Planning Board, October 7, 2024

Jacob Road solar farm: The Board opened a Public  Informational Hearing on the application. After the applicant gave a brief overview of the project’s proposed screening from abutting properties, Randal Pratt, one of the abutting property owners, advised the Board that the screening illustrations from his house and his neighbor’s were misleading. He explained that the illustration for his property was incorrect because it misrepresented the actual typography; while the illustration showed an initial rise from his house before the property sloped down to the panels, he said there was no such rise. In response, the applicant said that his illustration was based on county typographical maps.  Mr. Pratt added that the screening illustration for his neighbor’s property showed a buffer of existing trees when, in reality, there were no such trees.  The Board indicated that it would look into the issue.

Mr. Pratt also advised the Board that one of the tree species proposed for the screening would be destroyed by deer.

The applicant also repeated the project’s many benefits, including tax revenue to the town and furthering the state’s goal of reducing reliance on fossil fuel. No mention was made of the possible change in the 200’ setback that was included in a proposed amendment to the  Solar Law. It was also noted that the Town Board would be extending the solar moratorium for another six months.

The hearing had to be adjourned because some of the abutting property owners did not receive the notice of the hearing as required by town law

RIC Battery Storage Plan (3666 Old Yorktown Road). The Board had its first look at an application for a 5 MW battery storage facility on a 4.4 acre parcel located across from Union Road.  The zoning is split between half acre residential (there’s a house on the site) and commercial use.

The Board’s initial concern was the need for the site plan to more accurately identify the different FEMA flood zones on the map, i.e., the diferentiation between the “floodway” from a “flood hazard” area; while development in the former is prohibited, development with proper design features is permitted in the latter.  While it was noted that the FEMA maps were accurate as of 2011, Board members expressed concern that climate conditions have changed since then, resulting in possible changes to the floodway and flood hazard zones.   The Board also noted that a trail passed through the property and needed to be shown on the site plan. 

Acknowledging the Town Board’s adoption last week of a six-month moratorium on battery storage facilities, the applicant said he would sign a waiver indicating that he would be proceeding with an application review at his own risk.