DATE: January 10, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Commercial Solar Project Processing
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Receive information from Department staff regarding commercial solar projects and processing within the unincorporated areas of Fresno County and provide direction as determined necessary.
REPORT
This item comes before the Board based upon request from Board members to discuss solar projects and processing in Fresno County.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
None. This is an information item only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Preparation of this Agenda Item and associated activities represents a Net County Cost that is budgeted as part of the Department's non-permit fee related activities in the Public Works and Planning Org 4360 FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Fresno County has been processing large scale commercial solar facilities since 2010. Procedurally, commercial solar projects are evaluated through an Unclassified Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Application. Briefly, the CUP process is a discretionary permit process which is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and requires a publicly noticed hearing before the Planning Commission for action. Staff makes a recommendation to the Planning Commission based upon analysis of the specific project proposal, the CEQA analysis and the four Findings as specified in the Zoning Ordinance related to site adequacy, road adequacy, impact on neighboring parcels and General Plan consistency. The Planning Commission action is final unless appealed to the Board of Supervisors. As a point of information, if a prospect site is enrolled under Williamson Act contract, a cancellation of the contract is required and is processed concurrently with the CUP and is included in the CEQA document. Upon recommendation from the Fresno County Agricultural Land Conservation Commission, the Board takes action on the cancell...
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