Council Calls Public Hearing On Solar Farm Moratorium Ordinance
A public hearing on a proposed ordinance establishing a moratorium on large commercial solar facilities has been set by the St. James Parish Council for Wednesday, August 17th, at 6:00 p.m. Attorney Vic Frankiewitz, special counsel to the Parish in matters pertaining to the Land Use Plan, said the proposed ordinance will apply to solar facilities over three acres in size. If the ordinance is passed, the moratorium will be in effect until next March to allow time for South Central Planning and Development to do a study on the effect large solar facilities would have on the geographical area and the local sugarcane industry. St. James Parish officials are planning new roadways, widening existing roads and the parish hospital is planning to build a new west bank clinic near the intersection of Hwys. 3127 and 20 in Vacherie. The parish is hoping to attract new homeowners to the area and officials are unsure what effect the solar facilities would have on their plans.




