Solar restrictions bill passes unanimously by county council

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A bill increasing restrictions on large-scale solar projects coming into St. Joseph County passed 9-0 at Tuesday’s County Council meeting.

The bill enforces a 500-foot setback for solar arrays from non-participating properties and for properties classified as parks and preserved areas, which nearly doubles the previous standard on 250 feet.

The bill also includes an amendment to landscaping requirements, creating buffers between residential and protected properties and solar arrays. It also includes additional standards for drainage systems, requiring for any drainage damage to be fully repaired and that the zoning administrator or drainage board may be required to have a detailed drainage plan.

Councilman for District H, Bryan Tanner, explained during the meeting that although the council went back and forth on this topic for the last few months, he believes this bill will be a good thing for the county, saying it sets a standard for what developers can expect if they want to start a project in St. Joseph County.

“I hold firm and true that this is worth the effort, that these are good standards, that this is an effort to communicate to residents who already live here, people who want build or continue to live here, move here, or those who want to invest in developments such as this what our expectations are,” said Tanner.

While some agreed with Tanner at the meeting, others, like St. Joseph County resident Steve Francis, say these standards will drive solar project businesses away from the county.

“What the council did tonight is restrict solar development so severely that it’s sending an anti-business signal to solar developers all around the country, I’ve talked to several, they view these ordinances as overly restrictive, it will cost too much money, so it will write off solar development in St. Joe County,” said Francis.