Pursuant to Section 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia, notice is hereby given that the Sussex County Board of Supervisors and Sussex Planning Commission will hold a joint public hearing on Monday, August 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Sussex Central High School, 21394 Sussex Drive, Stony Creek, Virginia 23882 in the Auditorium.

The Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors will consider, and may take action upon, the following:

Conditional Use Permit #2024-03: The applicant, Winfield Solar, seeks a Conditional Use Permit to construct and operate a 76-megawatt, photovoltaic, utility-scale solar generation facility (the “Project”) on portions of 4 tax map parcels identified as (Tax Map Parcels 88-A-8, 88-A-34/88-A-35, 89-A-2, and 89-A-1) collectively consisting of 851 acres. The project will consist of three (3) phases. The total fenced area is approximately 502 acres, which equates to approximately 58.9% of the total acreage under the proposed CUP. The Project would be located on property in the Rural Planning Area and the Courthouse Election District, approximately 0.9 mile from the Sussex County Courthouse along Sussex Drive (Rt. 40) and properties located in the area of Optimist Road (Rt. 733). The Project infrastructure will consist primarily of bifacial photovoltaic panels, racking systems to support the panels, tracking systems, inverters, transformers, cabling, breakers and switches and security fencing. Each of the three phases will have their own interconnection to the Dominion distribution grid. Phase 1 will interconnect to the distribution grid on the south side of Sussex Drive (Rt. 40). Phase 2 and 3 will interconnect to the distribution system at the Sappony Substation which is approximately 10 miles west of the Project on the north side of Sussex Drive (Rt. 40). The applicant is in discussion with Dominion about joint use of power poles to run power lines for Phase 2 and 3 to the point of interconnection at the Sappony Substation. The applicant proposes setbacks of 150 feet around the project perimeter and 300 feet from adjacent residential properties. The applicant intends to retain an existing vegetation buffer along most of the perimeter boundary. Where vegetation doesn’t exist, a berm will be built and trees will be planted for screening.

Citizens are encouraged to attend and comment during the public hearing. Comments may also be submitted in writing to sricks@sussexcountyva.gov or via mail to the County Administration, P. O. Box 1397, 20135 Princeton Road, Sussex, VA 23884, no later than noon on Monday, August 5, 2024. Any persons needing assistance or accommodations under the provisions of the American Disabilities Act should contact Michael Poarch at 434-246-1043 at least seven (7) days in advance of the hearing.

A copy of the proposed Conditional Use Permit application along with supporting documentation, are available for review in the Department of Planning and Zoning during regular business hours Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., phone number (434) 246-1000.