Worthington Conservation Commission Continues Solar Project Fence Hearing, Wants Site Visit

WORTHINGTON — January 8, 2026 — Worthington Conservation Commission defers wetland ruling on Ridge Road solar project, 5-1. The commission voted to continue a public hearing on a revised Request for Determination of Applicability submitted by Blue Wave for its Ridge Road Fuller solar installation, declining to issue a determination until members can conduct a site visit to confirm the new location of a perimeter fence that was redesigned to sit outside the 100-foot wetland buffer zone after a November 2025 positive determination. Engineering consultant Andrew Vardakis of WSP told commissioners the only change from the prior submittal was the fence relocation, and Fleetwood Environmental's Dave Cameron said the commission was simply being asked to "confirm that the solar project is beyond the conservation commission's jurisdiction." Commissioner Mary Consell, who made the motion to continue that was seconded by Peggy O'Neill, said she wanted to physically verify the fence's placement relative to the flagged wetland boundary before any negative determination was issued. Public commenters, including a retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, raised concerns about wildlife corridor impacts, cumulative effects with a second proposed solar site on Old Post Road, and threats to sandhill crane habitat — though the chair noted most of those issues fall outside the commission's jurisdictional scope under the Wetlands Protection Act.