LYNCHBURG — Officials with Silicon Ranch, the company behind the solar farm currently being constructed between Highway 55, Cumberland Springs Road, and Cobb Hollow Road in Moore County, will appear before the Metro Planning and Zoning Commission this Tuesday (October 7) to give an update on the project.
The Nashville-based solar and carbon solutions company recently came under fire from locals for “excessive smoke and air pollution” created as they clear land in preparation for the solar panel array construction.
On September 21, in the popular Lynchburg Locals social media group, nearly 100 locals commented about lingering smoke along Cumberland Springs, Raysville Road, Bobo Hollow Road, Cobb Hollow Road, and even as far as West Lincoln Street in nearby Tullahoma. Many complained of sore throats, headaches, watery eyes, as well as homes and vehicles covered in ash.
Several days later, The Times reached out to Silicon Ranch’s Community Relations Senior Manager Morey Hill about the complaints, and he told us that they were “aware of the complaints around the burning, and actively working to mitigate the situation.”
“To give some background on the clearing of this site, most of the timber was cleared and sold by the former landowner. Our ‘clearing’ has mostly consisted of cleaning up the stumps/dead wood that remained. We have already conducted the bulk of the clearing and burning over the summer, and this is the last bit of work on this front,” he said.
While he resisted giving a timeline or firm end date for the burning, because much of it “depends on weather conditions,” he did say they will be rotating burning sites, so they wouldn’t burn in a single location too long.
“We are following all state and local regulations around the work, and as a property owner and community member, our priority remains being a good partner and good neighbor,” he said.
New Business
Other items on Tuesday’s agenda include a plat review of a minor division on Bull Run Road, a minor division and rezoning request from The Retreat at Whiskey Creek, a combination of lots on Tanyard Hill Road, and a minor division and combination of lots for Company Distilling on Hiles Street.
The Commission will discuss potential Historical Commission violations of two local food trucks: one located at 25 Mechanic Street and another at 265 Main Street.
The Commission will revisit building permit fees for churches.
They will also consider recommending a small lot located at 3773 Griffin Road for a variance. If issued, that variance would come from the Board of Zoning Appeals.
The Metro Planning Commission meets every first Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the County Building located at 241 Main Street in Lynchburg. To have an item added to the agenda, contact Metro Moore County Codes Enforcer Christine Pyrdom at 931-759-7068. •
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