Solar “Farms” and Zoning Exceptions

Our State's efforts to develop 33% of energy through renewable resources has contributed to an increase in solar energy production. This is a positive development.

With the Million Solar Roofs initiative solar energy production is encouraged on a small scale. With the expansion of California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard – solar farms have also proliferated.

Solar farms move energy production from unremarkable onsite collection and use to substantial collection and “distribution” – a commercial application (Wholesale Distributed Generation) through an industrial design.

The county and our local cities have land zoned for commercial/industrial use. Locations such as the South Poway Business Park are already designated for this type of use. Commercial/light industrial operations located within these “parks” are compatible with their neighborhood.

When a business or resident requests an exception to their property zoning ideally they are working to improve and remain in character with the neighborhood in spite of the current zoning restrictions. If the exception would not fulfill those goals for the neighborhood it should be denied.

It is time for the County to plan, develop and solicit agreement with our communities on placement of these welcomed green technologies within a larger context than the piecemeal – one project at a time – process currently in place. There needs to be a more cohesive process of how all this will work and look within communities -  a process for implementing these new technologies into our living spaces.