The investors in a photovoltaic (PV) project between the A 70 freeway and the memmelsdorf district of drosendorf have to make do with a significantly reduced solution. Instead of the requested eight hectares, the council approved only three hectares directly adjacent to the freeway. The western areas in particular, which are listed in the solar land register of the bamberg district as far as the residential plots of the development area, were removed sufficient.
At a local meeting before the deliberations in the town hall, mayor johann bauerlein (WLW/CSU), head of the construction department karmann and investor matthias ebner from ebern explained the project. A large number of residents had come together to express their opposition to the photovoltaic system. The investor’s planner pointed out that the PV area would be enclosed by a five-meter-high hazel hedge, so that the PV elements would "sound" at least from the first floors of the houses in the development area not be seen. The modules should be between 2.50 and four meters high, depending on the type of construction. They were anchored one to 1.50 meters deep in the ground.
"We have to do something for CO 2 reduction", the planner in the town hall welcomed the project. Of the potential sites identified along the highway here, those to the north of the highway were unsuitable due to shading, among other reasons. The remaining flat areas south of the highway were only profitable if they were available in their entirety. About four million euros were invested in the 3.5 megawatt plant.
"8.8 million people die of hunger in the world every year", said the spokesman for the active citizens of drosendorf (ABD), reinhard zillig. Therefore, one should not sacrifice farmland without hesitation. In order to phase out nuclear energy, a concept is needed "and we don’t have one. Zillig was particularly opposed to a PV plant in the immediate vicinity of the residential area. "What will become of the remaining construction sites?? And housing values and land values are falling" , he stated.
Council members buttel (VWG) and hugel (SPD) also spoke out against solar plants in front of the house. "At least 30 meters distance" demanded buttel, hugel wanted to "take out the whole flat area around the residential area". There would also be flat not in ortsnahe. Harald tkaczuk (CSU) and barbara vogt (BBL) agreed with that. For the WLW, peter nublein suggested that it would be better to talk about the land north of the highway. In this area there is an emergency exit from the A 70.
This concept was established by a series of resolutions. First, the proposal not to allow a PV system at all on the drosendorf side of the highway was rejected by a vote of 12 to 5. The council then unanimously spoke out against the designation of the entire flat in the western area up to the houses of the residential area as well as various partial flat areas. By a vote of 11 to 6, the eastern area directly adjacent to the autobahn was finally designated as a special use area. This remaining area is about three hectares in size and 200 meters from the last houses in drosendorf.
Mayor bauerlein wanted to know from the investor whether this remaining area would be sufficient for the project. A 1.6 megawatt plant would be conceivable, the planner said, with a favorable feed-in, one could just about imagine it. With 11:6 votes in each case, the creation of a development plan "solarpark am steinig" was approved, the early participation of the public stakeholders and the modification of the land use plan of the municipality of memmelsdorf were decided.