Circuit Court Judge William McKinnon has ruled that Silfab Solar should not have been allowed under York County’s light industrial zoning classification.
McKinnon’s ruling upholds a 2024 decision by the County Board of Zoning Appeals which concluded that the county zoning administrator had miscategorized Silfab as light industrial when the company applied to build in Fort Mill.
The facility itself has been the focus of intense pressure from citizen groups in Fort Mill who object to the plant being located close to an elementary school which was not yet open in 2024. Citizen groups have filed multiple lawsuits against Silfab claiming it is too heavy an enterprise to have been allowed on Gold Hill Road.
The ruling does not stop Silfab’s operations. It does allow lawsuits against the solar panel maker to continue.
In a statement, Silfab said it will appeal McKinnon’s decision and continue hiring and operations in Fort Mill.