Planners put conditions on utility’s solar proposal
By a 10-3 vote, Ramona Community Planning Group approved with conditions San Diego Gas & Electric’s solar plant proposal for Creelman Lane.
Officials for the SDG&E project attended the Jan. 15 meeting and talked about changes they have made to their plans based on community feedback. A major use permit is required for the project.
“You guys have come a long way since you first came to us,” said planning group chair Jim Piva.
Just over a year ago, SDG&E gave its first presentation to the planning group for a proposed 5-megawatt photo voltaic solar facility on the company’s 17.5 acres at the northwest corner of Creelman Lane and Ashley Road. SDG&E has a substation at the end of Creelman Lane, which is a dirt road.
Creelman Lane residents asked that SDG&E pave the road, saying construction would increase the dust they already experience from utility trucks on the road. SDG&E said its construction traffic will access the site from Ashley Road, a paved road.
Other neighborhood concerns regarded landscaping, panel glare, traffic, property devaluation and storm water drainage on Ashley Road. SDG&E said it will use panels with non-reflective coating.
During the past year, SDG&E met with the planning group’s Transportation and Trails Subcommittee and Ramona Design Review Board.
Project representative Eric Johnston with Independent Energy Solutions, said, based on the groups’ and the county’s concerns, “We’ve put a lot of time and effort and changes into it.”
Joe Frani, SDG&E project manager, said they increased the number of landscaping plants from about 464 to over 1,500. Other elements to prevent public views of the solar panels include ornamental berms on the south side of the project and a green screen behind the property’s chain link fence until the landscaping matures. Officials said the landscaping will be maintained for the life of the project — typically 20 to 25 years.
What happens after that, asked Kristi Mansolf, planning group secretary. Most likely it would be redeveloped with the latest solar system technology, said Johnston.
Piva said he received a letter from the county’s Planning and Development Services stating that SDG&E will pay its fair share into improving Creelman Lane from San Vicente Road to the project’s driveway entrance near Ashley, and that the county expects to improve that portion of the road within two years.
SDG&E representatives said they hope to start the project in one year.
Although neighbors still ask that SDG&E pave all the way to its substation, Ian Stewart, SDG&E regional public affairs manager, said they are regulated by the state public utilities commission and have a cost cap on the project.
“When they say you can’t go above this, there’s no wiggle room,” Stewart said.
A pathway to be installed on Creelman Lane as part of the plan drew concerns from planners, who say a pathway created with the solar project at Ramona Street and Warnock Drive is not what was promised and is not maintained. Planner Richard Tomlinson said SDG&E’s pathway should be constructed to county trails standards.
The planning group’s approval was with the following conditions with planners Donna Myers, Elio Noyas and Dan Scherer dissenting, and Eb Hogervorst and Barbara Jensen absent.
A pathway be constructed to county trail construction standards along Creelman Lane and Ashley along entire project boundary.
Appropriate road constructed and paved according to county standards from San Vicente to Ashley.
Prohibit construction deliveries from 6 to 8 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. when school is in operation.
Install appropriate storm water management systems to preclude water backup onto Ashley.
The landscaping plan details maintenance schedule for landscaping and identifies responsible parties for maintenance and ensuring dead plants are replaced at a one to one ratio.