In case you missed the Sept. 21 Board of Supervisors meeting, here is a brief recap of items from the board’s monthly work session and business meeting:
CODE AMENDMENT FOR LARGE-SCALE SOLAR FACILITIES
Following a public hearing, the board approved amendments to the Code of Chesterfield relative to large-scale solar energy facilities.
The code now requires that solar panels are set back an additional 35 feet from wetlands, 100-year floodplains and Resource Protection Areas (RPA). It also mandates that steep slopes of 20% or greater remain in their natural, undisturbed state “to the maximum extent practicable,” unless otherwise approved by the county’s Department of Environmental Engineering. Finally, it prohibits solar panels from being installed on steep slopes of 20% or greater.
In 2019, Chesterfield adopted a new set of standards for solar facilities and divided them into three different types: limited, small-scale and large-scale.
Large-scale is defined in county ordinances as facilities developed “for the wholesale generation and distribution of electricity from sunlight.” They typically produce more than 5 megawatts of power. Five such solar projects have been zoned in Chesterfield to date.
The code amendments were requested by Environmental Engineering.
CURBSIDE RECYCLING UPDATE
John Neal, director of the Department of General Services, briefed the board about changes to Chesterfield’s curbside recycling program that will take effect July 1, 2023. You can view his entire presentation below and read a blog post with additional details about the transition.
SCHOOL ACCESS-CONNECTIVITY UPDATE
Jesse Smith, deputy county administrator for community development, gave the board an update on proposed capital projects that would improve motorist access, safety and connectivity to Chesterfield schools. Watch his presentation below.
AIRPORT RUNWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
The board accepted and appropriated more than $300,000 in federal and state grant funding for easement acquisition associated with the Chesterfield County Airport’s runway extension project.
A grant from the Federal Aviation Administration will fund 90% of the property acquisition ($288,000), with the Virginia Department of Aviation funding 8% of the acquisition ($25,600). The remaining $6,400 is coming from local funds previously appropriated by the board.
Chesterfield is working to extend the runway at the local airport to accommodate larger planes that carry more fuel, and thus can travel to and from the county from greater distances.
COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD UPDATE
In accordance with the county’s charter, Kelly Fried, executive director of Chesterfield’s Community Services Board (CSB), presented the CSB’s annual report to the Board of Supervisors. View his full presentation below.
HONORING CHESTERFIELD’S CENTENARIANS
In honor of National Centenarians Day, the board also recognized the 90 Chesterfield residents who are 100 years of age or older. Learn more about them in the attached video.