The Gloucester Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, in the colonial courthouse on the establishment of solar farms in the county.

Following a two-hour meeting Monday night, the commission decided to recommend that solar farms, with multiple solar panels set up to capture and sell electricity to the regional power grid, be allowed as a by-right use in the I-1 and RC-1 zoning districts, according to planner Tripp Little.

Solar farms are recommended to be allowed by a conditional use permit in all other zoning districts, Little said.

Anne Ducey-Ortiz, director of planning and zoning, said that her office has received several inquiries recently about allowing solar farms to be established here.

The Sept. 14 meeting was continued from Sept. 3. ...