(La Porte County, IN) - A proposed solar energy farm in La Porte County was not considered as scheduled last night.
Hoosier Solar is seeking a special exception to current zoning laws to put up solar panels in the area of State Road 104 near the St. Joseph County line. The La Porte County Board of Zoning Appeals was scheduled to hear the request, but the meeting lasted only six minutes.
The meeting was adjourned after BZA attorney Andrew Voeltz said the board was not assembled correctly because a member of the La Porte County Planning Commission was not appointed to the board by the La Porte County Commissioners in January as required by state law.
“It is my position as the attorney that the board is insufficient and improperly constructed,” he said.
Voeltz said the BZA is supposed to have three citizen members appointed by the commissioners including one that is a member of the planning commission. Since no planning commission member is on the board, Voetz said it was his opinion the situation has to be corrected for the BZA to legally meet.
The county commissioners will take up the matter at its next meeting on May 4.
Commission President Steve Holifield said he will research the matter because he’s not totally sold the current make-up of the board violates state requirements. In his opinion, Holifield said he suspects the matter was brought up to give some sort of an advantage to the company seeking permission for putting up solar panels.
“I smell a rat here,” he said.
In response, Hoosier Solar CEO Steven Lichtin said his company had no role in the make-up of the BZA and supports the BZA's commitment to operating in full compliance with the law.
"We remain committed to community engagement and transparent participation as our Yellowstone project moves through the local permitting process to obtain a special exception for a permitted use of land. Our Yellowstone project exceeds all state and local standards and will be the smallest commercial solar project in the region," he said
