City Council approves solar farm
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on July 7, 2015 1:46 PM
The Goldsboro City Council approved its consent agenda unanimously Monday night, which will allow the construction of another solar farm in Wayne County and the placing of a U.S. Cellular antenna on top of the Harris Street water tower.
Approving the building of the solar farm comes on the heels of a public hearing at the June 15 council meeting, which drew saw one person comment in support of the operation.
The solar farm will be constructed by Highwater Solar on the north side of Belfast Road between Salem Church Road and Interstate 795.
Where the solar farm is going is partially wooded and a portion has been cleared for farming in the past, and some residents were worried you would be able to see the solar farm if an appropriate buffer was not constructed.
David Neill, an attorney with Smith, Moore, Leatherwood in Raleigh, assured the council and the public that the buffer being constructed on the site would connect two tree lines and block the solar farm from view.
With the unanimous passing of the consent agenda also came the approval of a U.S. Cellular antenna being placed on the Harris Street Water Tower.
In order to prevent intrusiveness, the antenna will be constructed in the shape of a crown around the top rim of the water tower, and antennas will be placed on four to five foot tall poles that will encircle the tower's top. The crown will consist of approximately 30 poles.
The initial terms of the lease agreement with the city will be for five years, and U.S. Cellular will pay the council an annual fee of $26,400 for the use of the water tower.
"You can see it's almost like a little fence around the top," said Assistant City Manager Randy Guthrie.
Antennas will be attached to several of the 30 poles.