The Pitt County Board of Commissioners will hold a quasi-judicial hearing on Monday, September 14, 2020 at or after 6:00pm regarding a request for a Conditional Use Permit. This hearing will be held in the Mark W. Owens, Jr. Auditorium in the Pitt County Agricultural Center located at 403 Government Circle, Greenville, N.C.
The Pitt County Planning Department is in receipt of a petition from Bethel NC 11 Solar, LLC requesting a Conditional Use Permit for the operation of a Solar Energy Facility (i.e., “solar farm”) as required in the Rural Agricultural district. The subject properties are identified by the Tax Assessor’s Office as Parcel 01783 owned by County Farms, LLC; Parcel 03106 owned by The Bunting Farms, Inc.; and Parcel 01798 owned by Charlie and Elizabeth Manning, all of which are located on SR 1500 (Big Oak Road) at its intersection with SR 1503 (Ford Road); a portion of Parcel 24611 owned by Wallace and Jeffrey James, located on the northern side of NC 30, east of its intersection with NC 11 North; and a portion of Parcel 09330 owned by Patsy G. White and Carrie Lin Gurganus, located on the southeastern corner of the intersection of NC 30 and NC 11 North. The subject properties are a combined total of 867.18 acres, of which approximately 316.64 acres are located within Pitt County’s jurisdiction and are proposed to be utilized for the solar farm. The remainder is located within the Town of Bethel’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and is not subject to the Conditional Use Permit. Citizens interested in obtaining additional information on the proposed Conditional Use Permit should contact the Pitt County Planning Department at (252-902-3250).
The public hearing will be held using quasi-judicial procedures. The purpose of the hearing is to establish facts related to the Conditional Use Permit request prior to consideration by the Board of Commissioners, not to gather opinions about the desirability or popularity of the request. Those persons wishing to speak to the Board shall be considered witnesses and shall provide testimony under oath. Testimony must be supported by substantial, competent, and material evidence. Cross examination of witnesses is permitted. Please be aware that members of the Board may not discuss particulars of the case with any party outside of the public hearing.