The Gloucester Planning Commission met last Thursday night in the colonial courthouse to discuss a proposal to add an appendix to the comprehensive plan to provide guidance for the evaluation of public service corporations and public utilities, which the planners unanimously voted to approve.

The appendix provides guidance for the general or approximate location, character, and extent of uses defined as “public service corporations” or “public utilities.” The appendix also details the background and history of the regulation and development of these uses, including solar energy facilities, within the county.

It also describes the process for the development of criteria for evaluating these uses and lists the criteria, including an overall guiding vision statement, criteria for the zoning district and/or future land use classification the project may be located within, general criteria for all uses, and criteria for specific uses.

Planner John Meyer raised concern over an item listed under the proposed general criteria for all uses, which states that “When siting public service corporations or public utilities within Gloucester County, these uses should avoid prime farmland, working farms, and forest lands unless proposed in conjunction with a larger development.”

“Well, other than industrial, where else are you going to put one of these utilities,” Meyer asked.

Planner James Gray reminded the commission that this appendix would serve as a guide for making decisions and it is not an official ordinance.

The commission decided to include language about preserving the rural character of Gloucester in the appendix to make the guidance less restrictive.

Also at the meeting, the planning commission thanked Planning and Zoning Administrative Coordinator Laura Walton for 10 years of service and congratulated on her being promoted to Zoning Specialist. Kathy Wilmot will be taking over Walton’s role.