Solar projects move ahead in King Township

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 5, 2015
By Tim Kelly

Township council has allowed the sun to shine on a number of solar projects in King.

The projects came before council on Sept. 28, and were subject to receiving council’s stamp of approval. The project proponents must still apply for and receive so-called FIT (Feed In Tariff) contracts from the province before they can go ahead.

Four projects got the thumbs-up, including one at 5 Dillane Dr., Schomberg, and another four at 4305 King Rd. (Kinghaven Farms).

However, a proposal to install solar panels at Cardinal Golf Club on at 2740 Davis Dr. W. has been put off for now for further study.

There was no discussion at all about the proposals that passed but the Cardinal Golf Club proposal, which staff had initially recommended be turned down, drew some council chatter.

“I’m a strong believer in renewables and commitment in our sustainability plan and I felt I was surprised when I saw we weren’t going to be endorsing that application ... ” said Councillor Debbie Schaefer. “We don’t have enough data about the safety implications about the reflection (in the solar panels).

“(I’m normally) not very sympathetic to opposition to renewals based on visual esthetics only because this is something we need to do as a society.”

Councillor Avia Eek made a strong push to have the golf club proposal included.

“Any time a business comes into King, one of the first things we ask them is what green initiatives are you going to give us? Can be costly, but they try to do as much as they can. Here is company that is a very large employer in King, they have plans to expand in future, under new ownership and want to do green initiative and we’re saying you’re not a great fit for us,” said Eek.

“From what I saw in design, it’s going to be lovely,” she added.

Council approved the Dillane Drive and Kinghaven Farm proposals and will reconsider the Cardinal Golf Club proposal once more information is provided.