What's Up With the Solar "Farm" Draft Zoning Ordinance?
Solar Energy Facility in Scotland
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Rooftop Solar at Pitt-Ohio Trucking in Harmarville
180 Solar Panels)
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Summary
CROWD strongly supports fair and responsible local regulation and zoning. However the draft "Solar Farm Ordinance", as written, overreaches in ways that risk putting our township at odds with residents' property rights, state-level energy goals, and PUC regulations. It potentially works against values that many of us would agree on:
CROWD strongly supports fair and responsible local regulation and zoning. However the draft "Solar Farm Ordinance", as written, overreaches in ways that risk putting our township at odds with residents' property rights, state-level energy goals, and PUC regulations. It potentially works against values that many of us would agree on:
- Energy independence
- Private property rights
- A resilient, secure electric grid
"Solar" Opposites?
Our Concerns:
CROWD supports updating our Zoning Ordinances so they are more complete and protective. However, this ordinance has several troubling concerns:
CROWD's Review and Issues
CROWD performed a thorough review of the draft Solar "Farm" ordinance and produced our list of concerns. The list was then reviewed by Solar United Neighbors, Greenlight America, and a land use attorney from PennFuture.
Here is a link to the proposed ordinance: West Deer - Solar Farm Ordinance 462
Here is a link to CROWD's review: CROWD Solar Farm Ordinance Concerns
Timeline:
CROWD supports updating our Zoning Ordinances so they are more complete and protective. However, this ordinance has several troubling concerns:
- The lack of transparency and misleading information that has been given publicly is very troubling. It is titled a “Solar Farm Ordinance”, yet it covers residential uses too. At the June 26th Planning Commission meeting, the assistant manager appeared to misinform the commissioners on where the Solar Energy Facilities could be placed:
Click here to view this video showing why we are concerned (Not a CROWD video - credits belong to West Deer Steve) - It regulates Residential / Commercial Accessory Solar Energy Systems (ASES) with restrictions that potentially infringe on your property rights, may not be legal, and/or are in conflict with PUC regulations.
- Solar Energy Facilities (SEF) are restricted only to Rural Estate. Why not also allow these in C2 and Industrial zones? Why not allow solar panels on any commercial building's rooftop?
- There is a significant gap in the ordinance where “intermediate size” accessory solar is not defined. Does it make sense to pass an incomplete ordinance, potentially setting the township up for expensive legal challenges?
- Why are we severely restricting Solar Energy Facilities in this draft ordinance, yet the township's current zoning ordinance (passed in September 2024) allows Oil & Gas development in most of our zoning districts? (Click here for details)
CROWD's Review and Issues
CROWD performed a thorough review of the draft Solar "Farm" ordinance and produced our list of concerns. The list was then reviewed by Solar United Neighbors, Greenlight America, and a land use attorney from PennFuture.
Here is a link to the proposed ordinance: West Deer - Solar Farm Ordinance 462
Here is a link to CROWD's review: CROWD Solar Farm Ordinance Concerns
Timeline:
- May 21, 2025 - West Deer Supervisors Meeting - There was a surprise agenda item for advertising a hearing for a new “Zoning Amendment – Solar Farm Regulation”. The residents and Planning Commission were never made aware that the township was working on it, and had no input. The board of supervisors voted to advertise the ordinance and the hearing date was set for July 16, 2025 @ 6:30PM.
- June 26, 2025 - Planning Commission Meeting - After much discussion, during which the township Assistant Manager appeared to provide inaccurate and conflicting information about where solar could be allowed, the Planning Commission unanimously** voted AGAINST passing this ordinance due to several potential legal issues and other concerns. (** The vote was 5-0-1 with Mr. Harrison abstaining)
- July 16, 2025 - Hearing on the Ordinance and Supervisor's Meeting - Several CROWD members and residents voiced concerns about the new ordinance. During the agenda item to discuss and vote on passing the Solar "Farm" Ordinance, Bev Jordan asked to table the ordinance until the August meeting because she said "...There's just a lot of information, I personally don't understand..." If this is true, why did she vote to move it to a hearing in May? This motion essentially just wasted a month because the ordinance cannot be changed or discussed by the board until their August meeting.
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