A proposed solar farm in Orange County lost a critical vote before the county’s planning commission after the owners of a historic estate-turned-bed and breakfast and wedding venue rallied their strong social media following and other members of the community to voice their opposition.
The Cashells, who own Mayhurst Inn just south of the town of Orange, argue that Maitland, Florida-based ESA Solar’s 35-acre Orange Road Solar Farm poses a direct threat not only to Mayhurst’s business but to Orange County’s burgeoning tourism industry and its agricultural roots.
That’s in spite of the fact that the solar farm is not part of the Mayhurst estate, sits 1,000 feet away from the historic house, cannot be seen from the highest elevation on the property and is no longer suitable for agricultural purposes.
Nevertheless, the Orange County Planning Commission voted 4-1 on Thursday to recommend the county’s board of supervisors deny ESA’s …