM- 10:00 PM.
>> MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY OR MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY?
>> SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. I BELIEVE IT'S SEVEN DAYS.
>> THAT'S HOW WE LIKE TO OPERATE.
DURING THE WEEK, WE COULD PROBABLY DO SEVEN O'CLOCK.
THEN ON THE WEEKEND WE SHOULDN'T BE PAST FIVE O'CLOCK ON SATURDAY.
I DON'T IF THESE GUYS ARE WORKING ON SUNDAYS.
>> I ONLY SAID THAT BECAUSE WHEN I COME BY THERE, THEY HAD LIGHTS ON, POUNDING.
I THINK THEY WERE POUNDING THEM THINGS IN ON SUNDAY 12:00 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON.
>> I'LL TELL YOU, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE WAY THAT WORKS IS THAT WHEN WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME, WHOEVER WAS IN THAT PERMITTING ROOM DIDN'T BRING IT UP, SO THERE WASN'T A REAL DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
THEY MIGHT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF NOT HAVING THAT DISCUSSION AND THEY SAID, THAT'S WHAT YOUR COUNTY CODE IS, SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO LIVE BY IT, SO YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
WE SHOULD DEFINITELY ADHERE TO SOMETHING TONIGHT THAT MEETS YOUR NEEDS AND MEETS OURS.
LIKE I SAID, I'M HAPPY WITH JUST FRIDAY, 7:00-7:00, AND THEN ON SATURDAY GIVE US IT WAS 8:00-5:00, AND THEN YOU'LL WORK ON SUNDAY.
>> BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME NEIGHBORS THAT LIKE YOU, BUT THEY MIGHT HATE YOU AFTER YOU GET DONE CONSTRUCTION [LAUGHTER].
>> THEY'RE TAKING NOISE. THAT'S TO GET THOSE BEAMS INTO THE GROUND.
>> TYPICALLY FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS, IT'LL GO ON FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
>> THIS WENT ON FOR MONTHS, BUT THAT WAS A LARGE SCALE OPERATION.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, THE LARGE SCALE UTILITY HAS CREATED A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR US ON THE COMMUNITY SCALE.
PEOPLE GET THE WRONG IMPRESSION OF WHAT PROJECTS CAN FEEL LIKE AS FAR AS THE IMPACT ON COMMUNITY UTILITY SCALE.
REALLY, WE'RE APPLES AND ORANGES.
WE'RE DEFINITELY FRUITS, IT'S JUST WE'RE DIFFERENT.
THE MUCH SMALLER SCALE ALLOWS US TO BE MORE COMMUNITY-BASED, AND WE CAN BE SENSITIVE TO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
>> I CAN ASSURE YOU, I CAN PUT THAT ON CONSTRUCTION PLANS, SO THE CONTRACTORS WILL HAVE TO ADHERE TO IT.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM, IS MAKING THE CONTRACTORS ADHERE TO IT, AND BEING ON THE PLANS, IT EXITS IT IN STONE.
>> DAYS OF WEEK ARE NOT SPECIFIED, BUT IT DOES SPECIFY PILE DRIVING EQUIPMENT IS 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY FEELS, BUT IT CAN BE IN THERE.
THE ONLY OTHER THING, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL MAKE A STATEMENT, AND I'LL LET YOU GUYS HAVE A IT FOR QUESTIONS, BUT I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF SOLAR, BUT IT'S LIKE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, I DO HAVE MY ACCOUNTANT IS IN ORIGINALLY, DELMARVA POWER, AND SHE DID GET ON ONE OF Y'ALL'S PROGRAMS WHERE MY ELECTRIC BILL WENT FROM $250 A MONTH TO 1,000 FOR NO REASON.
LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT A BIG FAN, AND THEY'RE NOT FOR EVERYBODY, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE I KNOW HER ELECTRIC BILL DID NOT TRIPLE LIKE MINE DID FOR NO REASON.
WITH THAT, YOU GUYS CAN ASK QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE FOR MATT.
MATT, EXHIBIT 2, PAGE 2 OF 3 AND PAGE 3 OF 3 WAS SOME THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED FOR STAFF REPORT.
IF WE APPROVED THIS AND WE SAY THAT ALL CONDITIONS INCLUDING STAFF REPORT, WILL THAT COVER THOSE ITEMS?
>> YES. I'VE OUTLINED THE ITEMS THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE GOING TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND ITEMS THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED AFTER PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THERE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT THOSE DIDN'T NEED TO BE BROUGHT UP AND TALKED ABOUT INDIVIDUALLY.
>> NO. AS I MENTIONED, WHEN I WENT OVER THE STAFF REPORT, THAT NONE OF THESE ITEMS WOULD HAVE ANY EFFECT ON YOUR DECISION.
THAT'S WHY I LET THIS PROJECT COME FORWARD.
BECAUSE SOME OF THE PREVIOUS DECISION, THERE WASN'T ENOUGH INFORMATION TO BRING IT FOR THE BOARD, BUT THESE ITEMS THAT ARE REMAINING, STAFF FELT THAT IT WOULD NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON YOU APPROVING OR MAKING ANY DECISION ON THEM.
>> THEY JUST NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT GOES BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> CORRECT. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE WE SAY
[02:05:02]
DON'T RESUBMIT AGAIN IN CASE THERE'S SOME CONDITIONAL APPROVAL, AND YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SOME MODIFICATIONS OF THE PLAN BASED ON YOUR DECISION.>> I ACTUALLY DO HAVE ONE FOR YOU, MATT.
THIS IS LIKE GREENSBORO SITUATION BEING A LANDLOCKED.
IF THIS IS APPROVED, IS THIS GOING TO LANDLOCK PRESTON?
>> IS THERE A LOT OF AG PRESERVATION LOCKING IN? BECAUSE GREENSBORO WAS DONE AROUND THE TOWN OF PRESTON? I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU THIS EARLIER, BUT GREENSBORO WAS DONE WITH THAT LAST DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEY'RE NOT EXPANDING FOR ANOTHER.
>> THE TOWN OF PRESTON DOESN'T HAVE MUCH OF A GROWTH AREA.
WHAT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED AS THEIR GROWTH AREA IS REALLY ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF TOWN, BUT WHAT I CAN DO, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LAND PRESERVATION EASEMENTS, I CAN ALWAYS ACCESS THE STATE.
>> BECAUSE IN GREENSBORO WITH THAT SOLAR, THEY'RE DONE.
>> WELL, THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING IN GREENSBORO, THE PEOPLE THAT'S ON THE BOARD BECAUSE THEY BUILT A PARK BESIDE THE COMMUNITY HALL, WHICH WAS THE BEAUTIFUL DEVELOPMENT SITE.
YOU BUILD A NEW SEPTIC SYSTEM AND YOU GOT 250 ACRES BESIDE IT AND YOU BUY IT FOR A PARK.
THE FUTURE EXPANSION WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO PUT SOLAR PANELS.
>> THEN THE REST IS TIED UP IN AG PRESERVATION.
>> PRETTY MUCH UNLESS YOU GO TOWARD DELAWARE.
>> THE REASON FOR THAT WAS BECAUSE THE TOWN WANTED TO ANNEX IN THAT PORTION FOR THE TAX REVENUE.
>> I'M JUST SAYING LIKE FUTURE.
>> I KNOW, BUT THEIR DISCUSSION WAS THAT THEY HAD AMPLE GROWTH ELSEWHERE.
AS FAR AS AG AND LAND PRESERVATION EASEMENTS AROUND THE TOWN OF PRESTON, THERE'S NOT MUCH.
THE CLOSEST ONE IS OFF OF [INAUDIBLE] ROAD, SO YOU'RE TALKING A MILE AND A HALF OUTSIDE OF TOWN SOUTH SIDE.
THE NEXT CLOSEST IS NEAR JONESTOWN OFF FARM ROAD.
THERE'S NO AG EASEMENTS THAT WOULD PREVENT THEM TO MODIFYING THEIR COMP PLAN TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL AREAS OF GROWTH AROUND THE TOWN.
THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD REALLY HAVE AN EFFECT WOULD BE ON THEIR WASTEWATER FACILITY AND WHAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY HANDLE AS FAR AS GROWTH.
>> I DO GOT ONE MORE QUESTION AND THEN I'M GOING TO LET HIM HAVE A CRACK AT YOU-ALL.
THIS IS A SMALL SCALE SOLAR PROJECT.
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHERS THAT MAY BE POPPING UP IN THE AREA, SOUTH COUNTY, ANYTHING, NOT REALLY? I'M JUST ASKING.
>> NOT DIRECTLY. I KNOW A COUPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE CPCN PROCESS.
>> NOT IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. NO.
>> I WILL SAY THAT WE WERE APPROACHED BY A SOLAR COMPANY THAT DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND WAS PROPOSING ON A PARCEL RIGHT NEXT TO THIS ONE.
>> YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO CO-LOCATE.
>> YOU CAN'T CO-LOCATE A PROJECT [INAUDIBLE] ANOTHER SOLAR COMPANY PROJECT.
>> THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT. WE HAD A MEETING, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND I MET WITH THEM AND I BROUGHT THAT UP IN A DISCUSSION.
THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAD HEARD THAT IN THESE COMMUNITY SOLAR SITUATIONS WHERE IF YOU WERE TO CO-LOCATE, THOSE PROJECTS COULD NOT EXCEED FIVE MEGAWATTS TOTAL.
THEY HAD ONE THAT WAS ABOUT THREE THAT THEY WERE PROPOSING, SO WE WOULD BE RIGHT AT THAT MAX.
THEY FILLED OUT A PI REQUEST TO GET COPIES OF ALL THEIR APPLICATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN SEE IF THEY NEED TO MODIFY WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO SUBMIT TO US.
>> THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND DO IT.
IF YOU DO CO-LOCATE, EVEN MORE LIKE 75% HAS TO GO TO LOADED MONITORING INCOME, THAT'S JUST A HUGE PROCESS.
I SAY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, THAT'S IMPROBABLE.
IF THIS IS APPROVED, IS THIS PART OF HOW MANY ACRES THE STATE WANTS THE COUNTY TO MAKE SOLAR? [OVERLAPPING] NO.
>> THE LANGUAGE ISN'T REALLY CLEAR, BUT WHAT WE'RE CALCULATING AS OUR REGULATIONS IT WOULD GO TOWARDS OUR 2,000 ACRE CAP.
NOW, WHETHER OR NOT THE STATE WILL SUPERSEDE THAT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
THERE'S SOME LEGISLATION THAT JUST PASSED ABOUT TARGETING 5% OF THE PRIORITY PRESERVATION AREA,
[02:10:02]
WHICH FOR US IS OVER 8,800 ACRES THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR SOLAR ON PRIME AGRICULTURAL FARM LAND.WE'LL HAVE TO WORK ON THAT AS WE GO.
>> I'LL LET YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, KEV, IF YOU GOT SOME. I'M DONE.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE 10% THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE BACK TO THE LOW INCOME RESIDENTS IF THEY JOIN THIS SOLAR PANEL.
>> YOU CAN SLIDE THAT OTHER MIC OVER IF YOU'D LIKE, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP SLIDING THAT BACK AND FORTH.
>> IT'S, SAY, A 10% DISCOUNT FOR THOSE FOLKS.
THAT'S THE MINIMUM THAT THE STATE REQUIRES FOR THAT DEMOGRAPHIC.
>> YOU TAKE A $250 ELECTRIC BILL AND YOU'RE GIVING THEM $25? YOU GIVE THEM $300 A YEAR.
THAT'S NOT EVEN BUYING THEIR KIDS CHRISTMAS.
>> WHAT'S THE TOWN GETTING OUT OF IT? BECAUSE THERE WAS ONE TRIED TO COME INTO GREENSBORO AND IT GOT SHUT DOWN, AND THEY WAS GOING TO GIVE THE TOWN X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS AND THEN THE TAX RATE AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
IT TURNED INTO A BIG UGLY MESS.
>> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT SITUATION.
IT WAS PROBABLY JUST THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES FOR THAT TOWN THAT THEY WERE CALCULATING UNLESS THEY WERE TRYING TO DO SOME SORT OF PPA, A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN, BUT I'M NOT SURE.
>> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
I SAT IN ON A MEETING, BUT [LAUGHTER] IT WAS VERY STINKY AND IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THEM. I PUT IT THAT WAY.
>> WE ADD A LITTLE BIT, LIKE I KNOW THERE'S NO REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND THAT THING.
WE TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH THE MECHANISMS THAT WE HAVE.
THE STATE ALLOWS US TO OFFER THIS TO LOAD OF MODERATE INCOME, AND WE'RE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO DO THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE EFFORTS TO BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE TOWN OF PRESTON TO GET THE WORD OUT, TO TRY TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
TEN PERCENT LIKE YOU SAID, ISN'T A LOT ON A SMALL BILL.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN WITH WHAT MEANS WE HAVE.
WE CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE IN JUST ENGAGING IN A WAY WITH THE COMMUNITY, OFFERING OTHER MEANS TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE CAN.
IF YOU LOOK THIS UP, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE ENGAGEMENTS THAT WE HAD IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> I WAS ABOUT TO BRING IT UP THAT I WORKED WITH THEM ON A PREVIOUS PROJECT IN DORCHESTER COUNTY, AND THEY END UP NOT HAVING TO DONATE TO OHIO LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
WHEN IT COMES TO THESE SOLAR COMPANIES, THESE ARE ONE OF THE BEST GUYS I'VE EVER WORKED WITH.
I WORKED WITH QUITE A FEW OF THEM.
THEY ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, THEY ENGAGE WITH THE NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
THEY DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN [NOISE] NOT GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY, BUT THEY DO THEIR PART.
>> NO, I THINK YOU NEED TO LET THEM SPEAK.
>> DO YOU WANT THEM TO GO THROUGH THE CRITERIA AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS?
>> I CANNOT DO IT WHEN THE REBUTTAL.
IF YOU WANT ME TO, I WANT SOME PEOPLE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS.
I'LL DO THAT, I MAKE SURE WE COVER IT BEFORE WE GET DOING THINGS.
>> I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE PART OF THE NEXT STEP JUST TO LET THEM FINISH WITH THAT.
BEFORE THEY DO A FINAL STATEMENT.
>> DO YOU WANT TO STOP [INAUDIBLE]
>> I'M GOING TO KEEP ON GOING.
>> AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO LET ANY OPPOSITION THAT THEY WANT TO SPEAK.
PLEASE MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU SPEAK, YOU'VE SIGNED WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ON THE SIGNING SHEET.
YOU CAN JUST HAVE A SEAT AND LET THEM WHOEVER WANTS TO COME UP AND TALK.
CATHERINE, I DON'T KNOW PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT OR NOT, LEAVE THAT SITE PLAN UP.
ANYTIME WHEN SOMEBODY'S TALKING, IF YOU WANT TO GO LOOK AT THAT SITE PLAN WHEN SHE PULL IT UP, YOU'RE MORE WELCOME TO JUST GO LOOK AT IT, IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT? BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN, JUST STAND UP, STATE YOUR NAME ADDRESS, AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE OATH.
>> LET ME CHECK 22176 MARSH CREEK RAVE, PRESTON.
[02:15:01]
>> DO YOU HEREBY SOLEMNLY DECLARE AND AFFIRM UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY YOU GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> I PROMISE TO BE SHORTER THAN THOSE GUYS [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST AN HOUR.
FIRST OF ALL, THE COMPANY IS FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
I GUESS THE NEXT POINT IS YOU HAVE SOME SAYING THIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL IN A FEW MONTHS, BUT TODAY YOU DO.
I'M ASKING YOU NOT TO APPROVE THE VARIANCE.
I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY.
FIRST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THERE'S MAYBE FOUR POINTS.
I CALL IT THE FIRST THING, THE LEGACY IRONY. CAN I?
>> YOU CAN GO. IF YOU NEEDED TO BLOW IT UP, SHE'LL BLOW IT UP FOR YOU.
>> GO BACK TO THE ONE THAT HIT [INAUDIBLE].
>> THE ONE YOU WERE JUST AT KEVIN.
>> IT TAKES A MINUTE TO SCROLL DOWN.
CAN YOU ZOOM IN ON THAT OR NO?
THIS IS MY PHONE, REGULAR ADDITION TO THE RACING ON.
THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR SOLAR RAYS.
MY DAD'S FARM IS RIGHT IN HERE.
THAT'S A CENTURY FARM MY GREAT GRANDFATHER BOUGHT FARM IN FEBRUARY OF 1900.
IRONY OF THIS IS MY SISTER AND I CONTINUE TO GET EVERY WEEK, I JUST BROUGHT TWO.
THIS WEEK WE GOT TWO LETTERS FROM SOLAR FACTORIES, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY'RE FARMS OR FACTORIES.
TRYING TO BEGGING US TO PUT THREE QUARTERS OF OUR CENTURY FARM IN THE SOLAR PANELS.
WE UNDERSTOOD THAT IF YOU APPLY FOR PRESERVATION PROGRAM THAT THEY COULD NOT PUT SOLAR PANELS ON PRESERVATION ANCHORS.
WE APPLIED. GUESS WHAT? THEY'VE TAKEN ALL THE MONEY FROM THE PRESERVATION PROGRAMS, SIMILAR TO WHAT MR. THOMPSON WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THEY'VE TAKEN THE MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE FARMERS FOR PRESERVATION PROGRAMS, AND THEY'D GIVEN IT AS INCENTIVES TO THE SOLAR INDUSTRY.
IT'S IRONIC THAT I FIND MYSELF SITTING IN A POSITION WHERE I'M TRYING TO FIGHT PUTTING THEM ON MY OWN FARM BY PRESERVING IT, BUT I CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE YOU'RE GIVING ALL THE MONEY TO THE SOLAR FARMS OR FACTORIES.
I JUST HAVE PROBLEMS TOO WITH THE WAY THIS IS APPROACHED.
I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS MAYBE A YEAR AGO.
WHENEVER THEY WERE DOING SURVEYING, I RIDE DOWN MARSH CREEK RAVE DAY AFTER DAY.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE ROAD BETWEEN DAD'S FARM AND MY FARM.
I SAW TWO SURVEYORS OUT THERE, ON MY FARM.
I APPROACHED HIM AND SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THEY SAID, WELL, WE'RE SURVEYING.
WE HAD TO FIND YOUR LOCK POINTS AND I SAID, I'VE SURVEYED IT.
WHY ARE YOU SURVEYING IT AGAIN? THEY SAID, WHAT REALLY ISN'T ABOUT YOU, IT'S ABOUT THE RIGHTS AND FARM.
THAT BOTHERED ME BECAUSE I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON.
HAD THE NEIGHBORS AND THE SOLAR COMPANY AND ME AND MR. RIGHTS HAD SAT DOWN BEFORE THAT POINT, ACTUALLY, AND TALKED ABOUT WE WANT TO PUT A COMMUNITY TO SOLAR PROJECT.
WE COULD HAVE WORKED THIS OUT OVER I STAY, AND WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE TODAY.
BY THE WAY, THERE WAS A PRIOR COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT PROPOSED FOR PRESTON.
[02:20:05]
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THAT ONE?>> IT'S DOWN THE, WHAT'S THE ROAD?
>> ME I WAS INTERSECTION, THE PAIN AND WHERE THE LYNCHESTER MILL USED TO BE THE PAN MILLER.
>> THAT DIDN'T. THERE'S BEEN A PREVIOUS ATTEMPT THAT DIDN'T WORK.
THE RIGHTS AND FARM IS IN TOWN LIMITS.
I HAVE A MAP THAT GENE HARRIS GAVE ME THAT SHOWS THAT PART OF THAT LAND AND I DIDN'T KNOW THIS.
HE WANTED ME TO KNOW. YOUR LINE THERE DOES NOT END THE PROPERTY LINE FOR THE TOWN OF PRESTON.
IT ACTUALLY GOES INTO THE RIGHTS AND FARM.
THE OTHER SECOND TOPIC IS WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A SCAM.
BUT YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND, A GUY NAMED BILL FERGUSON.
HE IS A MAN THAT IS CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR A SOLAR COMPANY.
>> HE PUSHED THROUGH THIS SOLAR GRAB AND DID IT WHILE HE'S CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR A SOLAR COMPANY.
NOT THIS SOLAR COMPANY, BUT A BIG SOLAR COMPANY, WHICH I THINK IS UNETHICAL.
IT'S MARKET. NOW, THE ETHICS BOARD DIDN'T FEEL THAT WAY.
SECOND THING YOU HAVE TO REALIZE IS THAT SENATOR FELDMAN FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY, THIS WAS HIS COMMITTEE THAT HAD TO PROVE THIS SOLAR BILL.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ITSELF, THE COUNTY COUNCIL SAID, WE DON'T WANT THIS BILL.
MARYVILL ASSOCIATION COUNTY SAID, WE DON'T WANT THIS BILL.
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT IT.
MACO SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT IT. BUT THEY PASSED IT ANYWAY.
BASICALLY, IT'S ANOTHER THING WHERE YOU DO WHAT WE TELL YOU, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.
THESE SOLAR FARMS COULD HAVE BEEN LOCATED ON THE TOP OF ALL THOSE PARKING LOTS, AND THERE'S THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PARKING LOTS IN MONTGOMERY, PRINCE GEORGE'S, BALTIMORE COUNTY, BALTIMORE CITY.
THEY CAN PUT THEM THERE. THEY CAN PUT THEM ON THE ROOFS SO THERE'S BIG BOX STORES AND THERE'S URBAN AREAS.
THEY CAN PUT THEM ON BROWNFIELDS, BUT THEY PURPOSELY TO STICK THEM ALL ON EASTERN SHORE, TO TAKE AWAY BEAUTIFUL FARMING.
ONE LAST THING THAT THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY IDEA IS I THOUGHT, AND I STILL THINK IT'S AN INCOME BASED PROGRAM.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF US COULD APPLY FOR IT EVEN IF YOU'RE ON DELMARVA THIRD ISSUE. WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING THAT.
CAN YOU BRING UP THE DESIGN OF ALL THE PANELS AND STUFF? BECAUSE I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHERE THEY WANT TO PUT THIS.
IS THAT ONE THAT HAD THE ROAD IN IT?
>> THAT'S IT. YOU MIGHT JUST SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
>> GOOD. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT HOW CONCERNED I AM ABOUT THE WORK IN THE BUILDING IN THE FARMERS, IN ROADS.
THERE IS A BUILD. HE SAID EARLIER IN THE BUILD, BUT HE'S NOT BUILD? WHERE IS THAT?
>> THERE'S A EQUIPMENT THAT CONCRETE BY THE BED.
>> DOES IT HAVE A ROOF AND SERVERS?
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THIS IS THE WAY THE FARM USED TO BE TILLED?
>> NO. BY THE WAY, MY FATHER USED TO TILL THIS FARM.
I USED TO TILL THIS DRIVE WITH MY FATHER DRIVE US. YOU KNOW WHERE YOU GOT STUCK?
>> I CAN'T SEE IT OVER HERE. IS THIS THE WOODS HERE?
>> THE WATER COMES AND MOVES ACROSS THE GROUND LIKE THIS.
HE'S SAYING, WELL, THE FARM NEED TO BE FILLED LIKE THIS.
WHAT I ASKED THEM TO DO AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT IS PUT THE GRASS WATERWAY IN THERE.
THE WATER TRACKS MOVES THIS WAY,
[02:25:01]
THAT'S THE WAY THE WATER WE USE [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS THE ROAD.I'M SEEING ANY PILES UNDER THE ROAD.
I'M SEEING ANY SALTY GROUND TO MAKE THE WORD RUN OFF.
I SEE WAS IT 16 FOOT ROAD? I SAID, A 30 FOOT BUFFER. YOU PLANT.
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS LOW GROUND RIGHT HERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE SURROUND IT WITH A SEVEN FOOT HIGH FENCE.
WE TESTIFIED THAT THE PANELS ARE 10 FEET TALL.
YOU DO THE MATH AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THESE THINGS.
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO PLANT TREES AND CROPS ALL AROUND THIS 30 FEET.
AS THESE TREES GROW, THEY FORM A ROOT MAP.
THE WATER IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET OFF THAT PROPERTY.
IT'S GOING TO FLOW BACK ON MICRO.
THAT'S WHERE I GO. I TAKE FRAME MYSELF HERE.
THE LAST POINT, MIKE I TOLD YOU, I'D BE QUICKER.
WHAT'S THE SOLUTION? LIKE I TOLD YOU, WHEN THOSE GUYS WERE SURVEYING THE PROPERTY, THEY COULD HAVE BROUGHT MR. RIGHTS IN [INAUDIBLE] THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK AREA PROPERTY THAT LOOKS RIGHT OVER IT.
THE COMPANY THAT WE COULD HAVE SET DOWN IN PROBLEM SOLVE THIS, AND NONE OF THIS WOULD BE NECESSARY.
BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.
>> I THINK IT'S ONE BEFORE IT.
>> THAT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO. IT'S SURROUNDED BY THREE SIDES OF TREES.
IT'S HIGHEST SANDY LOVE GROUND.
IT'S A LOT HIGHER METER LEAVE.
YOU PUT IT THERE. YOU GOT TREES.
YOU'VE GOT A FENCE ROW HERE. I UNDERSTAND.
WHEN I TALKED TO MR. ROB, I SAID WHY DON'T YOU PUT IT BACK TO YOU? I PUT THAT IN THE LETTER YOU ALL HAVE AS EXHIBIT.
HIS STATEMENT WAS THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO POINT.
THAT'S A POINT. THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY WANTED TO POINT.
THEN HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THEY RAN INTO PROBLEMS WITH THE QUAIL BUFFER PROGRAM.
I'VE GOT A QUAIL BUFFER PROGRAM.
TAKES ABOUT $100 ACRE. YOU DON'T GET MUCH AT IT.
I TALKED TO MR. BRIAN GOLD, WHO IS THE FARM SERVICE AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR.
I WENT TO THIS OFFICE AND TALKED ON THURSDAY.
I SAID, IS THIS QUAIL BUFFER PROGRAM CUT IN IN STONE? CAN YOU MODIFY IT AT SOME POINT? YOU GOT TO PAY BACK THE MONEY YOU GOT.
IT'S $100 AN ACRE. THEY DON'T NEED AN ACRE.
YOU NEED A QUARTER OF AN ACRE.
THEY CAN GET TO THAT BACK FIELD.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SOLUTION.
THAT'S WHAT PARKER REALLY IRRITATES ME.
IT'S ALL DONE, SURVEYS COMPLETED, AND YOU WALK IN HERE WITH HIS BIG CLIENT.
WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN, SOMETHING WE ALL COULD AGREE TO.
THEY CAN STILL PUTTING THAT BACK.
I'M ASKING YOU IF YOU CAN PROVE THAT I DON'T CARE.
THE CONDITION IS, IT'S GOT TO GET THAT BACK TO YOU.
I DON'T THINK THEY WANT IT THERE FOR ONE REASON. IT'S GOING TO COST MONEY.
YOU GOT THAT THING WITH THE BUFFER, YOU GOT TO RUN THE LINE A LITTLE FURTHER, BUT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SOLUTION.
THAT WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS WHOLE PROBLEM.
THAT WE DON'T TRY TO FIX PROBLEMS WE CAUSE PROBLEMS. WE'RE NOT TRANSPARENT.
YOU WALK IN AND YOU SEE PEOPLE OUT IN THE LAND WALKING AROUND.
I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE WALKING ON THE LAND.
I DON'T THINK MR. RIGHTSON LIKES THAT. BUT I DIDN'T GET ANY.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT I DID SAY MOTTER. I SENT ANOTHER LETTER YOU DON'T HAVE ON NOVEMBER THE 40.
THESE GUYS KNEW WHERE I STOOD, BUT THEY STILL RAM THROUGH.
IF I WANT MR. RIGHTSON TO GET HIS MONEY, HE COMES FROM A VERY GOOD FAMILY.
RIGHTSON FAMILY'S, ONE OF THE BEST FAMILIES IN PRESTON.
I WANT TO STAR COMPANY TO HAVE THE PLAN.
I JUST WENT BACK OR WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT IT OR IT'S NOT GOING TO PLOT WATER.
[02:30:06]
THEY DON'T HAVE FIRST. I'M SURE WHY DO YOU NEED DEFENSE BACK THERE, BUT I GUESS I GOT TO DO IT.APPARENT. I THINK THAT'S ALL THE POINTS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE.
I WANT TO STRESS WHEN YOU PUT ROADS AND FENCES, AND TREES, AND SHRUBS, AND A GENERATOR.
YOU WERE GOING TO BLOCK WATER.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A FUTURE PROBLEM.
THAT WATER IT'S GOING TO COME ON MY PROPERTY.
I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TO REALLY HAVE A GOOD FARM THERE.
I PUT IN THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM, TILE SYSTEM.
I GAVE PERMISSION FOR THE TIRE PRESTON TO DIG A DITCH COMING ACROSS MY PROPERTY, TO DRAIN THE WHOLE STR OF WEST PRESTON.
I DON'T SEE MY PROPERTY RUINED BECAUSE I'M JUST LIKE MR. RIGHTSON AND I'M TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING.
CAR I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU GET ANY QUESTIONS FROM ME?
>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT ON THE SITE PLAN. THE NEXT ONE DOWN.
I DO SEE THAT EXISTING QUAIL BUFFER THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
NOW YOU HAVE TO ASK HIM ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT CAN EASILY BEEN FIXED, AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. YOU GOT ONE?
>> NO. I DON'T KNOW. BEFORE YOU STEPPED DOWN, I DID HAVE A CONVERS I DID ASK THE COUNTY ABOUT THAT FLOODING ABOUT YOUR LETTER.
I FORGET. WHAT WAS THE COUNTY STANDPOINT ABOUT THAT FLOODING?
>> AS PART OF THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT DESIGN, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO TREAT THE TWO IN A 10 YEAR STORM.
ALL THE AREA WITHIN THE LIMIT OF DISTURBANCE, WHICH IS ABOUT 12.5 ACRES, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU SUBMIT A STORMWATER REPORT AND IN THAT STORMWATER REPORT, YOU DELINEATE THE DRAINAGE AREAS.
IN THIS CASE, THERE'S TWO SEPARATE DRAINAGE AREAS FOR THAT LOD.
THERE'S ONE THAT FLOWS THE FIRST ONE THAT'S DELINEATED IS THE ONE THAT FLOWS THAT MR. POUCHEK IS TALKING ABOUT IT FLOWS TO THE NORTH TOWARDS THE WHAT IS A STREAM BUFFER BACTERIA, BUT THERE'S SOME NON TIDAL WETLANDS.
THAT'S THE ONE AREA THAT IT DRAINS TO AND THE OTHER AREA IS TO THE NORTHWEST.
RUNNING THOSE CALCULATIONS, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO TREAT THE TWO AND 10 YEAR STORM, WHICH IT DOES.
THE ONLY PLACE WHERE IT EXCEEDS THE 10 YEAR STORM IS IN THE LOCATION DRAINING TOWARDS THE NORTH, BUT IF YOU WERE TO INCREASE THE TIME OF CONCENTRATION AND THE LENGTH BEYOND THE LIMITED DISTURBANCE, IT WOULD MEET THE STANDARD.
THERE IS NO INCREASE LEAVING THE SITE, THE PROPERTY, WHICH MEETS THE STANDARDS, THE TWO AND 10 YEAR STORM.
THE STORMWATER MANUAL REQUIRES ONLY THE TREATMENT OF THE TWO YEAR STORM AND OUR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS EXCEED THAT AND REQUIRE THE TWO AND THE 10 YEAR.
IT MEETS THE STANDARDS AND THE THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT ENVIRONMENT HAS SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION FOR HOW STORMWATER IS SUPPOSED TO BE TREATED FOR SOLAR PANELS, AND THEY MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS BASICALLY A NON ROOFTOP DISCONNECT CREDIT.
THAT'S THE SAME WAY THAT THE DRIVEWAY IS TREATED.
IF ALL THIS GETS PUT INTO PLACE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STORMWATER DESIGN AND THE STORMWATER REPORT THAT WAS SUBMITTED, I DON'T FORESEE ANY ISSUES WITH STORMWATER.
>> IT IS NOT GOING TO GET THROUGH THAT ROAD.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO GET THROUGH THE ROAD.
>> IT'S GOING TO DRAIN OFF THE ROAD, AND IT GETS TREATED.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO CREATE WITH ALL THOSE TREES.
>> WELL, THAT'S THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S WATER THAT MOVES ON TO THEIR SITE WOULD BE FROM YOUR PROPERTY BECAUSE THE HIGH POINT IS ALONG THAT PROPERTY LINE AND DRAINS INTO MR. RIGHTSON'S PROPERTY.
IF ANYTHING, IT'D BE WATER LEAVING YOUR PROPERTY ONTO HIS.
HONESTLY, FOR WHAT'S THERE NOW, I DON'T FORESEE UNLESS YOU WERE TO DEVELOP YOUR PROPERTY, I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUES WITH STORMWATER LEAVING YOUR SITE TO ENTER THIS AND BEING BACKED UP WHERE THAT PLANTING BUFFER IS.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU MAKE A ROAD, CAR IN THE FIELD.
IF YOU PUT CULVERTS UNDER THE ROAD, IT WOULD WORK.
>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.
>> BUT GRASS WATERWAY IT WOULD WORK.
BUT ON MY CONSTRUCTION FOUR OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW AND THOSE TREES GROW IN THE ROOT BARL MAKING A MASSIVE DAKROO EMISSION,
[02:35:03]
THAT'S GOING TO BLOCK WORK. FOR MY PRO.>> WELL, THE WAY THAT THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IS DESIGNED IS TO INFILTRATE INTO THE GROUND.
HONESTLY, WHEN THERE'S A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS COMING OFF THOSE PANELS, IT'S CONSIDERED TO BE TREATED IF YOU HAVE AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF DISTANCE ON THE GROUND TO DRAIN.
WHATEVER YOUR SOLAR PANEL WITH IS, IF IT'S EIGHT FEET, YOU'LL ONLY EIGHT FOOT TO DISCONNECT.
IT'S THE SAME WAY THAT'S TREATED ON A ROAD.
IN THIS CASE, THIS GRAVEL ENTRANCE, AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THAT 16 FOOT OF VEGETATED NON ROOFTOP DISCONNECT, THEN IT'S TREATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STORMWATER DESIGN MANUAL.
THAT MANUAL HAS BEEN THE SAME SINCE 2000.
THERE'S BEEN MODIFICATIONS OVER TIME, UP UNTIL 2009, THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL TREATMENT METHODS THAT WERE PUT IN THE MANUAL, BUT IT MEETS IT MEETS THE DESIGN STANDARDS AND MEETS OUR STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS.
>> IF LET ME ASK THIS CORRECT.
IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE RESOLVED.
THERE'S GOING TO BE MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THAT OR SOMETHING.
LIKE SAY HE JUST STARTS FLOODING OUT, HE'S CALLING YOU GUYS.
HE CAN'T RUN OFF ON SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> THE WAY THAT THIS WORKS IS NATURAL, BUT THEY STORMWATER FROM THIS PROJECT CANNOT INCREASE DISCHARGE LEAVING THE SITE.
>> IT'S NOT. IT MEETS THE STANDARDS.
NOW, IF WATER IS COMING FROM ELSEWHERE ONTO RIGHTSON'S PROPERTY AND THEN IT'S BACKING UP BACK ONTO THAT PROPERTY.
WHAT THEY DEVELOPED AND DESIGNED MEETS THE STANDARDS AND BEING TREATED ON SITE.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY, AS A GOOD NEIGHBOR, AND YOU STILL HAVE GROUND TO TILL AROUND, THIS COULD BE A 200 FOOT SETBACK.
THE GOAL IS GOING TO BE THAT YOU STILL HAVE PROPER DRAINAGE SO YOU CAN TILL IT.
BECAUSE I DOUBT YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE 200 FOOT OF BUFFER THERE WHERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE PLANTING.
IF THERE'S AN ISSUE, THEN CERTAINLY BY ALL MEANS, ALWAYS CALL INTO OUR OFFICE.
A LOT OF TIMES IT'S MORE OF AN EROSION SEDIMENT CONTROL ISSUE THAN A STORMWATER ISSUE.
USUALLY, WHEN THAT'S RESOLVED, THAT USUALLY TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM.
BUT, IT MEETS THE DESIGN STANDARDS.
>> MEETS THE DESIGN STANDARDS TODAY.
>> META IS TELLING YOU IF THIS DOES PASS, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, THERE IS A WAY TO RESOLVE IT.
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS BUILT, YOU'RE PLOTTED OUT.
>> IT'S BETTER TO BE PROACTIVE.
IT COULD HAVE EASILY PUT A GRASS WATERWAY IN.
>> FACT YOU'RE COVERED BY A FARM SERVICE ADMINISTRATION WILL PAY TO PUT THE GRASS WATER AWAY I UNDERSTAND.
THERE'S AN EASY WATER I MOVE HYDRAULICALLY UNDER, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING BLOCKED BUILDING UP. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> REALLY DID. ANALOGY FOUND OUT THAT IF I WANTED TO PUT FOR IN THE SOLAR PANELS, WHICH I'D NEVER DO.
IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED COEXISTING.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.
>> I'M ALL FOR THEM DOING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO TO DOING THE WRONG PLACE.
PUT IT BACK THERE WHERE YOU SAID THEY WANTED TO PUT IT.
THEY TOLD ME THEY WANTED TO PUT IT THERE.
THE REST OF THE STUFF, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST DESIGNED FOR THEM TO SAVE MONEY.
>> THAT'S ALL. IT'S ABOUT MONEY AND POWER.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK HIM. WHY WAS IT PUT THERE INSTEAD OF THE BACKFIELD?
>> IT'S THE INDUSTRIAL THERE, NOT THE BARB ROLE, SO A LOT DUE TO THE ZONING.
BECAUSE THE INSTITUTIONAL OR THE INDUSTRIAL ZONING IS MORE APT TO HAVE A SOLAR THAN A B REASON.
>> MR. GLENN, YOU GOT ANY MORE YOU WANT TO ASK YOURSELF? BECAUSE I GOT THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT'S REALLY CHOMPING AT THE BIT GET UP THERE.
>> COME ON. I GOT TO GIVE YOU THE OATH THOUGH.
BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO SPEAK.
>> RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU HERE BY SALMON DECLARE AND AFFIRM UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE STATEMENT YOU MAKE AND THE TESTIMONY YOU GIVE IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? I KNOW WHAT MR. GLENN IS TALKING ABOUT WITH FLOODING BACK THERE.
THERE'S PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH AND AFTER BIG STORMS TO SEE IT, SO ESPECIALLY IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH THERE ON A DAILY BASIS.
>> WE'RE ALMOST 2.5 YEARS INTO THIS PROJECT, NEGOTIATING THIS PROJECT.
[02:40:04]
JACK. ROLAND HAS BEEN A GREAT COMMUNICATOR.ECA HAS BEEN A GREAT ACCOMMODATOR.
THEY HAVE GIVEN ME GREAT COOPERATION IN CRAFTING A LEASE OF A SECTION OF MY FARM THAT'LL GIVE ME A GUARANTEED INCOME, ALLOW ME TO SUBSIDIZE THE RENTAL, OF THE BALANCE OF THE FARM TO MY FARMER.
HE'S BEING DISPLACED OFF PART OF THE FARM, BUT TO BE FAIR TO HIM, I RENTING THE BALANCE OF THE TILLABLE ACREAGE ON THE FARM TO HIM AT A SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNT, WHICH HELPS MAKE UP FOR WHAT HE'S LOSING.
HE'S A NICE GUY. HIS FATHER TILLED THE FARM AFTER GLEN'S FATHER GAVE UP THE LEASE ON THE FARM.
HE'S SMART GUY, GOOD GUY, YOUNG, TRYING HARD.
BUT I THINK WHAT GLENN DOESN'T REALIZE IS, I THINK HOLT COME TO HIM AND TOLD HIM THAT THIS IS DONE.
ONE, I DIDN'T HAVE A PHONE NUMBER FOR HIM BECAUSE PHONE BOOK, WHAT'S A PHONE BOOK? TWO, THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL.
I HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ECA TO LEASE THE FARM TO THEM BECAUSE THAT'S NOT FINAL UNTIL THEY GET A PERMIT PULLED.
WE DON'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT UNTIL CAROLINE COUNTY SAYS, GO AHEAD.
I'M NOT GOING TO TELL PEOPLE THAT I'VE GOT A DEAL TO BUILD THIS FARM WHEN I DON'T.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I UNDERSTAND THAT.
THIS IS A LIFELONG DREAM FOR ME.
I LEARNED ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY IN THE THIRD GRADE IN PRESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I DESIGNED WITH MY LITTLE BIG FAT PENCIL, A LITTLE SOLAR PROJECT THAT WOULD POWER A COMMUNITY.
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH PHOTOVOLTAICS.
BUT I'M SEEING SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP KNOCK A LITTLE OFF ELECTRIC BILLS HOPEFULLY.
OUR GOVERNOR HAS SAID WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE DOWN THOSE NASTY COAL PLANTS AND DP AND LSS.
WE GOT TO GET ELECTRICITY FROM SOMEWHERE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT ON THE SPOT MARKET AND BUY THIS EXPENSIVE ELECTRICITY FROM SOMEWHERE AT WHATEVER PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO TURN THE POWER OFF TO THESE PEOPLE.
>> THE WELFARE FOR THE GOVERNOR.
>> I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. INTERESTING.
>> THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID WE'RE GOING TO MAKE UP FOR IT SOMEHOW.
>> I PAID FOR IT. THAT'S A POLITICAL.
>> IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ANYBODY HAS GOT YOU GOT FROM MR. RIGHTSON?
>> BUT THIS IS GOING WHERE I WANT ON MY FARM FROSTS ME A LITTLE BIT THAT'S MY NEIGHBOR SAYS, YOU CAN'T DO WITH YOUR FARM, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WHERE.
I KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DRAINAGE ON THAT FARM GLEN'S GOOD FARMER, TAKE NOTHING AWAY FROM HIM.
TAUGHT HIM WELL, WORKED FOR GLENN, GROWN WATER MES, WORKED FOR HIS SISTER, GROWN CATALPAS.
I MEAN, CUCUMBERS, AND I KNEW I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH CUCUMBERS.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD TO YOUR SIDE OF THE CASE? I KNOW YOU'RE NOT OPPOSITION. YOU'RE FOR IT, SO.
>> I'M FOR IT. THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
IT'S TAKEN US ALMOST 2.5 YEARS TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
>> THANKS FOR CONSIDERING OUR PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN OPPOSITION THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TALK? QUESTIONS?
>> GO ON. I'M GOING TO WAIT TILL THEY COME BACK UP.
>> ANYTHING YOU NEED TO SAY, PATRICK?
YOU GUYS CAN COME UP AND DO YOUR CLUES AND STATEMENT TO THEM IF YOU WANT, IF YOU HIT SOME OF THE KEY CRITERIA STUFF.
[02:45:02]
IT'S BEEN A WHILE I THINK YOU'RE HERE I THINK YOU'RE HITTING ROUGH THE APP.
I THINK I WAS HITTING THERE FIRST.
>> I READ THROUGH THE ADDITION.
>> IS THERE MORE CRITERIA WE GOT TO GO THROUGH ONCE WE DO THIS. WE'RE JUST DOING.
>> NO. IT'S THE STANDARD SPECIAL EXCEPTION CRITERIA.
THERE'S ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER 17546, BUT I THINK THOSE ARE ALL REQUIREMENTS THAT THE PROJECT HAS TO MEET.
THEY AREN'T FINDINGS THAT THE BOARD HAS TO MAKE AS PART OF THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
AT LEAST IT'S NOT AS THEY'RE APPLYING FOR IT FOR LIKE SETBACK I THINK THEY SAID THEY'RE NOT SEEKING THINGS LIKE SETBACK MODIFICATION.
>> YOU GUYS CAN DO YOUR CLOSING STATEMENTS.
>> FIRST, I WANT TO THANK, MR. Z DECIPHERING MY STORMER MANAGEMENT REPORT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
WE'RE NOT INCREASING RUNOFF FROM THE SITE.
ACTUALLY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, WE HAVE TO MODEL THE PRECONDITION IS ACTUALLY VERY CONSERVATIVE.
SO IN REALITY IF I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO MODEL THIS ROAD CROP WOULD ACTUALLY BE REDUCING THE RUNOFF FROM THE SITE.
THIS IS TYPE A SOILS, AND FARMERS IN THIS ROOM KNOW WHAT TYPE A SOILS IS, IT'S LIKE A SPONGE.
IT'S GOING TO SUCK THE WATER RIGHT UP.
THE CHANCE OF ANY WATER BACKING UP UNTIL A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY IS MILL.
>> I'LL FURTHER ADD THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY TO STAY ENGAGED, WITH THE COMMUNITY.
IN THE EVENT THAT THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, THERE'LL BE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO CALL.
IF MR. POUCHEK HAS ANY CONCERNS, HE CAN MAKE A PHONE CALL DIRECTLY TO US OR TO WHOEVER IS, OPERATING THE FACILITY FOR US.
THERE WILL BE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO GET NOTIFIED IF HE HAS ANY CONCERNS ALONG THE WAY.
LIKE YOU SAID, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BECOME ESCALATED TO THE COUNTY LEVEL OR EROSION CONTROL SPECIALIST AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
THERE CAN BE CONVERSATION THAT WE ENGAGE.
>> LIKE YOU'VE HEARD HIS CONCERNS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S SAYING.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I ALSO WANT TO JUST VALIDATE, THAT MR. HASTINGS IS 20+ YEARS.
>> OF ENGINEERING AND UNDERSTANDING.
I MYSELF HAVE 30 YEARS OF ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE.
WE UNDERSTAND HOW WATER FLOWS OFF THE LAND.
YES, WE CONTEMPLATE ALL OF THESE CONCERNS.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO AS ABS ANYBODY'S ENJOYMENT OF THEIR EXISTING PROPERTY.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DESIGNED EFFECTIVELY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOES IT WITH SAFEGUARDS.
THERE'S ALWAYS FACTOR OF SAFETIES THAT GO INTO OUR DESIGNS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE CONSTANT MAINTENANCE OF THE PROJECT, BOTH ON A LANDSCAPING PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS ON A SOLAR PERSPECTIVE.
THAT WE PEOPLE ENGAGED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO COME AND INSPECT THE SITE IF THEY SEE PUDDLING THAT IS CREATING A BIG ISSUE. WE'LL ADDRESS IT.
THAT THEY'LL BE LANDSCAPERS THERE TO BOW THE LAWN, TO CHECK ON THE PLANTINGS, TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SURVIVING.
WE HAVE GUARANTEES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE THE COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT THOSE PLANTINGS ARE WORKING.
IF THEY'RE FLOODING, IF THEY'RE CREATING A BIG POND, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK FOR THAT.
THEY'RE NOT DESIGNED TO BE WETLAND PLANTS.
WITH THE SOILS THAT THEY HAVE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LOT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE WATER BECAUSE THOSE SOILS ARE WELL DRAINED.
THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TAKEN GREAT CARE IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S DESIGNED HERE.
I GUESS I'LL JUST CLOSE IT WITH THAT.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
>> I HAVE MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED EARLY, SO I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME STUFF RIGHT HERE.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYTHING I'VE GOT TO SAY IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE SITTING AT THE TABLE ENGINEERING AND DESIGNING THIS.
BUT HAVE YOU PUT ANY THOUGHT INTO THE FACT OF A GRASS WATERWAY NOW TO HELP MOVE WATER FROM A TO B OR NOT TO BE ABLE TO PULL SOMEWHERE.
BECAUSE IT'S A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER TO DO IT BEFORE THIS PROJECT GETS STARTED THAN IT IS AFTER THOSE PANELS ARE UP THERE. I'M JUST ASKING.
>> I CAN HONESTLY SAY A GRASS WATERWAY IS NOT NEEDED.
BUT IF YOU PUT A GRASS WATERWAY IN, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU CHANNELIZED FLOW.
WHEN YOU CHANNELIZE FLOW, YOU INCREASE THE RUNOFF OFF SITE.
WHAT YOU'RE ENDED UP DOING BY PUTTING ALL THE WATER ON ONE SPOT, SHOOTING OFF SITE,
[02:50:02]
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A POINT DISCHARGE THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE RUNNING MORE WATER OFF SITE THAN IT IS TODAY.>> THE SITE IS CONFIGURED IN A WAY THAT HAS A NATURAL SWELL TO IT, AND IT CONVEYS ITS DOWN TOWARDS THAT NORTHWESTERN AREA.
THERE'S ALSO A CULVERT THAT MR. WRIGHT MISSES RANSON ALSO MANAGES.
THIS LOCATION HERE IS A CULVERT THAT DRAINS WATER INTO THE WETLAND THAT'S ACROSS THE WAY.
THERE'S LOTS OF NATURAL FEATURES THAT WE'VE SPENT TIME WORKING WITH MR. WRIGHT AND TO UNDERSTAND THE LAND.
WHEN I DECIDED TO BE AN ENGINEER, MY GRANDFATHER, WHO WAS A LONG LIFE OR CARPENTER SAID, LISTEN, JUST DO ME ONE THING.
I'M SAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WORK WITH THEIR HANDS, BUT JUST GET OUT OF YOUR DAMN CHAIR AND GO SEE THE SITE, AND SO WE DID.
WE WENT OUT THERE. WE SPENT TIME TO UNDERSTAND THAT LAND.
YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
YOU CAN'T JUST DESIGN IT FROM YOUR DESKTOP.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS VERY CLOSELY.
THERE'S SOME NATURAL FEATURES HERE THAT ALREADY WORK IN THE FASHION THAT MR. POUCHEK IS ASKING FOR US TO CONVEY.
BY CONSOLIDATING IT, BY PUTTING IT IN SOME MANNED WATERWAY IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
AS TED IDENTIFIES IT COULD POTENTIALLY EXASPERATE ISSUES.
>> NOTHING. WE'RE HERE TO DO A CERTAIN JOB.
LIKE MR. BUTLER. I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THE GREEN ENERGY I LOVE SOLAR.
I HAD SOLAR AT MY PREVIOUS HOME.
BUT I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THE STATE OF MARYLAND'S FORCING STUFF DOWN OUR THROAT WITH THE GREEN ENERGY ACT.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO SMALL PROJECTS THIS WAY, BUT I DO SIT HERE WITH A BIT OF NEGATIVITY IN MY HEAD TOWARDS ANY OF THIS, MAINLY BECAUSE THE FACT THAT IT'S BEING FORCED DOWN OUR THROATS, WE'RE BEING MADE TO LOSE A LOT OF OUR PRIME FARMLAND.
EVERY LANDOWNER HAS THE RIGHT TO DO WITH HIS PROPERTY, WHAT HE WANTS TO DO WITH IT.
THAT'S ONE THING ABOUT BEING A LANDOWNER.
AS LONG AS WE PAY OUR TAXES, WE CAN DO THE THINGS, MOST OF THE TIME, WE CAN DO THE THINGS AS LONG AS IT'S WITHIN THE RULES OF EACH COUNTY.
IF I'VE SAT UP HERE AND ACTED LIKE I WAS DISTANT OR ANYTHING, IT'S JUST BECAUSE I JUST I HAVE A BAD TASTE FOR THE SOLDER.
LIKE I SAID, I LOVED IT AT MY OWN PERSONAL HOME.
DID A GREAT JOB FOR ME, BUT I THINK THIS HAS A POTENTIAL, THE PLANTINGS ARE IN PLACE, THE ROADWAY IS IN PLACE.
INSTEAD OF DOING OVERHEAD LINES FROM THE TRANSFORMER AREA OUT TO THE MAIN FEED, YOU'RE GOING ALL UNDERGROUND.
I LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE ONE THAT MR. BUTLER IS TALKING ABOUT THAT'S JUST OUTSIDE ORIGINALLY, THEY GOT ALL THE PANELS IN NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S HARDLY THE WIDTH OF THIS BUILDING AND THERE'S FOUR POLES PUT UP.
I'M LIKE THAT JUST TOOK AWAY FROM IT RIGHT THERE IF THEY HAD GONE UNDERGROUND.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S GOING UNDERGROUND TO FEED.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING'S BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT.
I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT NEIGHBORING LAND HOMEOWNERS FEEL THAT THEY REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE LOOP, SO TO SPEAK.
I KNOW THAT UNTIL IT GETS TO A CERTAIN POINT, YOU'RE NOT REALLY REQUIRED TO, BUT AS A GOOD STEWARD TO THE COMMUNITY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE FOR A LETTER, SOMETHING, PHONE IT'S HARD TO GET PHONE NUMBERS, AND MAYBE THEY WERE.
BUT, EVEN FROM THE ONSET OF THIS, FROM THE SURVEY TIME, HEY, WE ARE COMPANY X Y Z, AND WE ARE PROPOSING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP THIS LAND IN SUCH A MANNER.
COMMUNICATION IS A BIG THING AND I'VE LEARNED THAT SITTING ON THIS BOARD FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE IN YOUR POSITION WHEN THE MEETING WAS OVER WITH, GET UP AND HAND OUT PERSONALLY HAND OUT THEIR PHONE NUMBERS, HEY, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, GIVE ME A CALL.
THAT HELPS EASE THE NEIGHBORING LAND OWNERS MIND A LITTLE BIT.
THAT HEY, THEY WILL BE ACCESSIBLE, NOT WAIT TILL YOU GOT IT DONE AND THERE'S A SIGN UP AND I GOT TO GO AROUND THERE AND DRIVE UP THE LANE TO FIGURE OUT A PHONE NUMBER TO GIVE SOMEBODY A CALL TO.
LET SAY, WE HAVE A JOB TO DO AND WE WILL DO IT PROFESSIONALLY.
[02:55:05]
>> WE DID MAKE AN EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE DID HOST A COMMUNITY MEETING, AND THEN WE ALSO HOSTED A MEETING WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING, WHICH WAS A PUBLIC MEETING, AND IT WAS NOTICED. WE'VE TRIED.
WE DIDN'T GET THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE WERE HOPING TO.
NO, WE DIDN'T GO DOOR TO DOOR KNOCKING.
WE DIDN'T GO EARLY, AS MR. POUCHEK WOULD HAVE LIKED.
BUT WE DID MAKE AN EFFORT AND NOT APOLOGETIC ON THAT.
WE CERTAINLY DON'T LIKE PEOPLE FEELING BAD ABOUT OUR PROJECT.
BUT WE'VE TRIED VERY HARD TO MAKE IT AS UNIMPACTFUL ON THE COMMUNITY AS WE COULD AND GAINING AS MUCH INPUT EARLY ON THAT WE COULD.
>> I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT PANELS IN THAT CHAIN LINK FENCE.
>> YES. THAT DOES START TO HIDE IT WHY THE BUFFERING ZONE IS GROWING BECAUSE YOU'RE REQUIRED TO ONLY PLANT AND AN EXPENSE TO PLANT A TREE THAT'S ALREADY 12 FEET TALL IS HERE.
BUT THERE IS CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT THEY'RE LEGITIMATE.
I CAN'T SAY FOR YOUR PANELS IN YOUR PROJECT.
BUT THE ONE THAT'S GOING ON IN GREENSBORO RIGHT NOW, THEY PUT A LOT OF ROADWAYS IN AND RECENTLY, WE'VE HAD OVER FOUR INCH OF RAIN IN THE GREENSBORO AREA WITHIN A WEEK.
THOSE ROADWAYS ARE FLOODED OUT BECAUSE THEY MOVED A LOT OF TOPSOIL.
THEY DIDN'T TAKE IT OFF SITE. THEY DIDN'T HAUL IT OUT.
THEY JUST MOVED TRYING TO MAKE A MORE LEVEL AREA SO THAT I ASSUME SO THAT THE SOLAR PANELS DIDN'T DO THIS AS THEY WANT TO CROSS.
BUT THE ROADWAYS ARE UNDERWATER.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DRAINAGE IS LIKE ON THAT ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE THE SOIL CONDITIONS ARE LIKE THERE, BUT I KNOW THAT I NEVER SAW WATER LAY ON THAT ONE LIKE THAT WHEN IT WAS BEING TILLED.
THERE'S A LOT OF VALID POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP HERE.
I HOPE THAT THE ENGINEERING IS GREAT AND THE CONCERNS THREE YEARS FROM NOW A GO. IT'S OKAY.
>> THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT BEFORE WE GO INTO DELIBERATION.
I SAID A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT BEFORE, I DESPISE AFTER YOU FIND OUT SOME MORE, LIKE I SAID, ELECTRIC BILL WENT FROM 300 BUCKS TO OVER 1,000 AND I DID NOTHING DIFFERENT WHEN I'M ON DEL MAR.
I KNOW A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THE HELL THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILL COME NEXT ONE.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THE CAL BARN SOLAR PANEL DIRECTLY AFFECTS ONE PERSON I KNOW WHO IS A MY ACCOUNTANT.
ELECTOR BILL DID NOT INCREASE HARDLY AT ALL.
WHO AM I TO SAY THAT I KNOW THERE'S PROBABLY PEOPLE IN PRESTON THAT ARE GOING TO BE FACED WITH THIS COME WINTERTIME.
HOW CAN YOU DENY IT WHEN THEY CAN HELP THEIR FRICKING ELECTRIC BILL WHEN THEY'RE ON A FRICKING FIXED INCOME AND LOOK THIS IS A POOR COUNTY.
THAT'S WHY I SAY, SOME SOLAR PANELS ARE LIKE ELECTRIC CARS.
THEY'RE FOR SOME PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE NOT FOR OTHERS.
BUT IF YOU GUYS WANT TO MOVE IN DELIBERATION.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT VOTE WITH OUR HEARTS OR OUR HEADS.
WE HAVE TO VOTE WITH THE RULES OR GIVE THAT AT THE SAME TIME.
>> HOW CAN YOU TELL MR. WRIGHT?
>> HE CAN'T DO WHAT HE WANTS TO.
>> EXACTLY. THAT'S WHY I SAID IT'S CRAZY TO FIND OUT, LIKE MR. POUCHEK SAID.
EVEN IF HE WANTED TO SELL OR LEASE HIS LAND OUT NOW, HE COULDN'T DO IT.
>> BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MISINFORMED ABOUT HOW BAD THE SOLAR STUFF'S GOING TO GET.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF UNFORTUNATELY, FOR YOU GUYS, AND YOUR COMPETITIVE COMPANIES OUT THERE.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT SUCH A GREAT THING BECAUSE SOMETHING POPS UP ON THERE, WHETHER IT'S TRUE OR NOT, PEOPLE JUST START TO SHARE IT.
[03:00:01]
>> NO. BUT I'M JUST SAYING FOR THEM AND OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THINGS.
BUT LIKE I SAID, BESIDE MYSELF, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UNDER IT'S BEING FORCED TO US.
THEY WANT TO SHUT DOWN POWER PLANTS, AND FIND ENERGY ELSEWHERE AND IT'S COSTING MORE MONEY, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION.
THEY'RE GOING TO PUT UP SOLAR SO OUR ELECTRIC CAN GET CHEAPER, AND IT'S NOT NOTHING SHOWING THAT FACTOR AT THIS POINT.
YOU GUYS SYSTEM, IF PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT AND BECOME AWARE OF IT, EVEN IF IT'S MINIMUM SAVINGS, IT'S SAVINGS.
IT MIGHT BE ENOUGH SAVINGS TO GIVE THEM PART OF THEIR GROCERIES THAT MONTH.
THAT'S THE WAY THE WORLD HAS GOTTEN TO.
UNFORTUNATELY, ELDERLY PEOPLE HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN FOOD OR THE MEDICINE THAT THEY NEED.
>> OR TURNING THEIR HEAT ON AND OUR GOVERNMENT'S IGNORING THIS FACTOR.
>> ANYWAY, I THINK WE NEED TO QUIT BEATING ON THIS, AND WE NEED TO GO INTO DELIBERATION AND WE NEED TO PUT AN ANSWER OUT HERE FOR EVERYBODY.
>> BEFORE I GO INTO DELIBERATIONS, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ANYBODY WANTS TO SAY?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
LET'S TAKE LIKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO STRAIGHT INTO DELIBERATIONS.
[03:08:07]
WE'RE GOING TO RESTART THE MEETING.WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND JUST GO INTO DELIBERATION.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO TOUCH BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY GO INTO DELIBERATION?
>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD BEFORE WE GO ON?
>> NOW WE'RE IN THE DELIBERATION PART.
MEMBERS MAY SPEAK WE ASK A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.
YOU HAVE TO HELP ME WITH SOME OF THESE NOTES.
A WRITTEN APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED. WHAT EXHIBIT IS IT?
>> THE HEARING WAS DULY ADVERTISED, TIMED RECORD APRIL 2ND AND 9TH OF 2025 EXHIBIT 1.
THE BOARD HAS CONSIDERED THE APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES AND REQUIREMENTS AND DETERMINED THAT GRANTING OF A SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL OR AN ENDANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, OR GENERAL WELFARE. WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
[03:10:07]
>> WELL, I WILL SAY THAT THEY DID TESTIFY THAT THE GATE TO THE AREA WOULD BE NUMBER CODED OR SOME WAY THAT THEY DID NOT NEED A KEY AND THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.
THERE'S NO BATTERY STORAGE THAT'S GOING TO BE ON SITE.
THAT'S ANOTHER POSITIVE THING.
>> I'M JUST CONCERNED ON THIS WORD.
MR. BLUECHECK WAS TALKING ABOUT.
>> WE'LL GET TO THAT. LET ME GET TO MAYBE B. I GUESS THAT WOULD BE [INAUDIBLE].
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT, MIKE?
>> WELL, I MADE MY OPINION KNOWN ABOUT IT THAT WITH ASKING, HAD ANY REAL THOUGHT BEEN PUT INTO A WATERWAY TO HELP MANAGE THE WATER.
WE HAVE HEARD TESTIMONY AND THERE'S 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND 24 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH MOVING WATER UNLESS IT'S COMING OUT OF GARDEN HOSE, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS INDICATED TO US IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM, MATT AND CORRECT ME IF I'M GOING TO REACH OUT TO YOU.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO, BUT I'M I'M GOING TO ASK IF THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT ARISES, EVEN 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, IS THERE A MEANS TO GO BACK AND ASK THEM TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE?
>> WE WOULD HAVE TO VERIFY IF IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVED PLAN.
IF IT WAS, THEN IT'S A POINT THAT WE'LL HAVE TO INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN DO TO MITIGATE.
>> CAN WE CAN WE PUT SOMETHING IN A MOTION.
>> WELL, MARYLAND LAW STIPULATES THAT YOU CAN'T FLOOD SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY?
>> CORRECT. I KNOW THAT. YOU CAN'T DIVERT.
>> IF IT BECOMES A PROBLEM, WE HAVE TO RESOLVE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK THAT THAT BEING SAID, WE DON'T NEED TO ADD THAT TO OUR MOTION IF WE DECIDE THAT THIS IS GOING TO GO PASS.
MARYLAND STATE LAW IS GOING TO COVER THE FACT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT THAT ESPECIALLY MR. BLUECHECK, AND I DO BELIEVE THERE'S ANOTHER COUPLE HERE THAT HAS CONCERNS.
I THINK THERE'S MORE THAN JUST MR. BLUECHECK THAT HAS CONCERNS, EVEN THOUGH HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THE WATER AND MAKE IT SURE IT IS MANAGED AND DOES NOT BACK UP INTO THEM.
BUT IF THERE'S LAWS FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND, THAT HELP PROTECT ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO ANYTHING.
BUT I HAVE CONCERNS, MAINLY BECAUSE IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT I HAVE THE CONCERNS.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW THE PROPERTY.
OTHER THAN BEING ABLE TO SAY THAT THERE'S TWO PEOPLE HERE THAT'S TESTIFIED THAT THE ENGINEERING PLAN SHOWS THAT THE WATER WILL NOT FLOW FROM THEM OVER TO THE NEIGHBORS.
>> THE ONE LAND OWNER SAYS IT'S ALREADY BACKING UP ON HIM.
>> CAN'T USE THAT COVER. HE DIDN'T STAND UP AND TESTIFY.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS STANDING IN THERE TO TESTIFY. [LAUGHTER]
I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT EITHER.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE COVERED IN THE PLAN AND THERE'S A CHANCE FOR CORRECTION IF IT'S PASSED.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE. WILL NOT BE INJURIOUS TO THE PEACEFUL USE AND ENJOYMENT OF OTHER PROPERTY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WILL NOT SUBSTANTIALLY DIMINISH OR IMPAIR PROPERTY VALUES.
WE NEVER HEARD ANY TESTIMONY ABOUT DIMINISHING OR IMPROVE ANYTHING WITH PROPERTY VALUES.
[03:15:10]
IF SOMEBODY ON A FIXED INCOME AND THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT.>> WELL, THERE'S A 200 FOOT BUFFER.
THEN THERE'S A 30 FOOT PLANNING BUFFER THAT'S IN THERE.
AS FAR AS PROPERTY VALUES, WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY TESTIMONY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN SAY POSITIVELY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THAT IT WILL OR WILL NOT HURT PROPERTY VALUES.
>> THE 200 FOOT BUFFER IS INSIDE THE CHAIN FENCE.
IT'S NOT ON THE OUTSIDE, AND SOMEBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT FARMING AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT?
>> NO, THE 200 FOOT BUFFER GOES FROM THE PROPERTY LINE.
IF YOU LOOK UP THERE THE DARK LINE BETWEEN WHAT YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW BETWEEN BLUECHECK THAT'S STILL TILLABLE LAND BETWEEN THERE AND THE BUFFER.
>> HE'S TALKING ON THIS SIDE OF THE FENCE?
>> YEAH. THAT'S 160 FEET ACCORDING TO THIS RIGHT HERE.
>> THEN YOU HAVE THERE'S 30 FOOT OF BUFFER, CORRECT? THAT'S THERE, THAT'S PLANTED BUFFER, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE REST OF IT MAKES UP FROM THE FENCED AREA TO THE EDGE OF THE PANELS.
>> IT'S 160 FEET FROM HERE TO THE FENCE.
THEN THE TREES ARE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FENCE.
>> I'M JUST SAYING THEY STILL HAVE TO HAVE A 200 FOOT BUFFER.
THE 200 FOOT BUFFER FROM THE PANELS TO THE PROPERTY LINE.
THERE'S STILL TILLABLE ACRES AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THAT IF IT'S CHOSEN TO BE TILLED.
>> WHERE'S THE 200 FOOT COMING FROM?
I SEE WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, KEVIN.
>> I DID RE SCALED, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS.
>> WELL, YOU CAN'T GET TO THAT 200 FOOT.
>> NO, THAT'S GOING LIKE BETWEEN THAT FENCE AND THE SOLAR PANELS IS?
>> IT'S LESS THAN THAT. YEAH, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> WE'RE A DRESSING PROPERLY VALUES.
>> LIKE I SAID, THERE'S BEEN NO TESTIMONY EITHER WAY.
WE HAVE TO JUST GO WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO TESTIMONY TO SAY IT'S GOING TO HURT PROPERTY VALUE OR IT'S GOING TO NOT HURT PROPERTY VALUE.
>> SAME WITH BEING INJURIOUS TO PEACEFUL USE.
>> THERE'S NO NOISE. THEY TESTIFIED TO THE [INAUDIBLE] LEVELS OF WHAT THE INVERTERS WILL BE.
BASICALLY, THERE'S NO NOISE AND IF THE PANELS DON'T REFLECT THE SOUND AND CAUSE A GLARE, THEN THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING ELSE GOING ON.
IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT INJURIOUS TO THE LIFESTYLE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF BEING ABLE TO ENJOY YOUR OWN PROPERTY.
>> WILL NOT IMPEDE THE NORMAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY FOR USES PERMITTED IN THE ZONING DISTRICT.
>> WHAT WAS IT ZONED, INDUSTRIAL?
>> YEAH. THAT PARTICULAR AREA RIGHT THERE.
THERE'S OTHER PARTS OF THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT ARE NOT INDUSTRIAL, THAT WERE RURAL.
>> BUT THE PART WHERE THE SOLAR PANELS IS, IT'S ZONED INDUSTRIAL AND THAT'S A PERMITTED USE.
>> IN INDUSTRIAL. WILL IT IMPEDE NORMAL OR ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT?
>> IT'S NOT IN THE PROJECTED TOWN GROVES, IS IT?
>> IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO BORROW THAT.
>> WHAT EXHIBIT IS THAT YOU GOT UP THERE?
>> THIS IS THE AERIAL AND SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.
[03:20:08]
>> I DON'T SEE WHERE THAT'S GOING TO.
ONCE AGAIN, A LOT OF THAT IS FARMLAND AROUND THERE.
NOT ONCE AGAIN, I GOT TO GO BACK TO THERE'S BEEN NO TESTIMONY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
>> WE'LL NOT OVERBURDEN EXISTING PUBLIC FACILITIES, SCHOOLS, POLICE, FIRE, WATER SEWER.
PUBLIC ROADS, HERE WE ARE WITH THE STORM DRAINAGE AND OTHER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
[OVERLAPPING] FIRE, WATER SEWER. THEY TESTIFIED.
>> HOW MANY TIMES DID THEY SAY THEY WERE GOING TO SERVE, HAD TO SERVE?
>> ONCE A QUARTER, I BELIEVE, IS WHAT THEY SAID.
SOMEONE WOULD ACTUALLY BE ON SITE.
BESIDES SOMEONE TAKING CARE OF GENERAL GRASS CUTTING AND MAINTENANCE ALONG THAT LINE, BUT SOMEONE WOULD BE THERE ONCE A QUARTER TO INSPECT PANELS, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING ALONG THAT LINE WAS OKAY.
WHICH THEY ALSO TESTIFIED THAT IT GETS MONITORED REMOTELY.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO OVERBURDEN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, BUT WE'RE BACK TO THE STORM DRAINAGE, JUST COVER STORM MANAGEMENT.
>> WELL, MATT TESTIFIED TO US THAT IT MEETS WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES NOW ONCE AGAIN, BUT IT IT'S BEEN TESTIFIED THAT THE DRAINAGE MEETS WHAT STATE REQUIRES.
>> I GUESS [INAUDIBLE] DOES PROTECT SOMEBODY, A NEIGHBOR FROM FLOODING HIS NEIGHBOR OUT.
>> YOU CAN'T BACK OVER THAT SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> THEY CAN'T RAISE THEIR OWN PROPERTY FOUR FOOT FLOOD OUT ON THE NEIGHBOR'S. IT'S ILLEGAL.
>> ARE YOU ALL RIGHT WITH THE STORM DRAINAGE?
>> IT'S LIKE WHAT WE'RE [INAUDIBLE]
>> WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS, I THINK.
>> TO MAKE IT GO ANY OTHER WAY.
OBVIOUSLY, MATT'S HAD TO LOOK AT THE PLAN AND MAKE SURE THAT IT MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA.
WE RELY ON STAFF TO HELP GUIDE US, SO I'M GOING TO SAY THAT WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT.
>> PATRICK, IS THERE ANYTHING WE SHOULD ADD TO THAT, OR THEY THINK WE'RE COVERED OR? AS FAR AS THE STORM DRAINAGE PART ON THIS PART OF THE CRITERIA?
>> IT MEETS WHAT THE STATE SAYS HAS TO BE DONE.
>> IT'S STILL GOING TO HAVE TO IF YOU APPROVE IT.
IT STILL HAS TO GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND I IMAGINE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE ISSUES AS PART OF THEIR CONSIDERATION OF THE SITE PLAN AS WELL. IS THAT RIGHT, MATT?
>> YEAH, FROM A SITE PLAN PERSPECTIVE, THEY CAN MAKE COMMENTS ON THAT.
>> FOR CLARIFICATION, I GUESS MATT YOU WOULD KNOW THIS, THE PLANNING BOARD, WOULD THEY KNOW ABOUT MR. POUCHEK'S LETTER FROM US OR NO?
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> DO THEY HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT BEFORE THEY PUT IT?
>> IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT THEY CAN ALLOW PUBLIC TESTIMONY, WHICH THEY TYPICALLY WOULD IF IT'S PERTINENT INFORMATION.
>> I FEEL A LITTLE BIT BAD ABOUT THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE HE'S COVERED.
>> DEPENDS ON, I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT Y'ALLS ARE JUST THINKING.
>> CONFORMS IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS TO THIS CHAPTER AND ESPECIALLY TO THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS OF THE ZONING DISTRICT IN WHICH THIS IS TO BE LOCATED.
I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE USED THAT.
IT'S INDUSTRIAL. IT'S PERMITTING USE AND INDUSTRIAL.
[03:25:04]
THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR IT.>> THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY VARIANCE BECAUSE IT'S ZONED A DIFFERENT WAY.
>> THE LAST PART, IT'S NOT IN CRITICAL AREA, AND IT'S NOT APPLICABLE.
THAT'S IT FOR CRITERIA? JUST TO MAKE SURE.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE'RE THINKING. THAT'S A HARD ONE.
>> ARE WE READY TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> ARE WE TO THAT STAGE THAT WE'RE READY TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A MOTION AND YOU'RE PROVING THAT, WE SHOULD COVER THE HOURS.
>> I HAVE ACTUALLY TWO SEPARATE SECTIONS FOR HOURS THAT I WROTE DOWN, ESPECIALLY AFTER MATT CHECKED ON THE ONE WITH THE PILE DRIVING PART.
>> [INAUDIBLE] MOTION WHERE YOU GO FOR HOURS.
>> MONDAY TO FRIDAY, 7:00 TO 7:00.
BUT THE PILE DRIVING PART, AS MATT SAID, PER CODE IS 8:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. OTHER WORK CAN BE DONE AFTER 5:00 P.M.
>> THEY JUST CAN'T DRIVE PILES.
IF THEY STAGGERED, THEY'VE GOT A THIRD OF ACRE PILES DRIVEN, THEY STOPPED DRIVING PILES, AND NOW THEY GO TO START PUTTING STRUCTURE ON PILES FOR TWO HOURS.
THAT'S WHAT MATT SAID, THAT THAT PART OF IT COULDN'T HAPPEN AFTER 5:00 P.M.
>> YOU JUST MAKE IT EASY AND STAY 5:00 P.M., AND THAT'S IT? DONE?
>> IF THEY GET INTO THE WINTER MONTHS, THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT WORKING AFTER 5:00 P.M.
THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO WORK TILL 7:00.
I THINK I WANT TO ADD ONE THING TO THE MOTION.
I WANT TO ASK PATRICK, IF IT'S OKAY, IN THE MOTION BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, I AM GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
BUT IN MY MOTION, CAN I PUT THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE OF MR. POUCHEK'S LETTERS?
>> PROCEDURALLY, AND AS PRO QUESTION FROM MATT, SO IF YOU APPROVE, WELL, EITHER WAY THE EXHIBITS ARE PART OF YOUR DECISION AND PART OF THE RECORD OF YOUR DECISION.
I PRESUME I DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT MATT CAN ANSWER THAT THAT RECORD GETS TRANSMITTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEY REVIEW IT AS PART OF THEIR REVIEW OF THE SITE PLAN?
>> TYPICALLY, THEY WOULDN'T REVIEW THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF THE MATERIALS, UNLESS THERE'S A SPECIFIC ZONING REGULATION THAT THEY'VE REQUESTED LIKE A VARIANCE ASPECT TO CERTAIN PORTION, OR IN A CASE OF A GRAVEL PIT WHERE THERE'S A SETBACK MODIFICATION, THAT TYPE OF THING.
>> BUT YOU COULD CONDITION THAT WE SUPPLY THE ENTIRE PACKAGE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS PART OF, BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT SITE PLAN DOCUMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE SUBMITTED, WHICH ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS BOARD, BUT AS PART OF THE FINAL SITE PLAN.
WE COULD INCLUDE THE ENTIRE PACKAGE AND ALL THE EXHIBITS TO THEM.
IF YOU WANT TO GET THAT AS A CONDITION, WE CAN DO THAT.
>> TIMING-WISE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, DOES THAT CREATE AN ISSUE WITH THE PREPARATION AND APPROVAL OF THE DECISION? IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY'RE MEETING NEXT WEEK, THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE DECISION ISN'T PROBABLY GOING TO BE READY BY NEXT WEEK.
THEY'VE GOT SOME MINOR THINGS THEY HAVE TO ADJUST ON THE SITE PLAN ANYWAY SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE READY.
I THINK THE APPROVAL PERIOD IS 30 DAYS OR AT LEAST WE STRIVE FOR 30 DAYS TO GET APPROVED BY THE NEXT MEETING.
[03:30:03]
AS LONG AS THAT WORKS, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM, THE CONDITION TO MAKE A CONDITION THAT THE DECISION AND RECORD BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS PART OF THEIR REVIEW OF THE SITE PLAN.>> IF YOU MAKE THE MOTION, PUT THAT IN THERE.
>> I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SAY.
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO MORE THAN JUST A RECOMMENDED ACTIONS BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IN THERE.
>> I BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO SAY THESE THREE KEY NOTES IF YOU DO IT.
>> NO, THERE'S MORE THAN THAT.
>> BUT I'M SAYING WE'RE GOING TO ADD THESE PLUS.
>> NO, IT'LL BE THAT ALL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE STAFF REPORT.
BUT I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY MAKE SURE THAT EXHIBIT 2, PAGE 2 OF 3 AND PAGE 3 OF 3 ARE ADDED TO THAT.
SCROLL DOWN. THE STUFF ON PAGE 2 OF 3 AND 3 OF 3 AND THAT SAME EXHIBIT IS STUFF THAT HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE IT GOES TO PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I STATE THAT.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S VOID AFTER A YEAR.
>> WELL, THAT'S ALL PART OF THE STAFF REPORT STUFF.
THAT'S STANDARD WITH ANY BUILDING PERMIT.
>> THANKS. I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE PRESTON COMMUNITY ENERGY INITIATIVE LLC APPLICATION 24-0043 WITH MAKING SURE THAT THEY FOLLOW EVERYTHING WITHIN THE STAFF REPORT.
ALSO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY INCLUDE EXHIBIT 2 OF THE STAFF REPORT, PAGE 2 OF 3 AND PAGE 3 OF 3.
ALL MUST BE MET BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION TAKES IT AND TO MAKE THE PACKET.
BASICALLY EVERYTHING FROM TODAY'S EXHIBITS IN THE PACKET TRANSFERRED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION SO THAT THEY'RE MADE AWARE OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE DRAINAGE.
ALSO TO PUT IN THEIR STIPULATIONS ON HOURS OF OPERATION WHEN THEY START CONSTRUCTION TO BE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 07:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M. SATURDAY, 08:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. NO SUNDAY WORK.
WHEN THEY START DRIVING THE PILES TO SUPPORT THE PANELS, THE OPERATION OF PILE DRIVING IS FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. ALSO NO SUNDAYS ALLOWED ON THAT.
>> REALLY? [LAUGHTER] I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR.
>> I DON'T WANT TO, BUT I LOSE ANYWAY.
>> YOU CAN GO ON RECORD AS BEING OPPOSED, KEVIN?
>> WELL, I'LL GO ON AS BEING OPPOSED.
>> 2:1. CAN I GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN? DO WE GET ANYTHING ELSE?
>> WELL, DID YOU CALL FOR IF ANYONE WHO WAS OPPOSED? DID KEVIN GO BY?
>> I JUST WANT THAT TO BE CLEAR.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT? MAKING THE LAST MOTION, THEN.
>> WELL, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER? WE'RE FINISHED WITH THIS.
>> WE'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
>> I'LL SECOND IT. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSE? NONE. [LAUGHTER]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.