(La Porte County, IN) - A solar power proposal that was denied may still see the light of day, thanks to a court order.

 

In July the La Porte County Board of Zoning Appeals denied a petition from Hoosier Solar for a 300-acre solar installation called Yellowstone in the southeast part of the county.

 

The company took the matter to court, saying their petition met all the zoning requirements and encountered undue bias by county officials.

 

On Monday, October 19 Judge Jeffrey Thorne of La Porte Superior Court 3 ruled in favor of Hoosier Solar. BZA attorney Andrew Voltz read part of the decision aloud at the board’s regular meeting on Tuesday:

 

“The decision of the La Porte County Board of Zoning Appeals denying Yellowstone’s request for special exception is hereby reversed and vacated. Furthermore, the La Porte County Board of Zoning Appeals is ordered to enter findings of fact and conclusions of law that are consistent with this court’s order and grant to Yellowstone’s solar project a special exception as set forth in its petition.”

 

Voltz advised the board that they have 30 days to decide if they will appeal the decision.

 

“I don’t know that I’ve ever been in this situation in the 20 years I’ve been on this board,” said board president Melissa Mischke.

 

The BZA is now planning to meet soon in a special executive session to decide what to do next.