Updates & Voting Results from Planning Meeting: 9/11/24

You can view the drafted ordinance that was recommended by planning under the tab Twp Docs, navigate to Jefferson Docs and scroll down to Draft #3. We will try to post meeting recaps and minutes as meetings occur. Check back for updates, and please try to attend meetings. The meeting schedule can be found under the "Meetings" tab.

Planning recommended the current ordinance to the supervisors, who are schedule to vote to advertise the ordinance on Tuesday Sept 17th (7pm at the Firehall). Here was the vote:

Voted Yes: Alan Gould, Florence Gould, Charlene Kumpf, Frank Karch, Patty Lawrence

Voted No: Brandon Ivanac, Nancy Gallo

Abstained: Mimi Hoberek, Mac Simpson

Important points:

1. The solar overlay encompasses over 40% of our buildable township (overlay map can be viewed under Twp Docs --> Jefferson Docs, scroll down to overlay map)

2. Currently states 100ft setbacks for solar fields, transmission lines, and substations

3. A full decommissioning bond is not due up front of the project and trickles in over 25 years

4. No landscaping bond or required vegetation buffering ("where feasible")

5. Requires TCLP (toxic characteristic leaching procedure) test for panels, which does not contain testing for PFAS/GenX coatings used in many panels for anti-reflective and anti-dust coatings.

6. Planning commission is moving forward to recommend this to supervisors for them to motion to pass it next Tuesday

7. It could be much more difficult to stop or change the ordinance the further it moves along