Ramona Neighbors Voice Objections to Proposed Solar Farm

The Ramona Community Planning Group has delayed voting on a proposed solar farm on Warnock Drive until January, providing that the developers first pay a visit to the Design Review Board.

The project, referred to as a “Wholesale Distributed Generation Solar Project,” is being proposed by Sol Orchard, of Berkeley. The company specializes in solar photovoltaic power projects, partnering with local property owners around the state.

Sol Orchard representatives made a presentation to the planning group at its Dec. 1 meeting. Several changes had been made to the plans since Sol Orchard first appeared before the group.

The company is proposing setting up its 8-feet-high, ground-mounted panels on 45 acres on a at 1650 Warnock Drive, bordered by Ramona Street. Sol Orchard has offered a 25-year lease to property owner Mark Bousema.

Sol Orchard is seeking approval from the group so it can proceed with obtaining a major use permit from the county. Information the developers received from the county indicated that they did not need to go before Ramona’s Design Review Board.

The planning group disagreed, however, and asked the developers if they would be willing to meet with the board at its Dec. 15 meeting.

“No one ever asked us,” project consultant Chris Brown said. “We didn’t sidestep anybody. We didn’t say we didn’t want to go to the Design Review Board.”

Planning Group member Chris Anderson, who also sits on the Design Review Board, said the county’s instructions do not comply with the Ramona Community Plan. The plan prohibits chain-link fencing in Ramona and no fencing may exceed 6 feet in height. According to the developers and county representative Larry Hofreiter, who also was at the Dec. 1 meeting, approval was given by the county for a 6-feet-high chain-link fence; however, it was the suggestion of the south subcommittee that the fence be raised to 8 feet.

Anderson also told the developers there is an expert in landscaping on the Design Review Board who would be able to give advice on the types of plants and shrubbery that do well in Ramona and that are fast growing. The developers mentioned planting ivy that would eventually cover the chain-link fence.

While some of the planning group members expressed negative opinions of the proposed solar farm, others were in favor of it. Bob Hailey, chairman of the south subcommittee, said his group voted unanimously for the project to proceed.

Planning group member Chad Anderson also spoke in favor of the project, while others remarked that a solar farm is an industrial project and does not belong in an agricultural area. Several neighbors also voiced their disapproval of the proposed project.

“This proposal is to sell a power plant in a farming area set aside for agricultural,” neighbor Ken Brennecke said, mentioning that some of the materials used could be poisonous and cause contamination to the soil.

“It should not be allowed,” he added.

His wife, Patricia Brennecke, commented on the rural nature of the neighborhood and said it should be preserved as a rural area.

Donna Myers lives across the road from the hog farm. She urged the planning group to deny the developers’ bid for a major-use permit.

“This is a misnomer,” Myers said. “This is not a solar farm. This is an industrial project. This is the destruction of the agricultural land in Ramona. It is totally not appropriate.”

Kathy DeSilva, who lives on nearby San Vicente Road, called it “an industrial operation on agricultural land,” suggesting it would be better if it were located further out of town.

“They can go to the outskirts of town where we don’t have to drive past it,” she said. “We don’t have to have it in the community.”

After much discussion from those in attendance and members of the planning group, it was a unanimous vote by the planning group to have the developers return to the January meeting after making an appearance at the Dec. 15 Design Review Board.

In other business, Bill Saumier, senior park project manager with the county Parks and Recreation Department—now assigned to the Ramona area—said federal funding from a Community Development Block Grant has become available for Ramona.

Projects for and the Wellfield Park have benefited from the funding in the past. Richard Tomlinson, chairman of the parks subcommittee, maintains a list of projects and has asked for community input for new ideas. He can be contacted by email at: notcivil@cox.net.

The list will be prioritized by the parks subcommittee, go to the planning group for approval, and then be submitted to Saumier.

The next planning group meeting begins at 7 p.m. Jan. 5 at Ramona Library community room, 1275 Main St.