The Imperial County Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve Time Extension 240004, which would extend the development agreement for the Wisteria Solar project and keep 11 remaining conditional use permits (CUPs) viable for future development.

County staff described the project area roughly five miles west of Calexico and summarized an originally approved solar development (Wisteria Solar) that included 16 CUPs covering more than 2,600 acres and about 250 megawatts. Staff told the commission the project’s final EIR (State Clearinghouse No. 2013091084) was certified by the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 30, 2014, and staff recommended the commission find no further environmental documentation is necessary for the proposed time extension and amendments.

Christina Gispert, representing RWE (contracted by Con Edison, the original developer), said the applicant is seeking to ‘‘keep the existing project that was analyzed in the EIR and approved alive’’ while it pursues interconnection. ‘‘We will file for interconnection on that line in 2026 when the queue opens again,’’ she said, adding that the interconnection process takes about two years. Gispert said the applicant expects to continue paying option payments to landowners and that some parcels remain in agricultural use while development potential is evaluated.

Several nearby residents spoke in opposition or with concerns. Valeria Mejia, a lifelong resident of Brockman Road, said invasive vegetation, increased predator encounters and mismanagement of rights-of-way and ditch banks have affected neighbors. ‘‘These properties are not being properly managed…we see an influx of leucophyllum…invasive tamarisk…burrowing owls are incredibly important here,’’ Mejia said, adding that the existing environmental studies are over a decade old and that the extension could amount to long-term loss of farmland.

Other public commenters emphasized poor maintenance at already-developed sites and wildlife impacts. Shauna Bishop asked commissioners to ‘‘drive through the area’’ to inspect roadsides, promised landscaping and maintenance. Annabelle Ruiz and others said vegetation adjacent to panels has grown high and created fire and visibility concerns.

Commissioners asked county staff and the applicant questions about mitigation and operational oversight. Staff said that weed control is a nuisance-code enforcement matter and that fence-line vegetation may belong to underlying property owners; staff committed to follow up with public works to determine responsibility and enforcement options. The applicant said the existing operational site (Wisteria 1) is well maintained and that its crews respond to maintenance complaints immediately.

A commissioner moved and a second was made to recommend approval of Time Extension 240004 as recommended by staff. On the roll call, commissioners present voted to recommend approval; staff noted that the item will proceed to the Board of Supervisors for final action. The commission encouraged residents to bring maintenance complaints to the Planning Department so staff can investigate and enforce nuisance and condition requirements.