Homeowners who want rooftop solar panels in Clarkson Valley face a step that some neighboring cities don't require: a Special Use Permit with a public hearing before the full Board of Aldermen.

That process has drawn persistent pushback. Frances Babb, a resident of Kehrsdale Court, has appeared at every Board of Aldermen meeting from November 2025 through at least February 2026 to press for easier solar access.

At the February 3 meeting, Babb asked aldermen what they had done to educate themselves about solar energy. She questioned "if people would rather the City put sidewalks on Clarkson Road or pass laws that allow people to save money with solar energy," according to meeting minutes.

Babb knows this fight well. She and her husband Jim applied for a solar permit back in November 2011. The city imposed a moratorium on all solar projects shortly after and later passed ordinances requiring the special use permit. The Babbs' application was denied without explanation, according to court records from their subsequent lawsuit. They sued in Cole County Circuit Court, won, and had the ruling upheld on appeal. Their HOA then tried to fine them $400 a month. They won that case in 2018 too.

Since then, state law has shifted firmly in homeowners' favor. Missouri's Solar Access Law took effect on January 1, 2023. It says HOAs cannot ban rooftop solar panels. Then on January 23, 2026, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Eikmeier v. Granite Springs Home Owners Ass'n that the law applies to all HOA agreements, even ones written before 2023. Rules that force panels to the back of a roof are unenforceable if they cut energy production or raise costs, the court said.

Whether that ruling touches Clarkson Valley's permit process is an open question. The city's requirement is a municipal ordinance, not an HOA rule, and may fall outside the statute's reach. City Attorney Patrick Butler has not publicly commented on whether the ruling affects the city's process.

The dispute gained a new chapter in December 2025 when resident Zach Brda applied for a Special Use Permit to install rooftop solar at 2254 Valley Road. The board held a special hearing on December 8. Jessica Post and Babb both spoke in support. Whether Brda's permit was approved and whether the system has been installed could not be confirmed from available public records.

For now, the city's solar permit process remains in place. The Board of Aldermen meets next on May 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Clarkson Valley City Hall, 15933 Clayton Road, Room 300. Residents can address the board during public comment. The board includes Mayor Sue McNamara and six aldermen: Jeff Schweig, Andrew Low, Brock MacDonald, Courtney Birkel, Lin Midyett, and Tracy Nuelle.