The Board of Alderman met Tuesday to discuss several new amendments to the Elon Land Development Ordinance, including giving the go-ahead to Elon to develop a new solar farm later on in this year.
The green light was mostly a formality, as the Loy farm, where the farm will be built, does not break any zoning laws and does not need to be put up to a vote or a public hearing. The farm will most likely begin construction later on in the spring and summer and is estimated to take about six to eight weeks to build.
In addition, the board shot down an amendment to allow two Elon residents, Rodney and Travis Stallings, to build an indoor shooting range near downtown Elon. The amendment failed with a 3-2 vote. Ron Klepcyk, mayor pro tem, cast the deciding vote after discussion over the amendment.
The board called into question the location of the shooting range, with its proximity to Elon University being a special concern.
“There is a concern because of close proximity to the university, close proximity to the students there and to other Elon residents in that area,” said Alderman John A. Peterson Jr. “If it were five miles, two miles, even one mile away, I would be more inclined to say yes.”
Rodney expressed his disappointment, saying he was prepared to invest $1 million into the project.