Solar farm rezone continued to Feb. 1

The decision on rezoning 1,200 acres of Russell Township land to allow for a solar farm will wait at least a few more weeks.

A rezoning request by Cold Spring Solar LLC was not considered by the Putnam County Plan Commission on Monday, as notification had not been made to necessary property owners in a timely manner.

The matter has been continued to a special meeting set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 in the Commissioners Meeting Room on the first floor of the Putnam County Courthouse.

Monday’s meeting was the first by the Plan Commission since Putnam County implemented a new unified development ordinance to govern its zoning regulations.

Under the terms of the new UDO, the question of allowing a solar farm comes before the Plan Commission, as it requires a rezone from Ag 1 (rural preservation) classification to Natural Resources.

Previously, such a matter was a special exception to be decided by the Board of Zoning Appeals. In September, the BZA denied the request by developer Tenaska and ultimate solar farm owner Arevon Energy by a 5-1 count.

Now that such a decision is under the purview of the Plan Commission, which is advisory in nature, the ultimate decision is up to the Putnam County Commissioners, who have already shown themselves to be generally favorable to the solar project, having negotiated a $5.7 million economic development agreement with Arevon.

Tenaska has now completed its involvment in the development of the project, and Arevon is moving forward as the owner of the project.

The Putnam County Council also granted a personal property tax abatement on the solar equipment in late 2022.

At issue is whether or not Tenaska and Arevon are able to build a 200-megawatt solar farm near a Duke Energy trunk line in the northwestern portion of the county.

One matter that was decided by the Plan Commission Monday was recommending the approval of the rezoning of 15 acres of land in western Marion Township for Bethel Baptist Church to construct a new building. The land went from A1 to A2, which allows for construction of a church, based on a special exception already approved by the BZA.

The new location is on the north side of County Road 50 South about a half mile east of County Road 300 East. The move will bring the church from its current location at 7484 E. Range Line Rd., about 2.5 miles east of Fillmore, to partway between Fillmore and Greencastle.

The commissioners will consider the Bethel rezoning request during their meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16.