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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20252935 Hearing Certification Docket No. 2025-74 Board of County Commissioners Weld County, Colorado Use by Special Review Permit, USR25-0016, for a Solar Energy Facility (SEF) outside of subdivisions and historic townsites in the A (Agricultural) Zone District — Patricia Buxman, do Pivot Solar 66, LLC, Pivot Solar 67, LLC, and Pivot Solar 68, LLC A public hearing was conducted on November 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with the following present: Commissioner Perry L. Buck, Chair Commissioner Scott K. James, Pro-Tem Commissioner Jason S. Maxey Commissioner Lynette Peppler Commissioner Kevin D. Ross Also present: Acting Clerk to the Board, Jan Warwick Deputy County Attorney, Karin McDougal Department of Planning Services Representative, Matthew VanEyll Development Review Representative, Aaron Maurice The following business was transacted: I hereby certify that pursuant to a Notice dated September 17, 2025, and duly published September 19, 2025, in the Greeley Tribune, a public hearing was conducted to consider the request of Patricia Buxman, c/o Pivot Solar 66, LLC, Pivot Solar 67, LLC, and Pivot Solar 68, LLC, for Use by Special Review Permit, USR25-0016, 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. Matthew VanEyll, Department of Planning Services, presented a brief summary of the proposal, sharing the site is on 56 acres. He described the solar farm and its equipment, stated construction will take place with a crew of approximately 40 people, and there will be no night construction. He shared the project will have a lifespan of 20 to 40 years, operations and maintenance employees will be onsite up to eight (8) times per year for up to four (4) hours per day. He reviewed the water and sewer provisions and explained no permanent water and sewer will be required once the SEF is operational. He explained the Dust Mitigation Plan indicated methods such as water trucks, stone, mulch, and wind breaks will be used, as necessary, and the site will be revegetated. Mr. VanEyll shared a Noise Narrative was submitted, the Decommission Plan is under review, and he described the sign posting and reviewed the Code criteria. He shared 12 surrounding cc.Pt-CDC/Mu/DA/►.1/4v/KR) 2025-2935 i2 Az/2.5 PL2977 Hearing Certification (USR25-0016) — Patricia Buxman, do Pivot Solar 66, LLC, Pivot Solar 67, LLC, and Pivot Solar 68, LLC Page 2 property owners (SPOs) were noticed, and no correspondence was returned. Mr. VanEyll explained the site is located within the three (3) mile referral area of the City of Greeley, and the Coordinated Planning Area of the Town of Severance who returned a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) with no comments, the City of Greeley returned a NOI with advisory comments. He stated a Noise Report, Drainage Report and Traffic Narrative were submitted, and shared agrivoltaics will be utilized. Mr. VanEyll entered the neutral recommendation of the Planning Commission into the record, as written, and displayed images of the site and surrounding views. Aaron Maurice, Department of Planning Services, Development Review, stated there is an existing permitted access onto County Road (CR) 66, which is a collector road, and shared the latest average daily traffic counted 228 vehicles per day, with 31% trucks and the 85th percentile speed is 45 mph. He explained, during construction, the traffic predicted will consist of conex container trucks, semi-trucks, delivery trucks, and passenger vehicles. He relayed the Development Review team has required a Road Maintenance Agreement, and a Drainage Narrative which qualifies for exemption of stormwater detention. Kyle Hockstad, Pivot Energy, in response to Chair Buck, indicated they had not had contact with any of the Commissioners regarding this case. Mr. Hockstad described the community partner programs the company is involved in. He then introduced Lisa Taylor, Bright Futures and Weld Trust, and she described the partnership they have with Pivot Solar, elaborating on the activities Pivot is involved in with the Bright Future students and an internship program. Mr. Hockstad elaborated on the project details and the community meetings held. He shared one (1) neighbor questioned screening, which will be vegetative screening on the south side of the project and opaque screening on the south and west side. He further described the agrivoltaics proposed for this particular location and a video presentation was displayed. Patricia Buxman, applicant, shared her belief of perceived agricultural land loss prior to the Planning Commission hearing, and she provided the history of the family and the agricultural history of the land. She shared Pivot Energy incorporates agriculture and works with the property owners in continuing agricultural viability of their parcels, including her desire to add an aviary under the panels to help pollinate plant life. In response to Commissioner Maxey, Mr. Hockstad stated maintenance of the vegetative screening will be provided by Pivot and confirmed there is an executed agreement with Xcel Energy. In response to Commissioner Peppier, Mr. Hockstad confirmed water will not be an issue, and proposed language to hold Pivot responsible for pursuing water as a Condition of Approval. Commissioner James commented the County should not be placed between the developer and the applicant regarding water. No public testimony was offered concerning this matter. 2025-2935 PL2977 Hearing Certification (USR25-0016) — Patricia Buxman, do Pivot Solar 66, LLC, Pivot Solar 67, LLC, and Pivot Solar 68, LLC Page 3 In response to Chair Buck, Mr. Hockstad, on behalf of the applicants, indicated they have reviewed, and agreed to abide by, the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards, as presented. The Board reviewed the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards. Commissioner Maxey requested DS #19 regarding lighting be stricken. Ms. McDougal reminded the Board financial contributions cannot be a consideration in the decision of the request. The Board agreed to the aforementioned change. No public testimony was offered regarding changes made to the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards. Commissioner Maxey moved to approve the request of Patricia Buxman, do Pivot Solar 66, LLC, Pivot Solar 67, LLC, and Pivot Solar 68, LLC, for Use by Special Review Permit, USR25-0016, 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, with the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards, as amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner James and it carried unanimously. There being no further discussion, the hearing was completed at 10:47 a.m. (Clerk's Note: Teams recording start timestamp 15:14) 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 19th day of November, A.D., 2025: Perry L. Buck, Chair: Aye Scott K. James, Pro-Tern: Aye '' r .7*�, Jason S. Maxey: Aye r '40 -��ttYlr Lynette Peppler: Aye Kevin D. 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