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...