GRANVILLE – The Town of Granville is holding a special town meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Community Christian School on 409 Main Rd. for all voting residents. The special town meeting revolves around two warrant articles that involve proposed solar projects in town.
The two solar projects are located at 0 Hayes Rd. and 1730 Sheets Rd.. The two warrant articles are to see if town residents will authorize the Select Board to enter into a pilot agreement for a payment in lieu of taxes.
Granville Town Administrator Matt Streeter noted that the pilot agreement could be a benefit for the town.
“It’s an incentive for the town to allow these projects,” said Streeter.
Streeter noted that the special permit for the solar project at 0 Hayes Road was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals last week.
Two proposed solar projects will be going in front of Granville voting residents on Wednesday night at a special town meeting. (WNG File Photo)
The specifics of the project include a large-scale ground mounted solar installation on 25 acres that is owned by Charles Sheets.
According to information from Gale Head, a Boston-based renewable energy contrator, the project site will be 2,300 ft. from the public road, which is Main Road/Rt. 57. There’s also no direct residential abutter and the nearest residential dwelling is 1,000 ft. away.
The site plan from Gale Head also indicates that along with no public site lines, there will also be no natural resources that will require mitigation from the solar array.
Gale Head is proposing this project under the SMART (Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target) program, which was created by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker in 2016. SMART has been formed to create a long term and sustainable solar incentive program that promotes solar projects that are cost effective throughout Massachusetts.
When this program came to fruition with the state, Granville decided to pursue the program and allow development organizations to propose solar projects in town. Planning Board Chairman Rich Pierce previously mentioned that Granville will now have the opportunity to receive credits towards grants.
Since the Granville town bylaw restricts solar projects larger than five acres, the contractor has already gone to the Zoning Board of Appeals and were given a variance to go to the Planning Board for a special permit.
The solar proposal on 1730 Sheets Rd. is in the process of going through a site plan review with the Planning Board.
Streeter added that there will be an opportunity at the meeting for the public to discuss the two warrant articles.
“The officials there will be more than happy to answer any questions that the citizens have,” said Streeter.
For questions prior to the meeting, contact Streeter at the Granville Town Hall at 413-357-8585.
