The Planning Board declined to change the zoning ordinance to allow solar farms in the town’s Residential 3 district at its July 23 meeting.
The board agreed that because as recently as two years ago a previous Planning Board and Town Council had reviewed solar farm zoning, held public hearings and prohibited solar farms in R3 , it would not change the allowances.
“It’s stated and well represented that that is the position of the Town.” said board member Tony Palazzetti.
DeCarlo Brown, town planner and economic community director, said he would contact the applicant, Novel Energy Solutions, with the decision since a representative was not in attendance.
Novel Energy Solutions went before the Planning Board on June 25 to ask for the R3 zoning change so the business could proceed with an application for a one-megawatt array of solar panels on 30 acres off Old South Road.
At the July 9 board meeting, Andrew Stortz of 15 Old South Road spoke against the zoning change, saying a solar farm would not be an appropriate use for residential areas. Stortz’s wife Rachel and Vicki and Joe Burns of 15A Old South Road also were in attendance to oppose the applicant’s request.
R3 is a transitional residential area that allows medium density residential development, encourages conservation and agriculture, and allows compatible commercial uses, according to the 2024 Comprehensive Plan.
In June 2022, the Town Council had enacted a moratorium on solar farms after a solar farm was approved in 2021 for the same location on Old South Road but was never built. The council then reviewed regulations for solar farms and in February 2023 passed new zoning and land use standards that allow solar farms only in the town’s two industrial zones.
Also at the July 23 meeting, the Planning Board unanimously elected new officers following the recent resignation of board chair Greg Zinser, who served on the board nine years. Hershey Hirschkop was elected chair and Aaron Rouse was elected vice chair. Tony Palazzetti and Mary Hussey serve as regular members, with Clay Curtis an alternate member.
The board is looking to fill two vacancies: a replacement for Zinser and another alternate member. Interested residents can apply at the Town Clerk’s office.
