Savion Solar Project

JPR was asked to team with Savion Solar out of Kansas City, Missouri. Savion has plans to develop a 900-acre solar farm in southeast Elkhart County and required local representation with firsthand knowledge of the county government and permitting process.

The Elkhart County Solar Project commenced as an allowable use solar farm permitted within an agricultural zoned area under the Detailed Planned Unit Development (DPUD) submission, and evolved into a newly established overlay district. Throughout plan commission meetings and community input forums covering topics ranging from safety response to property owners’ rights, the County Commissioners and County Plan staff synthesized the design features with pertinent community concerns to establish a new section of the zoning ordinance dedicated to Alternative Energy, known as an AE overlay. Following the completion of this zoning ordinance amendment, the JPR design team enhanced the Elkhart County Solar Project plans to not only meet but surpass the minimum requirements outlined in the new zoning ordinance, leading the Commissioners to approve this innovative project.