12.C) Conditional Use Permit #12-21 for Hollow Road Solar, LLC, Submitted to Construct an Approximately 83+/- Acre (disturbed area) and up to 20-Megawatt (MW) Utility Scale Solar Power Generating Facility. The Subject Properties, Totaling 326+/- Acres, are Generally Located South of Parishville Road (Route 610) and South of the Terminus (cul-de-sac) of Anchorage Lane (Route 1416) in Gore, and are Identified with Property Identification Numbers (PINs) 27-A-8, 27-A-11 and 27-A-12 in the Gainesboro Magisterial District.
I live on Welbourne Ln in the Gainesboro district. You voted no to this in March and then the county was sued. The lawsuit said your decision to deny was “arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable” and there was “no evidence that the proposed solar farm did not satisfy the standards set out in the county’s zoning ordinance.” Was it arbitrary and unreasonable that you wanted to hold on approving any others since the two that had been approved only months before hadn’t been built yet and that we don’t even know the impact. You said those approved projects were to help subsidize farms in Frederick County. This is for-profit of a Northern VA company. Even though something meets the ordinances, it doesn’t mean that they automatically get approved. This lawsuit really undermines your authority as a Board of Supervisors.
A 2020 University of Rhode Island study looked at 400,000 real estate transactions within proximity of solar farms before and after construction. It found that within a 1/10 mile of the facility there was a decline of property values of approximately 7% and 1.7% within a mile. A 2018 University of Texas at Austin study looked at 956 solar facilities and found a negative impact for properties within 1/2 mile from a 20MW facility (same as this one).
The new plan from the 12/1 Planning Meeting slanted what I presented as concerns on “perceived impact to property values”. This statement alone discounts the references above to two major university studies with significant findings towards property values. I can see by the slanting of this information that this public hearing is possibly just a formality and that it’s a done deal. The plan updated after the 12/1 meeting also makes no mention that the Planning Commission recommended that pile-driving be updated to start at 8am. Can this please be updated?
If you vote yes on 12/8, what kind of precedent does that set for future issues? It says all they have to do is sue our county to get a change in vote.
John Evans 156 Anchorage Lane, Gore, VA 22637 Gainesboro District). We are one of the properties most impacted by this proposal, and we oppose the project. It is too close to property lines, and the proposed vegetation screening is woefully insufficient. It will be an eyesore destroying our pristine views, which is the first thing anyone mentions when they visit our property for the first time. The project will impact our property value negatively, which we have worked over the years to increase.
This project provides absolutely no benefits to the homeowners impacted by the project. It is solely a money-making project from an outside company that has no interest in being a good neighbor. When we were first contacted about the possibility of this project, we were assured the project would be required to have sufficient screening to minimize our viewing of the panels, which is why we hesitantly did not oppose the project initally. The vegetation screening proposed is not what we were led to believe it would be, nor were we told the panels would be so close to our property line.
I am not sure why the county would want to accommodate a company whose first reaction was to sue when the project was turned down for appropriate concerns last year. Nothing that we can see has changed in the proposal that was denied. They assumed it was a done deal last year and needed to recoup expenses already sunk into the project. They have no concern for any detrimental effects to the local landowners as long as they can get their project approved. This project helps no local citizens unlike the other two projects currently approved, it is solely for the profit of an outside corporation. If they are truly concerned about ozone depletion, build the project where it does not affect homeowners.
Thank you for allowing us to express our views, and we hope they are taken into consideration when this project is being discussed.
The concerned citizens of Whitham Orchards (Gainesboro Magisterial District) oppose Hollow Road Solar LLC's solar project. Although the project is still in litigation, in June 2021, Hollow Road Solar, LLC, finalized the purchase of the property previously owned by National Fruit Orchards, Inc., proceeding with the planned solar project. We, the residents of Whitham Orchards are outraged. Hollow Road Solar, LLC, et al, insist on establishing its solar project adjacent to a community where families dwell.
Since this case is currently in litigation and Hollow Road Solar LLC has already purchased the property; we understand that there is a possibility that this project may eventually be approved. If this project is approved, Hollow Road Solar, LLC, et al, must enter into a contract with adjacent property owners. The contract will outline Hollow Road Solar, LLC’s commitment to safety as a good neighbor. If our water quality, air quality, or soil quality becomes contaminated; or a resident becomes ill due to toxin exposure, Hollow Road Solar, LLC, et al, will take full responsibility for all that their enterprise will expose to this community. You will not put our peace, health, and wellbeing in jeopardy for your own financial gain.
Today, the good citizens of Whitham Orchards serve notice to Hollow Road Solar, LLC, et al, and the Frederick County Board of Supervisors that we will hold Hollow Road Solar, LLC, et al, accountable for all that their enterprise exposes to our community.
Therefore, we appeal to the Board that concerns that will be outlined in our forthcoming petition be addressed before reconsidering the project’s approval.
Whitham Orchards is an enclave of homes located in Gore, Virginia (Gainesboro Magisterial District), on Timber Ridge Mountain, situated on Parishville Road, Anchorage Lane, and Welbourne Lane. As residents of this mountain community we enjoy our rural lifestyle and our stunning mountain views. We enjoy clean water, fresh air, and rich soil. We enjoy the quaint charm of the nearby farms, lush green corn fields, and the apple orchards that surround us.
The residents of Whitham Orchards appeal the Board to consider that Gore, Virginia currently has the Unimim Corporation mine on Sand Mine Road. We also have an electrical power plant on Parishville Road. The proposed 300+ acre solar project would turn Whitham Orchards into an industrial waste-land. This project would have absolutely no benefit to our community. There is enough commercial-use land, not adjacent to residential communities, throughout the Commonwealth for such an enterprise. The residents of Whitham Orchards do not want this. Personal gain should never jeopardize the peace, health, safety, and well-being of an established neighboring community.
I live on Welbourne Ln in the Gainesboro district. You voted no to this in March and then the county was sued. The lawsuit said your decision to deny was “arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable” and there was “no evidence that the proposed solar farm did not satisfy the standards set out in the county’s zoning ordinance.” Was it arbitrary and unreasonable that you wanted to hold on approving any others since the two that had been approved only months before hadn’t been built yet and that we don’t even know the impact. You said those approved projects were to help subsidize farms in Frederick County. This is for-profit of a Northern VA company. Even though something meets the ordinances, it doesn’t mean that they automatically get approved. This lawsuit really undermines your authority as a Board of Supervisors.
A 2020 University of Rhode Island study looked at 400,000 real estate transactions within proximity of solar farms before and after construction. It found that within a 1/10 mile of the facility there was a decline of property values of approximately 7% and 1.7% within a mile. A 2018 University of Texas at Austin study looked at 956 solar facilities and found a negative impact for properties within 1/2 mile from a 20MW facility (same as this one).
The new plan from the 12/1 Planning Meeting slanted what I presented as concerns on “perceived impact to property values”. This statement alone discounts the references above to two major university studies with significant findings towards property values. I can see by the slanting of this information that this public hearing is possibly just a formality and that it’s a done deal. The plan updated after the 12/1 meeting also makes no mention that the Planning Commission recommended that pile-driving be updated to start at 8am. Can this please be updated?
If you vote yes on 12/8, what kind of precedent does that set for future issues? It says all they have to do is sue our county to get a change in vote.
John Evans 156 Anchorage Lane, Gore, VA 22637 Gainesboro District). We are one of the properties most impacted by this proposal, and we oppose the project. It is too close to property lines, and the proposed vegetation screening is woefully insufficient. It will be an eyesore destroying our pristine views, which is the first thing anyone mentions when they visit our property for the first time. The project will impact our property value negatively, which we have worked over the years to increase.
This project provides absolutely no benefits to the homeowners impacted by the project. It is solely a money-making project from an outside company that has no interest in being a good neighbor. When we were first contacted about the possibility of this project, we were assured the project would be required to have sufficient screening to minimize our viewing of the panels, which is why we hesitantly did not oppose the project initally. The vegetation screening proposed is not what we were led to believe it would be, nor were we told the panels would be so close to our property line.
I am not sure why the county would want to accommodate a company whose first reaction was to sue when the project was turned down for appropriate concerns last year. Nothing that we can see has changed in the proposal that was denied. They assumed it was a done deal last year and needed to recoup expenses already sunk into the project. They have no concern for any detrimental effects to the local landowners as long as they can get their project approved. This project helps no local citizens unlike the other two projects currently approved, it is solely for the profit of an outside corporation. If they are truly concerned about ozone depletion, build the project where it does not affect homeowners.
Thank you for allowing us to express our views, and we hope they are taken into consideration when this project is being discussed.
The concerned citizens of Whitham Orchards (Gainesboro Magisterial District) oppose Hollow Road Solar LLC's solar project. Although the project is still in litigation, in June 2021, Hollow Road Solar, LLC, finalized the purchase of the property previously owned by National Fruit Orchards, Inc., proceeding with the planned solar project. We, the residents of Whitham Orchards are outraged. Hollow Road Solar, LLC, et al, insist on establishing its solar project adjacent to a community where families dwell.
Since this case is currently in litigation and Hollow Road Solar LLC has already purchased the property; we understand that there is a possibility that this project may eventually be approved. If this project is approved, Hollow Road Solar, LLC, et al, must enter into a contract with adjacent property owners. The contract will outline Hollow Road Solar, LLC’s commitment to safety as a good neighbor. If our water quality, air quality, or soil quality becomes contaminated; or a resident becomes ill due to toxin exposure, Hollow Road Solar, LLC, et al, will take full responsibility for all that their enterprise will expose to this community. You will not put our peace, health, and wellbeing in jeopardy for your own financial gain.
Today, the good citizens of Whitham Orchards serve notice to Hollow Road Solar, LLC, et al, and the Frederick County Board of Supervisors that we will hold Hollow Road Solar, LLC, et al, accountable for all that their enterprise exposes to our community.
Therefore, we appeal to the Board that concerns that will be outlined in our forthcoming petition be addressed before reconsidering the project’s approval.
Whitham Orchards is an enclave of homes located in Gore, Virginia (Gainesboro Magisterial District), on Timber Ridge Mountain, situated on Parishville Road, Anchorage Lane, and Welbourne Lane. As residents of this mountain community we enjoy our rural lifestyle and our stunning mountain views. We enjoy clean water, fresh air, and rich soil. We enjoy the quaint charm of the nearby farms, lush green corn fields, and the apple orchards that surround us.
The residents of Whitham Orchards appeal the Board to consider that Gore, Virginia currently has the Unimim Corporation mine on Sand Mine Road. We also have an electrical power plant on Parishville Road. The proposed 300+ acre solar project would turn Whitham Orchards into an industrial waste-land. This project would have absolutely no benefit to our community. There is enough commercial-use land, not adjacent to residential communities, throughout the Commonwealth for such an enterprise. The residents of Whitham Orchards do not want this. Personal gain should never jeopardize the peace, health, safety, and well-being of an established neighboring community.