Citizens Planning and Zoning Bill of Rights Meeting

August 23, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.

Presiding: Anthony Matheny, Planning and Zoning Director

1. Introduction

Purpose of the meeting is to receive public comment regarding changing the Comprehensive Plan and the Land Development Code to allow solar farming as a Class I action or use by right in Agriculture Zones. If this goes forward and gets Planning Commission and Board of County Commission approval, it will go forward and become a part of the Comprehensive Plan via an amendment. This is a county initiated project. This forum is not a debate, it is to take public comment only. He invited public comments at this juncture.

2. Public Comment

Marion Laslie, 5 Dante Court , Quincy, FL

Ed Allen, Lake Talquin – wants Citizens Bill of Rights to be retained.

Bob Fulford – came to get information. Not a Gadsden Resident. Lives in Leon County. Upon investigation found a number of questions. Where can I get some information? Minimal environmental impacts – what does that mean? There should be some way to find out.

National Solar Partners – this will be first one that they have done. If questions are answered properly, getting approval should not be a problem.

Anthony Matheny responded to questions by the public.

Michael Dorian – This is the citizen’s meeting and he was pleased with the process so far. He asked that when it comes to P & Z that it be the only agenda item so as to accommodate a lot of public input. Very pro solar energy. County can use the employment of 400 people. There are no chemicals and no pesticides involved in solar farming.

Con position – technical questions not being answered. I don’t want to find out that a solar farm is going in next to me with electric fences. Not sure about allowing them just anywhere. Strict rules must be set up – distances between certain things.

Hopes that National Solar Power will be present at the P & Z meeting.

Doug Croley – email sent the BCC meeting in which instructions were given to Mr. Matheny. Read the letter into the record.

David Garner stated that University of Florida is a good resource to bring back to answer technical questions raised by the public.

There may be another meeting with the public and have technical people here to answer questions.

3. Adjournment