Final decision on Dover solar project expected Wednesday – York Dispatch
York Against the Grain: An artist finds her calling
June’s edition of York Against the Grain featuring York artist Steph Holmes.
York Dispatch
The long, arduous journey of Dover Township’s proposed solar farm could be nearing an end.
After many hours of public testimony across meetings stretching back to November 2021, the township’s zoning board is expected to make a final decision on the 600-acre project that’s estimate…….
York Against the Grain: An artist finds her calling
June’s edition of York Against the Grain featuring York artist Steph Holmes.
York Dispatch
The long, arduous journey of Dover Township’s proposed solar farm could be nearing an end.
After many hours of public testimony across meetings stretching back to November 2021, the township’s zoning board is expected to make a final decision on the 600-acre project that’s estimated to supply energy to power 12,000 homes per year.
Its detractors — most notably Keep Dover Beautiful, a nonprofit formed in direct opposition to the project — say the cost to farmland, residential property values, wildlife and the township is too great.
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“If somebody wants to put solar panels on the top of their roof, more power to them,” said Jeffrey Shoener, the group’s vice chair. “A business wants to install solar panels on top of their warehouse, go to it. What we are opposed to is an industrial complex of this size and magnitude.”
Enel Green Power project manager Brittany Staszak said the company was excited for Wednesday’s meeting.
“It’s the culmination of many months of hard work on our team and the panel of experts that we brought in from all over the country to address the concerns that the community has expressed,” she said.
Dover Township Manager Laurel Oswalt declined comment on the upcoming hearing. Several other officials did not respond to request for comment.
Staszak said Enel’s confident about the case they made that the project would generate long-term benefits for Dover Township and York County at large.
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The project has already received easements from 11 landowners to use their property for 30-40 years. It required a special use exemption by the Zoning Hearing Board, which was initially on the board’s November agenda.
Since then, the matter was repeatedly tabled and hearings held at a larger …….
