E-Town council votes to decline solar farm annexation request

The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Monday.

The council voted to decline the annexation request from seven property owners along Hayden Church and Cecilia roads that would be leasing their property to Lightsource BP for a solar farm. 

“The city council emphasizes the administrative staff finding that the large-scale solar farm proposed is not urban in character and is not suitable for development for urban purposes without unreasonable delay,” said City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the municipal order approved by the council to decline the request. “This finding is further supported by Telesto’s memorandum, indicating the need for minimal municipal services for the project.”

The order “does not express an opinion on the viability or suitability of a large-scale solar farm in the unincorporated areas of Hardin County.”

The council also approved municipal orders that approved a contract with Dirt Works Unlimited for about $214,000 for the Keeneland Drive ditch stormwater design project, and a change order with Triumph Landscape Construction Inc. for about $133,000 for the North Main Street sidewalk project. 

Ordinances approving changes to the city’s zoning ordinance regarding medical cannabis operations and offsite directional signs were passed on their second readings. The first reading was held on two zoning amendments as well as an amendment to the city’s Alcohol Beverage Control ordinance.

“It reestablishes annual licensing fees, reaffirms times of sale, added language for the Entertainment Destination Center License and ordinance, clarified language and enforcement and penalties, and reestablishes procedures for enforcement of the ordinance,” Howard said, reading from the ordinance

The full text of the ordinances and municipal orders can be obtained by contacting the city clerk’s office.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet December 2.