June 19, 2015
Virginia

Dominion opposing zoning plan for Tazewell County’s Eastern District

Jim Talbert | SWVa Today | June 19, 2015 | www.swvatoday.com

Round two of the windmill battle may be about to get underway.

Dominion Power, the company that wants to place them on East River Mountain has sent a letter expressing opposition to the eastern district zoning proposal. The letter also states the company intends to pursue a wind farm on 2,600 acres it owns on the mountain.

“As currently written, the ordinance would zone approximately 2,600 acres of DVP owned property on East River Mountain as Rural Residential R-1. This is the most restrictive zoning in the ordinance and would curtail development of the property as a wind farm,’ the letter stated.

It also states Dominion believes in an all of the above policy relating to energy and intends to pursue wind, coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydro and solar as sources. “With that goal in mind, DVP remains convinced that Tazewell County has the necessary resources for development of utility scale wind project and we wish to preserve our option to responsibly develop this project in the future.

Taken in conjunction with the existing Tall Structure Regulation Ordinance, which we also opposed, the proposed zoning ordinance would establish a policy which significantly deters wind development.

Beyond that, the rural residential zoning of just DVP’s property is inconsistent with recommended rezoning of other land adjacent to ours. Those parcels would be placed in the least restrictive zoning district. I would also point out that rezoning our property R-1 would be inconsistent with the county’s current Comprehensive Plan. Isolating only DVP’s property with this restrictive zoning seems arbitrary,’ the letter ends by saying.

A zoning ordinance for the eastern district has been developed but has not been voted on by either the planning commission or the board of supervisors. A representative of Dominion attended the June planning commission meeting but did not address the board.

The commission plans to hold a community forum on the zoning ordinance but has not set a date.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/06/19/dominion-opposing-zoning-plan-for-tazewell-countys-eastern-district/