HomeMy WebLinkAbout20251289.tiffHearing Certification
Docket No. 2025-22
Board of County Commissioners
Weld County, Colorado
Use by Special Review Permit, USR24-0027, for a Solar Energy Facility (SEF)
outside of subdivisions and historic townsites in the A (Agricultural) Zone District
— Coors Energy Company, c/o ENGIE Distributed Renewables Development, LLC
A public hearing was conducted on May 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with the following
present:
Commissioner Perry L. Buck, Chair — Excused
Commissioner Scott K. James, Pro-Tem
Commissioner Jason S. Maxey
Commissioner Lynette Peppier
Commissioner Kevin D. Ross
Also present:
Acting Clerk to the Board, Jess Reid
Deputy County Attorney, Karin McDougal
Department of Planning Services Representative, Diana Aungst
Development Review Representative, Aaron Maurice
The following business was transacted:
Ei I hereby certify that pursuant to a Notice dated April 16, 2025, and duly published
April 18, 2025, in the Greeley Tribune, a public hearing was conducted to consider the
request of Coors Energy Company, c/o ENGIE Distributed Renewables Development,
LLC, for Use by Special Review Permit, USR24-0027, for a Solar Energy Facility (SEF)
outside of subdivisions and historic townsites in the A (Agricultural) Zone District.
Karin McDougal, Deputy County Attorney, made this a matter of record.
Diana Aungst, Department of Planning Services, presented a brief summary of the
proposal, the general location of the site and stated 18 referrals were sent out and 11
agencies responded.
IE Chair Pro-Tem James reviewed for the applicant and the public, the procedures to
follow should this case result in a tie vote due to four (4) Commissioners being present
and Commissioner Buck being excused.
EJ Ms. Aungst continued, and relayed the hours of operation, number of employees,
number of on -site conex containers and noted there are no residences within 500 feet.
She shared, as the facility will be unmanned, portable toilets and bottled water are
acceptable during construction and noted a Decommissioning Plan had been submitted.
GG; PL(DE/MW/Dq/KR)
06/25b.S
2025-1289
PL2955
Hearing Certification (USR24-0027) — Coors Energy Company, c/o ENGIE Distributed
Renewables Development, LLC
Page 2
She provided the history of the property, including a Use by Special Review (USR) permit
and Certificate of Designation (CD) on the site. She described the surrounding zoning,
land uses, and USRs, and mentioned notice was sent to five (5) surrounding property
owners (SPOs), receiving no correspondence in return. She indicated the site is within
the three (3) mile referral area and the Coordinated Planning Agreement (CPA) area of
the Town of Keenesburg, who, after discussions with the applicant, does not wish to
pursue annexation. She shared, per the Department of Public Health and Environment,
as there are no permanent employees at the site, permanent water and sewer is not
required. She mentioned the Dust Mitigation Plan, the proposed vegetation, and the Noise
Memo details. Ms. Aungst entered the favorable recommendation of the Planning
Commission into the record, as written, and displayed images of the site and surrounding
views. In response to Commissioner Maxey, Ms. Aungst confirmed the boundaries of the
existing USR will be partially vacated.
Aaron Maurice, Department of Planning Services — Development Review, stated the
applicant is proposing to use unmaintained County Road (CR) 61 right-of-way to access
onto CR 59, in an area that is under jurisdiction of the Town of Keenesburg. He relayed
they will need to work with the Town of Keenesburg regarding permitting, and mentioned
a Final Drainage Report had been accepted and meets an exception for stormwater
detention.
John Heule, SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA), represented the applicant,
and in response to Pro-Tem James, indicated he had not had contact with any of the
Commissioners regarding this case. He stated ENGIE Distributed Renewables
Development, LLC, had contracted SWCA to assist with environmental due diligence and
permitting for the project, and introduced the rest of his team.
Navya Gundeti, ENGIE Distributed Renewables Development, LLC (ENGIE),
presented a PowerPoint presentation (Exhibit E), described ENGIE as a company, listed
their locations, and highlighted their presence in Colorado.
Ben Moline, Molson Coors Beverage Company (MCBC), stated the company has
been in Weld County since the 1970s and cited Senate Bill 21-261, which allows virtual
net metering. He relayed ENGIE will build the solar project and put the power onto the
Xcel grid, then Xcel virtually moves the energy to Golden. He described the history of the
site and the different means by which MCBC has been powered over the years, including
coal, other minerals, and natural gas. He relayed there is currently no active mining or
fly -ash disposal on the site and asserted most of the site has been reclaimed.
--"� Mr. Heule provided details about the energy produced, the construction and operation
activities, environmental diligence, decommissioning, the project benefits, including
increased property tax revenue, increased property values and accessibility to clean
2025-1289
PL2955
Hearing Certification (USR24-0027) — Coors Energy Company, c/o ENGIE Distributed
Renewables Development, LLC
Page 3
energy, and mentioned they agree to all of the Conditions of Approval (COAs).
Commissioner Maxey stated Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has no authority to
dictate the type of fencing required and made it known the applicant may install any fence
they feel meets their needs.
El No public testimony was offered concerning this matter.
El The Board discussed COA #1.F (comments from CPW) but no changes were made.
Ms. Aungst suggested striking Development Standard (DS) #14, as access will be
through the Town of Keenesburg, Commissioner Maxey suggested striking DS #19
(sources of light), as there will be no on -site lighting, and the Board agreed to all of the
aforementioned changes.
No public testimony was offered regarding changes made to the Conditions of
Approval and Development Standards.
El In response to Chair Buck, Ms. Gundeti indicated she had reviewed, and agreed to
abide by, the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards, as amended.
El Commissioner Ross moved to approve the request of Coors Energy Company, c/o
ENGIE Distributed Renewables Development, LLC, for Use by Special Review Permit,
USR24-0027, for a Solar Energy Facility (SEF) outside of subdivisions and historic
townsites in the A (Agricultural) Zone District, based on the recommendations of Planning
staff and the Planning Commission, with the Conditions of Approval and Development
Standards, as amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Maxey, and it
carried unanimously. There being no further discussion, the hearing was completed at
11:06 a.m.
The Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, approved the above
and foregoing Hearing Certification, on motion duly made and seconded, by the following
vote on the 11th day of June, A.D., 2025:
Perry L. Buck, Chair: Aye
Scott K. James, Pro-Tem: Aye
Jason S. Maxey: Aye
Lynette Peppier: Aye
Kevin D. Ross: Aye
Attest:
Esther E. Gesick, Clerk to the Board
2025-1289
PL2955
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