Council may deny battery storage center
Vacaville city staff are requesting the council not move forward with amending city code to allow a battery storage building to be constructed on the outskirts of town.
The Vacaville City Council will have its say on the matter at tonight's meeting, where it is scheduled to go for a vote.
According to a staff report by Community Development Director Erin Morris, Sacramento-based Corby Energy Storage LLC is proposing to initiate a zoning text amendment for a new technology park zoning district on a site current zoned for agricultural uses. The amendment would allow for the construction of a 300-megawatt battery energy storage system at the southeast corner of North Meridian and Midway roads.
“According to the Project Description, the applicant states the project would help the nation, state and utilities meet their renewable energy goals, and the project would provide substantial economic benefits through construction jobs, increased tax base, and increase in local business activity,” Morris wrote.
However, Morris wrote that staff is recommending a denial of the request due to a conflict with General Plan policies. Specifically, she cited a policy which states that “properties within the Northeast Growth Area designated as Technology Park and measuring over 100 acres in size are intended for large technology and business campuses. These properties shall not be subdivided into smaller parcels for the purpose of developing several unrelated uses.”
Morris wrote that the project did not consist of a business or technology campus and would subdivide a vacant 160-acre site to allow for a 24-acre parcel for the building, which she wrote conflicted with the “technology park” description in the General Plan. Among other things, the description calls for office centers, research and development centers, technology facilities and medical and institutional sues, with secondary uses including limited industrial activities, small-scale warehousing and distribution operations.
Other conflicts with the General Code cited by Morris include the project not being a job generator, not providing a Specific Plan and Corby only defining three allowable land uses in its zoning ordinance.
“The City is required to ensure development in the Northeast Growth Area is orderly, well-planned, and balanced,” Morris wrote. “The proposed amendment would not achieve this goal.”
Additionally, Morris wrote that the project would conflict with the city's biotechnology and advanced manufacturing initiative by “prematurely develop(ing) valuable Technology Park land without performing the comprehensive analysis needed to ensure the Northeast Growth Area is well-planned for orderly and balanced growth.”
“Furthermore, the proposed use would not produce the desired goals of the Biotechnology and Advanced Manufacturing (sic) Initiative, which is to create new career jobs and wealth for the community,” she wrote.
The agenda packet included one letter of opposition from Joe Curtis, who lives near the proposed site but wrote that he is unable to attend tonight's meeting. He expressed concerns about traffic, poor road conditions and sensitive septic systems in the area.
“I can't imagine that this area is a better choice than a current industrial area already set up for heavy traffic off Vaca Vallley,” he wrote.
Morris ultimately wrote that “a stand-alone battery storage facility would not help the City advance its biotechnology and advanced manufacturing goals and this is the basis for staff's recommendation for denial.”
In other business, the council will receive the second part of its budget study session and consider a resolution adopting the updated Solano County Hazard Mitigation Plan for Vacaville.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. at the Council Chamber at City Hall, 650 Merchant St. The meeting may also be viewed online at Ci.vacaville.ca.us/government/agendas-and-minutes and Youtube.com/user/ CityofVacaville.
Comments on agenda items can be emailed to City Clerk Michelle Thornbrugh up to 4:30 p.m. at cityclerk@ cityofvacaville.com.
Commenters must include the agenda item number on the item they are speaking on, and written comments will be provided to the council for consideration prior to any action taken and will be made available to the public for review.
Comments will be kept as part of the record of the meeting.