Solar farms up for discussion in Reno County

NICKERSON, Kan. (KSNW) – Monday night, a town hall meeting in Nickerson discussed the future of solar farms in Reno County. Reno County currently bans large-scale commercial farms, and commissioners are considering lifting the moratorium.

While Monday is important to whether or not portions of Reno County are zoned, leaders tell KSN this is just a chance to get community input.

As it stands, only 1/3 of Reno County is adherent to zoning laws. Reno County officials are adamant that zoning the remaining 2/3 of the Reno County would be beneficial.

“Zoning will regulate land usage. When you’re an unzoned property, then there are no zoning regulations, and you can do whatever you want with your property, but so can your neighbor,” said Reno County Planner Mark Vonachen.

They say zoning is the difference between having a say in what is built around your property, like solar or wind farms.

“Solar and wind are types of land usage that zoning can regulate, and when you’re unzoned, those land uses are not regulated by zoning, so they can just go into a property area,” said Vonachen.

Some residents, like Melony Ball, don’t see the benefit. They call zoning a double-edged sword, limiting what they can do with their property

“I hear what they’re saying about other people being able to come in and do. But if your livelihood is out of your garage,” said Ball. “It would just be nice to have those freedoms and to not have government control over that.”

Two more town hall meetings are scheduled across Reno County this month: July 22 in Arlington and July 23 in Pretty Prairie.

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