The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 5-2 on April 1, 2025, to approve a conditional use permit (CUP) for the construction of a solar energy facility on a 36-acre parcel located at the southeast corner of Enon Road and Truslow Road in the Hartwood District.
The applicant, Enon Road Solar Farm and its representatives from Energy Systems and Applications (ESA), sought approval for two items: the CUP to operate a solar facility in the A-1 Agricultural zoning district, and authorization for the county to enter a decommissioning agreement.
The facility will occupy approximately 12.7 acres of the parcel, with solar panels grouped into two separate fenced areas. The remainder of the land, roughly 20 acres on the western side of the property, is designated as a conservation area that will remain undeveloped. The site includes intermittent streams and existing vegetation, which will be preserved where possible. A single entrance from Enon Road will provide access to the facility.
Staff from the Department of Planning and Zoning reviewed the application and noted that while the site is located within the county’s Urban Services Area, the proposal aligns with specific criteria in the county’s comprehensive plan that allow for solar facilities in such locations. Those criteria include limited site visibility, avoidance of wetlands and mature tree cover, and compatibility with surrounding rural land uses.
The applicant also submitted a request to reduce the required 50-foot landscape buffer along the eastern property line. The board ultimately voted to maintain the full 50-foot buffer in accordance with the Planning Commission’s original recommendation.
Conditions attached to the permit include fencing and landscape requirements, height limits for solar panels, noise mitigation standards, and a requirement to provide emergency access and training for local fire and rescue personnel. Construction activities will be limited to specified hours, and a $167,000 decommissioning bond will be posted to ensure proper removal and restoration at the end of the facility’s operational life.
The Planning Commission previously voted 4-3 in favor of the project on February 26, 2025.
The Board also approved, by a 5-2 vote, a decommissioning agreement between the county and the developer. The agreement outlines financial and procedural responsibilities for removing equipment and restoring the land when the facility ceases operations.
Public comments at the meeting reflected a mix of support and opposition. Supporters highlighted the project’s alignment with clean energy goals and its limited physical footprint, while opponents cited concerns about visual impact, potential effects on nearby properties, and long-term land use changes.
The votes approving both the conditional use permit and the decommissioning agreement concluded the county’s formal review of the project.
