Solar Work Group

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Planning Commission Work Group convened on May 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM, with Zach Davis presiding over the session. The meeting included two agenda items, both informational in nature: a discussion of the schedule of meetings and goals, and a review of a Solar Ordinance. No votes or motions were taken during the meeting. The work group heard 2 public comments over the course of the session.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the May 20, 2026 meeting:

• Zach Davis
• Council Member Boone
• Dave Sevigny
• Tom Eblin
• Frank Penn
• Mike Owens
• Bee
• Allison Davis

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Public Comment

Two members of the public addressed the body during the comment period, both focusing on concerns related to solar energy development and its potential impact on agricultural land in Fayette County.

• Brittany Rothmyer, Executive Director of Fayette Alliance, spoke at 13:34 about the permitting of large-scale solar installations in agricultural zones. Rothmyer emphasized the importance of protecting prime soils and highlighted the economic significance of agriculture to Fayette County, raising concerns about the potential consequences of allowing large-scale solar development in these areas.

• Allison Davis spoke at 36:22 on the topic of utility-scale solar farming. Davis addressed both the economic and environmental impacts of such development, with particular attention to soil quality. She also raised concerns about potential negative effects on local agriculture and property values.

Both speakers expressed reservations about the compatibility of large-scale and utility-scale solar projects with the preservation of productive agricultural land, with soil quality emerging as a shared concern across both comments.

Contested Items

• Large Scale Solar in Agricultural Zones: A significant point of contention during the meeting centered on the appropriateness of large-scale solar projects on agricultural land. Community members raised concerns about the potential impacts of such developments, with discussion focusing on soil quality and economic effects on agricultural areas. The opposition reflected broader community unease about converting or encumbering farmland for solar energy infrastructure. No specific outcome or resolution for this item was recorded in the available meeting data.

Discussion of Schedule of Meetings and Goals

1:55

The group took up a discussion regarding the scheduling of meetings and the goals associated with the committee's work. Key speakers during this portion of the meeting included Zach Davis and Council Member Boone.

The discussion centered on the recognition that a second meeting would be necessary given time constraints that had arisen. Participants considered potential dates for when that follow-up meeting might be held, though no specific date was finalized during this discussion.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational in nature, meaning no formal action or vote was taken. The conversation served to orient the group around the practical logistics of their schedule and to acknowledge that the scope of their work would require additional meeting time beyond the current session.

Review of Solar Ordinance

4:43

The planning commission took up a discussion on the solar ordinance at the request of the urban county council, focusing on the implications of large-scale solar projects on agricultural land.

Key speakers in this discussion included Frank Penn, Brittany Rothmyer, and Allison Davis.

The discussion centered on the council's referral to the planning commission to examine the existing solar ordinance, with particular attention to how large-scale solar development intersects with agricultural land use. This item was informational in nature, meaning no formal action or vote was taken as a result of the discussion.

No additional details regarding specific concerns raised, proposals offered, or next steps were recorded in the available meeting data.