Clearcutting of upland forests, due process failures at the public hearing, spot zoning, violations of local ordinances, and failure to adhere to the Brooks County’s own Comprehensive Plan are among the grounds on which landowners are going to sue to overturn the Commission’s unanimous decision at the beginning of August to approve a Special Exception for NextEra Energy of Juno Beach, Florida, to build a 150 megawatt solar farm on wooded wetlands.

Brooks County Commission hearing NextEra won’t agree to any jury trial, yet unanimously approving NextEra’s Special Exception, 2019-08-05

Here is the press release from their attorney, Jonathan Perry Waters of Macon, Georgia (see also PDF).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 29, 2019

LANDOWNERS CHALLENGE SOLAR EXCEPTION

Quitman, Georgia— August 29, 2019 — On Monday of this week, Brooks County Superior Court Judge Richard Cowart signed a Sanction for a Writ of Certiorari allowing a group of landowners in Brooks County to file a petition in the Superior Court of the County challenging the granting of a Special Exception Zoning permit by the Brooks County Board of Commissioners to Quitman II Solar, LLC to construct a 1,700 acre solar site in the an Agricultural Zoned area of the County. Quitman II Solar, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy, of Juno Beach, Florida.

Attorney Jonathan P. Waters

The landowners challenge the Board’s decision on several grounds, including: due process claims arising out of how the public hearing was held, violations of the local ordinances related to the “spot” zoning of the site, and violations of adhering to the Comprehensive Growth plan previously passed by the Board as it’s Official position on Growth.

As stated in the Petition, “The Board’s decision was contrary to the State of Georgia Proposed Model Solar Ordinance; which specifically states, “First and foremost, site solar energy systems to avoid clearcutting forests entirely.” This project as approved by the Board will result in clearcutting large portions of upland forests on the 1,700 Acre Miami Plantation.,”. “The Special Exception approval constitutes “spot zoning.” This Special Exception zoning decision is invalid because it is not in accordance with the County’s officially adopted Comprehensive Plan. It is a land use classification totally different from that of the surrounding area (Agricultural), for the benefit of the owner of such property and to the detriment of other neighboring owners in Brooks County”.

Context Map

The Attorney for the Landowners, Jonathan Perry Waters of Macon, Georgia states that, “Quitman II Solar, LLC’s industrial solar project is not compatible with this Agricultural Zoning District. The Brooks County vote was a Manifest abuse of zoning power to the oppression of the neighboring landowners. This poor site selection will destroy an upland forest, change the rustic setting of the

neighborhood and replace both with an industrial eyesore”.

You can see for yourself the Public Hearing and the Brooks County Commission’s decision in the WWALS videos.

See also WCTV report, maps, NextEra application, and other information in NextEra wants Solar Farm on wooded wetlands in Brooks County, GA 2019-06-18.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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