Linn County announces that a date is now scheduled for the Technical Review Committee (TRC) meeting for review of the Duane Arnold Solar I and II utility-scale solar application projects. The TRC meeting is the first public meeting in a series of public meetings as part of the application review process.
The TRC meeting is open to the public and residents can attend in person or virtually; however, as is the case with all Technical Review Committee meetings, no public comments will be taken. This meeting is for staff to review the project with the applicant. The application documents submitted by Duane Arnold Solar LLC are available on Linn County’s website at LinnCountyIowa.gov/SolarFarms.
All utility-scale solar applicants in Linn County must undergo a review by the Technical Review Committee, the Planning & Zoning Commission, and three readings by the Board of Supervisors. The review process is designed to review all applications thoroughly against the development standards outlined in Linn County’s utility-scale solar ordinance. Additional standards may be imposed as part of the review process.
Dates for the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting and the Board of Supervisors three required readings will be announced once they are scheduled.
TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
When: Thursday, May 19, 2022
Time: 9-11:30 a.m.
Where: Linn County Public Service Center, Lower Level | 935 2nd St. SW, Cedar Rapids
Dial-in Number: +1 (786) 535-3211 | Access Code: 738-235-533
Join meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone:
https://meet.goto.com/738235533
Virtual attendees using a computer, tablet, or smartphone to connect will be able to view case presentations, but will be unable to view presenters or committee members.
Requirements for the Solar Review Process
All utility-scale solar projects require an application to rezone the area to be used for the solar installation to (RE) Renewable Energy Overlay Zoning District.
Once an applicant submits a utility-scale solar application to Linn County Planning & Development, the review process begins. This process is robust and includes benchmark reviews from the Technical Review Committee, Planning & Development staff, and the Planning & Zoning Commission before any application is presented to the Board of Supervisors.
The review process is the same for all utility-scale solar applicants:
- Applicants must undergo a review by the Technical Review Committee (TRC), the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC), and three readings by the Board of Supervisors. These are public meetings. The TRC meeting is open to the public but is not a public hearing (no public comments are taken). The PZC meeting is a public hearing where the public can comment on the application.
- The Planning & Zoning Commission must consider the Technical Review Committee's findings and staff recommendation of the application, and must consider the proposed rezoning during at least one public meeting before submitting its findings and recommendation of approval or denial on the application to the Board of Supervisors.
- The Board of Supervisors will hold three public hearings for the rezoning request before making their final decision.
- All recommendations, including the final decision by the Board of Supervisors, must be based on the development standards for utility-scale solar contained in Linn County's Code of Ordinances section 107-117 (h). Additional standards may be imposed as part of the review process.
- Linn County will notify the applicant and surrounding property owners of the date and time of the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting and public hearing and invite them to attend.
Get notified of future meetings and agendas once they are scheduled.
Find more information about the utility-scale solar permitting process in Linn County at LinnCountyIowa.gov/SolarFarms.