Larimer County planning commission backs 2 MW ‘USS Welch’ solar project with conditions after neighbors raise horse and noise concerns

Larimer County planning commissioners on Oct. 15 recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve a 1041 review for the USS Welch solar facility (file 25‑Zone‑3793), a distributed‑generation solar project proposed on a roughly 29.3‑acre parcel adjacent to Highway 287 east of Berthoud.

Scott Ben, Larimer County environmental planner, told the commission the project qualifies for a 1041 review because it will disturb about 28 acres of the site. He said the project has been scaled to limit disturbance, and staff concluded the application satisfies the county’s Article 4 and 10 review criteria subject to the conditions listed in the staff report.

Applicant Haley Ballantine, a project developer with U.S. Solar, described the USS Welch project as a 2‑megawatt distributed generation installation with panels occupying about 12.3 acres and a project fence set back roughly 150–200 feet from nearby property lines. Ballantine said the array will use anti‑glare coatings and single‑axis trackers and that construction would last roughly four months with the loudest activity (pile driving) lasting a week to 10 days.

Neighbors and equestrian facility operators asked the commission for stronger, enforceable mitigation. Justin and Kathy Riley, who represent a nearby Flying R Ranch equestrian boarding facility, told the commission they were concerned about noise, glint and glare, and impacts to horses. "Horses are very unique. They are much more sensitive to sound than humans are ... their response to anything that's frightening to them is to simply run," Kathy Riley said.

Byron Kominek, who operates the JAC Solar Garden and a nonprofit focused on agrivoltaics, spoke in favor of flexible vegetation approaches but warned that tall screening is costly and must be maintained. "If it's the intention to require having a vegetative barrier around the perimeter of a solar array, it's important to have, have it clear, like, how many years somebody is gonna be operating and maintaining it," Kominek said.

Staff and applicant said several technical issues remain to be resolved in a post‑approval technical review and through permitting, including Xcel Energy interconnection work (which will require poles and a bore under the Handy Ditch), stormwater detention sized to historical flows, and final landscaping that accommodates Handy Ditch maintenance easements. The applicant and staff also noted a decommissioning plan and financial security will be required to underwrite future removal of equipment.

Commissioners pressed for enforceable follow‑up steps. Staff pointed to conditions that require a post‑construction noise evaluation and allow the county to require additional mitigation if monitoring shows levels above county thresholds. Commissioners also asked staff to ensure construction traffic routing minimizes wear on neighborhood roads.

After deliberation the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the 1041 permit subject to the conditions recommended by staff. Commissioner Connor Duffy moved the recommendation; a subsequent roll call showed unanimous support among commissioners present.

Why it matters: The proposal is a small (2 MW) distributed‑generation solar installation intended to connect to the local distribution grid and could serve local subscribers while establishing perennial pollinator habitat beneath panels; neighbors raised concerns about noise, glint and glare, and the effect of construction traffic on local roads and on horses at the adjacent equestrian facility.

What happens next: If the Board of County Commissioners grants final approval, the applicant must complete technical reviews, secure Xcel interconnection arrangements, obtain required permits (building, stormwater, roadwork), post decommissioning financial security, and implement the project consistent with the county’s conditions.

Votes at a glance: Planning Commission — recommended approval of the 1041 permit subject to staff conditions; motion passed unanimously.