PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PROPERTY … Property owner Jan Stamm speaks to the Clinton Township Board of Zoning Appeals during Monday’s public hearing on the proposed solar project.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Clinton Township Board of Zoning Appeals met on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Clinton Township Building. Members of the board were present along with the township zoning inspector and legal counsel from the Fulton County Prosecutor’s Office.
Minutes from the previous meeting held on August 18 were approved before the board moved into its scheduled public hearing.
The purpose of the hearing was to consider a conditional use request filed by RWE Clean Energy for a proposed ground-mount solar installation near Wauseon on County Road 15 between County Road D and Leggett Street.
The project area involves a forty-five-acre parcel, with approximately twenty-seven acres planned for solar panels and related equipment. The land is currently used for agriculture.
Representatives from RWE gave an overview of the proposal, explaining that the project is designed as a five-megawatt facility connected to the local distribution grid.
Details were provided regarding fencing, setbacks, access roads, screening trees, and the planned pollinator seed mix that would be planted beneath the arrays.
RWE also reviewed anticipated tax payments through the state’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, estimating yearly revenue of $45,000. Engineering staff outlined environmental reviews, wetland buffers, drainage considerations, and long-term decommissioning requirements.
After the presentation, the board opened the floor to adjacent property owners and nearby residents who wished to speak. A large turnout filled the room, with most residents expressing opposition to the project’s location.
Residents from Fairway Lane, Fairway Court, and surrounding areas told the board they were concerned about having a commercial solar facility immediately bordering a dense residential subdivision.
Comments focused on land use compatibility, stormwater and drainage concerns, soil conditions, wildlife disruption, and the future development of the area near Homecoming Park.
Some residents also raised questions about notification timing, stating that the ten-day notice period was not enough time to review the proposal.
Others cited concerns about long-term zoning implications, potential expansion of similar projects, and the impact on nearby recreational areas. A petition containing several hundred signatures opposing the project was submitted to the board.
The property owner involved in the lease agreement addressed the board as well, providing background on the discussions that took place when selling the adjoining home and explaining why he chose to work with RWE after reviewing various energy leases over time.
Following the conclusion of public testimony, board members discussed the volume of questions raised and the need for additional time to monitor ongoing state-level legislative developments related to solar siting standards.
After deliberation, the Board of Zoning Appeals voted to table the conditional use request for a period of two years. Following this decision, the meeting was adjourned at 9:44 p.m.