K. C. and the Sunshine...

I guess I should give an introduction to this blog entry. So first, the back story. I work in county government, in the planning office. My job is as a technician, which means I interpret rules regarding how people are allowed to use their property. Which means people get pissed off at me pretty regularly, but I digress.

When I started working here, we were in the middle of a serious real estate boom. Wow, looking back I don’t even know how we were able to handle the workload, and I'm not exaggerating. Developers were buying up farms left and right, slicing and dicing and shoe-horning as many houses as could possibly fit into the smallest areas imaginable. The county had so many applications for land use that we had to schedule the usual monthly public hearing on two consective nights, and even with two, those hearings would last until the wee hours of the morning. That was about 5 years ago.

Fast forward to 2010. As you drive around the county nowadays, you will see many partially built out developments, as well as “for sale” signs advertising “Approved Subdivision – 448 lots” or “225 lots” or “137 lots”; you get the idea. Construction here has gone from boom to bust, just as it has in many places across the country.

So now (finally!) we in Kent County have a potential bright spot on the horizon – one of the approved subdivisions, as yet totally unbuilt, has been sold and a plan is being brought forward to turn it into a Solar Energy Facility. I personally think this is a brilliant idea. First off, we get to expunge the formerly approved subdivision, which was supposed to have had 216 homes on 148 acres. And that was only Phase One. Here’s what the proposed subdivision was planned to look like:



Not only do I love the word “expunge” (EXPUNGE!), but it’s like getting out a big eraser and wiping the slate clean – powerful. Second, we get to have green technology in its place. 148 acres of solar panels. I think we are going to get some mileage out of the positive publicity surrounding this project. Third, the design of this project has a tiny fraction of the impact that a housing development would have, for so many reasons. Of course less traffic, but also less impervious surface so less stormwater runoff ( a HUGE concern in an area that is flat as a pancake and whose soils are not exactly arable), and the spaces between the panels will be planted with clover, so ostensibly no mowing necessary. So far it sounds great. Here’s the preliminary proposal for the solar farm:

Now, when the Planning Officer first received this application, the name of the project was “Tuscany at Carpenter Bridge”, which is the name of the company that owns the property. Sort of sounds like a restaurant, doesn't it? My boss asked the developer to give it a name that better reflects what the new use would be, to which the developer replied,”What do you want to name it?” To which my fellow technician Kathy and I replied, “K.C. and the Sunshine Farm!” K.C. being Kent County, and c’mon, it’s a catchy name. However, it seems that the new name will be Renewable Solar Energy Farm at Carpenters Bridge.” Where’s the fun or imagination in that? Pfffffffffffffffffft.

The developer is stating that 320,400 panels will be installed, and will generate about 64 megawatts of power. That is purportedly enough to power 1800 homes for a year. The power will be added to the existing “grid”, though, so a consumer won’t know if they are buying solar power or not. Still, knowing that your "grid" has a solar farm has some cache, don't you think?

The application is scheduled for public hearing at the beginning of September, and I’m planning on attending this hearing just so I can hear what the public has to say. I can’t be positive, but I think the chances of this being approved without a lot of onerous conditions are quite good. Quite good. This is the kind of thing that government officials want their names attached to. Like I said, good press. And I’m fairly certain the neighboring property owners will be happy about it as well. Much happier than they were when the 216 homes were approved in 2006.

Stay tuned for more information as it comes in.

Do a little dance,
Make a little love,
Get down tonight,
Get down tonight, baby.

:D

Happy Sunday

Before I go off to visit the family and then visit my friend Gladys at the nursing home, I thought I would share some beautiful music. The following video is a clip from Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee celebration, and features the Saint Paul Cathedral choir singing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You", the traditional Irish Blessing, music composed by John Rutter:

I hope you enjoy. What a peaceful way to start the week. Amen.

I've been both

A wise man talks because he has something to say;
A fool, because he has to say something.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Independence Day!

I love America! It's a great privelege to live here, for too many reasons to list. So Happy Birthday to my country and I hope she enjoys many more. She's looking good for a 234-year old!



The following is from The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church. Of course it seems appropriate today, but I can't think of an inappropriate day to give thanks for her, and keep in mind that we need to do better. Note: when the prayer is read aloud, the words in italics are the congregational response.


Almighty God, giver of all good things:

We thank you for the natural majesty and beauty of this land. They restore us, though we often destroy them.
Heal us.



We thank you for the great resources of this nation. They make us rich, though we often exploit them.
Forgive us.



We thank you for the men and women who have made this country strong. They are models for us, though we often fall short of them.
Inspire us.



We thank you for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land. It has drawn people from every nation, though we have often hidden from its light.
Enlighten us.



We thank you for the faith we have inherited in all its rich variety. It sustains our life, though we have been faithless again and again.
Renew us.



Help us, O Lord, to finish the good work here begun. Strengthen our efforts to blot out ignorance and prejudice, and to abolish poverty and crime. And hasten the day when all our people, with many voices in one united chorus, will glorify your holy Name.
Amen.

New Car - itis

Not that I was looking to buy a new car, but as fate would have it, my old one was paid off and a friend was in need of a gently used, dependable vehicle. After learning that, the rest of the details fell into place rather quickly.


So, out with the Scion Xb, which I had fondly named Midge (the Midget-mobile).

In with the Scion Xd, which I have fondly named Little Eva (you know, of 'The Locomotion' fame).

And in with new car-itis. Here are the symptoms, in case you are looking for a diagnosis:


You leave for your destination with time to spare. No hurrying, one wouldn't want to get into an accident!


You no longer use your foot to close the door when you have your hands full. You gently push it shut with your hand (after emptying one or both), even if it means setting things on the ground to do it.


You park way the hell out in left field, far, far away from 'the crazy people' in the parking lot. Yippee, extra exercise, and unforeseen benefit!


You feel insulted (or worse) when a bird poops on your car hood. Don't they know it's new and that is inappropriate behavior?


You don't eat in the car. You don't leave litter in the car. You don't leave anything in the car.


You make time to wash your new girl on the weekends. Vacuum, too. Maybe even wax.


Oh, dear, I've got it bad right now. Let's see how long this lasts. I predict a cure in 3 months or less. A cure usually being a ding in the door, a scrape on a hubcap, or some such thing. Also known in my life as...customization.