Crook County Board of Commissioners Hearing 2 - TSRN Solar Goal Exception

NOTICE OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER HEARINGS

Notice is hereby given that the Crook County Board of County Commissioners will hold two public hearings that begin at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, 2025 and Wednesday, June 18, 2025, to consider the following:

The first and second readings of Ordinance 351 - An Ordinance Adding an Exception Area to the Crook County Comprehensive Plan and Declaring an Emergency: Land Use Application 217-20-000887-PLNG (Comprehensive Plan Amendment) – The Applicant received approval to modify to the existing conditional use permit for the TSR North Solar facility (217-19-000378) to expand a commercial photovoltaic solar project from approximately 320 acres to approximately 585 acres. Commercial solar facilities are allowed as conditional uses under Crook County Code 18.16.020 and Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS 215.283) and are subject to review under Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 660-033-130(38), Crook County Code 18.160 (Conditional Uses) and 18.161 (Commercial Power Generating Facilities).  Here, the Applicant is requesting an exception to Statewide Planning Goal 3 (Agricultural Lands) for a commercial photovoltaic solar facility that uses, occupies, or covers more than 320 acres of nonarable lands, as required by Oregon Administrative Rules 660-033 and OAR 660-004.  The property is located approximately 4 miles southwest of the center of Prineville and on the south side of Hwy 126, also identified as Township 15 S, Range 15 E WM, tax lot 1223.

The hearing is being held pursuant to Crook County Code (CCC) 18.172 (Administration Provisions) and 18.170 (Quasi-Judicial Amendments). A notice of public hearing and location maps are being mailed to all affected property owners, and to the appropriate entities and public agencies at least 10 days prior to the Board of County Commissioners hearing.

The hearing will be conducted pursuant to CCC 18.172.081. Interested members of the public may provide oral testimony in favor, opposed, or neutral to the application. Written testimony or comments may be submitted to the Crook County Community Development Department by email at plan@crookcountyor.gov and may also be submitted in person or by mail to 300 NE 3rd St, Room 12, Prineville, OR 97754. Written testimony will continue to be accepted until the records close, which may occur as soon as the conclusion of the public hearing.

Failure to raise an issue at the hearing, in person, or by letter, or to provide sufficient specificity to afford the decision maker an opportunity to respond to the issue, precludes an appeal to the Land Use Board of Appeals based on that issue.

A copy of the application, all documents, and evidence relied upon by the applicant along with the applicable criteria are available for inspection at no cost and copies can be provided in accordance with the County’s fee schedule. Please contact the Planning Division at (541)447-3211, ext. 1 or plan@crookcountyor.gov to schedule a time to inspect or to request copies. Documents are also available on the County’s website,  https://co.crook.or.us/meetings.

A copy of the staff report and meeting materials will be available at https://co.crook.or.us/meetings at least seven days prior to the hearing at no cost.