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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 21-080-CCIs- BOARD s BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Grant County, Washington ORDINANCE ADOPTING A ORDINANCE No. 21- 6 o -CC MORATORIUM ON ANY AND ALL NEW COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL WIND OR SOLAR PROJECTS REGARDLESS OF PERMIT TYPE, PROVIDING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, AND PROVIDING THAT THE MORATORIUM, UNLESS EXTENDED, SHALL SUNSET WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF ADOPTION. RECITALS: WHEREAS, Grant County is geographically located in a region of the state that has a significant potential for the siting and development of wind and solar energy production facilities (aka solar farms, photovoltaic power station, solar power plant, and concentrated solar power facilities, wind farms) ; and, WHEREAS, although wind and solar power are recognized as forms of clean energy production these projects also have associated impacts relating to source material concerns, impacts to views, property values, environmental impacts to fragile desert ecosystems, and disposal/abandonment impacts from derelict or defunct sites; and, WHEREAS, the Grant County Code does not currently provide specific development standards for wind and solar energy production facilities; and, WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners believes that unless this land use issue is addressed immediately with reviewed or new zoning controls, wind and solar developments may proliferate through the County without adequate mitigation and/or zoning controls to ensure the facilities are consistent with the adopted goals and policies in the Comprehensive Plan; and, WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners finds that this issue presents an emergency condition within the County and that imposing a moratorium on any new applications for wind and solar developments is necessary to preserve the public health, safety, and welfare of the community, and; WHEREAS, RCW 36.70A.390 authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to enact a moratorium for a period of six (6) months subject to conducting a public hearing on the moratorium within sixty (60) days of its enactment, and; WHEREAS, RCW 36.70A.390 also authorizes the extension of the moratorium by one or more six (6) month periods as necessary. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED THAT the Grant County Board of Commissioners enact a moratorium barring the acceptance of any wind. and/or solar development land use permit applications pursuant to RCW 36.70A.390. A. This moratorium shall not apply to the acceptance, processing, and issuance of any building permit applications for wind and solar generation sites that had an issued and valid land use permit in place prior to the effective date of this moratorium. B. This moratorium does not apply to an accessory solar panel(s) or residential accessory wind generation uses constructed on or adjacent to an existing private single-family residence for purposes of augmenting that specific single-family residence's energy resources. C. A public hearing will be conducted within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this ordinance. D. Should any part of this moratorium be found to be unlawful or unconstitutional and set aside, the remaining portions of the moratorium will remain in full effect. E. This moratorium is necessary to protect the public health, safety and general welfare. DATED this day of AaA 3-20- -2 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONS Yea Nay AbstNT COU^NT ASHINGTON t !� tt ® ❑ ❑IJ11_� I j 6"njy'C_­ a r, Chair 1�;,/ ❑ ❑n Danny . Stone, Member ® ❑ ❑ R b 4nes."Member ATTEST: