A conditional use permit for the proposed 22-megawatt 285-acre Smithtown solar farm has been denied. | Adobe Stock
A conditional use permit for the proposed 22-megawatt 285-acre Smithtown solar farm has been denied. | Adobe Stock
The Yadkin County Board of Adjustments denied a conditional use permit in October for a proposed solar farm in the Smithtown community.
Reasons for denying the permit included runoff water, real estate values and lack of clarity of the submitted proposal, the Yadkin Ripple reported on Oct. 16.
"The plan submitted is preliminary in nature and there is not enough clarity shown on the site plan to determine if this standard is met," the Board of Adjustments said in its decision, the Yadkin Ripple reported.
The conditional use permit for the solar farm was a joint venture of Silver Creek Energy and Pine Gate Renewables. Proponents of the solar farm made their case at the September meeting and opponents at the October meeting.
The board said it could not confirm that the installation and maintenance of the solar farm would not materially endanger the public health or safety as the plan has been submitted, citing concerns of erosion and water retention, the Yadkin Ripple reported. Runoff issues would most likely impact the half-million people downstream of the Yadkin River who rely on it for drinking water.
The board also said the plan's development is not complete and appears to be evolving as residents and other opponents present issues.
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