One neighbor thinks a proposed 94-acre solar energy farm is getting lax treatment by the city. But, the Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission approved the farm’s rezoning request and plan on Thursday night anyway.
Cypress Creek Renewables is asking that the city rezone the land from agricultural to a planned district, which would allow construction of the solar farm in east Columbia but give the city some control over how the land is developed.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve the proposal and recommend that the Columbia City Council approve the rezoning.
A staff report to the commission supported the approval, as did city planner Rusty Palmer.
The land, which lies south of Interstate 70 Drive Southeast near St. Charles Road, is owned by Dunlop Developments and is being leased to Cypress Creek. Cypress Creek will operate under the name “Truman Solar” and has a contract with Columbia to help the city reach its renewable energy targets, according to previous Missourian reporting. The city plans to have 25 percent of its electric retail sales purchased or generated from renewable sources by 2023.
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