UPDATE: The Baldwin County Commission said the results of the Stockton Planning & Zoning Vote were in favor of zoning.
Vote Results:
Yes- 215
No- 161
ORIGINAL STORY:
STOCKTON, Ala. (WALA) – Residents in Stockton and Planning District 3 are casting ballots Tuesday on whether to create a new zoning district that would give the community more control over how land in the area is developed.
A yes vote would automatically initiate a 180-day moratorium on new development. During that time, an advisory committee of local residents would draft a plan for future land use in the area. A no vote would leave current conditions in place, with no zoning protections and limited county oversight over future development.
Movement rooted in solar farm opposition
The referendum effort began when residents pushed back against Silicon Ranch’s plans for a 4,500-acre solar farm in the area. Organizers hoped to get the moratorium in place before Silicon Ranch could submit permit applications for site work, which would have frozen the project. That did not happen.
Silicon Ranch met all county requirements to move forward by submitting several permit applications before the deadline. Baldwin County zoning officials said work could begin soon if the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sign off on the land use.
County says referendum has little effect on solar project
Baldwin County Planning and Zoning Director Jay Dickson said that even if the referendum passes, there is little the county can do to prevent Silicon Ranch from moving forward.
“For this particular solar farm, it has very little effect,” Dickson said.
Dickson further explained the conditional approval process.
“The conditional approval is saying you have met the county’s technical requirements, but before we can issue the full permit and the notice to proceed to construction, you have — we have to have proof of other state and federal agencies’ concurrence and the permits from those agencies,” the official said.
Baldwin County leaders said they stand ready to support whatever voters decide.
Polls close at 7 p.m.
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