The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutSP202100006 Narrative 2021-02-26Landfill Solar Facilities - SUP Toble of Contents SECTION 1: PROJECT NARRATIVE................................................................................................ 3 General Project Information..................................................................................................................................3 ProjectProposal....................................................................................................................................................4 Consistency with Comprehensive Plan...................................................................................................................5 Impacts on Public Facilities and Public Infrastructure............................................................................................5 Impacts on Environmental Features......................................................................................................................6 SECTION 2: EXHIBITS................................................................................................................... 7 Exhibit A: Special Use Permit Application Form.....................................................................................................8 Exhibit B: Pre -Application Checklist from Albemarle County.................................................................................9 ExhibitC: Boundary Survey..................................................................................................................................10 Exhibit D: Project Tax Statement.........................................................................................................................11 Exhibit E: Owner Certification Form.....................................................................................................................12 Exhibit F: Map of Regional Context and Existing Conditions................................................................................13 Exhibit G: Project Conceptual Plan.......................................................................................................................14 Exhibit H: Statement on Noise Generation.......................................................................................................... 15 Exhibit I: Visual Impact Analysis........................................................................................................................... 16 Exhibitl: Glare Study...........................................................................................................................................17 Exhibit K: Decommissioning Plan......................................................................................................................... 18 Exhibit L: Construction Phasing Plan.................................................................................................................... 19 ExhibitM: Landscape Plan................................................................................................................................... 20 Exhibit N: Cultural Resources Review................................................................................................................... 21 Exhibit O: Impact on Adjacent Property Values...................................................................................................22 Exhibit P: Economic Impact Analysis.................................................................................................................... 23 Exhibit Q: Wildlife Impact Report........................................................................................................................24 Exhibit R: Statement on Pollinator Impact........................................................................................................... 25 Page 2 of 30 Ivy Landfill Solar Facilities - SUP Application ExhibitS: Adverse Impact Statement...................................................................................................................26 Exhibit T: Statement on Landfill Soils and Project Impact....................................................................................27 Exhibit U: Statement on Transmission Capacity...................................................................................................28 ExhibitV: Emergency Services Information..........................................................................................................29 Section 1: Project Narrative General Project Information Project Community Power Group, LLC Applicant/Facility Contact: Amberli Young Owner 202-844-6426 5636 Connecticut Ave NW #42729 Washington, DC 20015 Site Owner/Operator Rivanna Solid Waste Authority Contact: Executive Director 434-977-2970 695 Moores Creek Lane Charlottesville, VA 22902 Site Address/Parcel Ivy Material Utilization Center Information 4576 Dick Woods Rd Charlottesville, VA 22903 Parcel ID: 07300-00-00-02800 Total Parcel Acreage: 300.59 Proposed Solar Facility The proposed project is comprised of three 1MWac solar facilities to be located on the capped landfill area. The solar panels will be installed for electricity generation on the areas with the most stable topography of the landfill area, to the interior of the site. Size of Parcel/Project The total parcel size is 300.59 acres. The total project area will be Area approximately 15 acres, pending Dominion Interconnection approval. Current Use Zoning: Rural Areas The parcel is currently used as a capped landfill and waste & recycling center. Construction Period The construction period of this project is expected to take three months. An estimated completion date for this project is June 2022. Major Equipment • Solar Panels: Jinko TR Bifacial 72M 535W Selected Count: 8,064 panels Area covered: 5.04 acres • Inverters: CPS SCH100/125KTL-DO 125kW Count: 24 inverters Area covered:0.004 acres Page 3 of 30 Ivy Landfill Solar Facilities - SUP Application • Racking: GameChange Solar Precast Ballasted Ground System Point of The proposed solar facilities will be wired to transformers located Interconnection near an existing three-phase utility pole in the western side of the parking lot. The interconnection of each of the three systems will occur in this area with customer -owned utility poles installed as part of construction. Project Proposal The Community Power Group ("CPG") is excited to present this Special Use Permit application for our Ivy Landfill Solar Facilities project, to be located at the Ivy Material Utilization Center at 4576 Dick Woods Road. This project is being developed in partnership with the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority, and it is comprised of three 1MW solar facilities to be located on portions of the capped landfill. The Ivy Landfill is located in the Rural Areas zoning district of Albemarle County, requiring a Special Use Permit for commercial solar facilities. o Public need or benefit This Project will provide a number of benefits to the public, including providing renewable energy to reduce area carbon emissions and criteria pollutants. This site represents a property already designated for a landfill to support an additional use that is sustainable. The project is also designed to comply with the requirements of the Virginia Clean Economy Act in order to help Dominion Virginia meet their regulatory requirements for renewable energy, including developing 1MW sites for renewable energy credits, and developing on "previously -developed" sites. o How the special use will not be a substantial detriment to adjacent lots Solar facilities do not cause significant impacts to surrounding sites because they do not produce significant noise, dust, fumes, or light during their operation. The proposed project would be screened from surrounding residential lots due to existing vegetation, and because the systems will be sited on areas of the landfill that have settled. o How the character of the zoning district will not be changed by the proposed special use Because this project is taking advantage of a previously -developed landfill site, the agricultural and low -density character of the "Rural Areas" zoning district will be maintained. o How special use will be in harmony with: ■ Purpose and intent of zoning ordinance Page 4 of 30 Ivy Landfill Solar Facilities - SUP Application We aim to fully comply with the regulations of the zoning ordinance, and are proposing a project that is permitted by special use permit. Uses permitted by right in the zoning district Because the proposed project is located on a previously -developed site, will be low to the ground, and will take advantage of existing access roads and parking, there will be no effects on other uses permitted by right in the district. Regulations provided in Section 5 of zoning ordinance as applicable There are no regulations in Section 5 regarding solar facilities. The public health, safety, and general welfare This project will have no impact of the public health, safety, and general welfare. We feel that solar facilities represent a quiet, unobtrusive use that toes not result in significant impacts for the surrounding communities. We will comply with all building, fire, environmental, and other applicable codes of Albemarle County and the State of Virginia during the construction of these facilities, including procuring on amendment to the closed landfill permit for the site. o Details such as number of persons, operating hours, unique features of use The proposed solar facilities will not require any onsite staff. It is expected that annual maintenance visits will be performed by a 1-2-person team of technicians, who will be able to utilize existing site parking and access points. This use will have no impact on existing operations at the Ivy Material Utilization Center. Consistency with Comprehensive Plan The Albemarle Comprehensive Plan recognizes the Ivy Material Utilization Center as one of only two closed landfill sites in Albemarle County. Because the site has already received a closed landfill permit, there is little else that can be done with this land. By siting these facilities on a closed landfill, other areas designated for uses such as agriculture or residential development are preserved for those uses. Impacts on Public Facilities and Public Infrastructure The Community Power Group attests that the proposed Ivy Landfill Solar Facilities will not have significant material impacts on public facilities and public infrastructure, as it will not be Page 5 of 30 Ivy Landfill Solar Facilities - SUP Application connected to any systems for water, sewage, and stormwater. The facility will not generate any additional traffic beyond what is currently expected for the Ivy Material Utilization Center, as the solar facilities require no daily staff and only annual maintenance visits by a team of 1-2 technicians. The proposed project will not have any impact on public transportation facilities, public safety facilities, public school facilities, or public parks. There will be no permanent staff or residents located at the project site. CPG will communicate with Albemarle County emergency service providers in advance of project construction regarding access to the site in the case of fire. Impacts on Environmental Features Community Power Group has performed several due diligence activities for this project in regards to the surrounding environmental features to ensure this project does not generate any significant impact. Because the project would be located on a closed landfill, the solar project will have to take extra precautions not penetrate the landfill cap or cause any issues for the landfill maintenance. CPG expects to apply with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to amend the landfill closure permit for the solar facilities, and CPG has experience designing and installing solar facilities on top of closed landfills. The local Virginia Ecological Services Field Office issued a determination for the project that Northern Long-eared Bats, which are a threatened species, are located within the general area of the project but there are no critical habits within the project area. A review of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries online Northern Long-eared Bat map shows that no roosts or habitats are shown in the vicinity. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of Natural Heritage issued a determination for the project that no natural heritage resources have been documented within the project boundary and a 100-foot buffer. Page 6 of 30