Michael Noble, right, of College Highway in Southwick, presents photographic evidence of water damage to his property to members of the Southwick Planning Board Tuesday evening. Noble and another neighbor living close to the new 7-acre solar farm located near the Southwick Big Y were requesting additional drainage parameters be installed by the project owner to help protect their property from stormwater runoff. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Two residents of College Highway hope additional measures proposed by the engineer of a solar project behind thair homes will keep water from ruining their property.
Michael Noble and Martha Baillargeon both experienced damage following an August rainstorm when water flowed from the solar project into their yards. Baillargeon’s gravel driveway was almost completely washed out and Noble’s backyard was ruined.
Baillargeon’s driveway was pushed back into place the next day but she has since discovered damage to her septic system’s leech field. Noble said his backyard was virtually unusable following the damage, and both residents attended a walk-through of the solar project last week and a Southwick Planning Board meeting this week.
Engineer Matt Puntin of RGS Design offered a two-fold solution. To combat Baillargeon’s concerns, he said a trench included in the original design would be extended to 240 feet, nearly double the originally proposed length. The trench was designed to slow down water in the event of a major rainfall. Puntin said a swale located behind Noble’s home would also be extended an additional 20 feet, which exceeds the width of Noble’s property. Puntin said another existing swale would be modified to help slow down water and divert it away from Noble’s property.
“It’s at a 90-degree angle now and I want to bring it to a 45-degree angle,” Puntin said. Changing the angle should help slow water flow. Right now, he said, during a heavy rain like the one in August, water skips right over the swale because of the sharp angle.
“We plan on starting this Friday, Oct. 10,” said Puntin. “We estimate it will be about $20,000 for this work and will bond accordingly.”
Planning Board Vice Chairperson Roz Terry said she hoped the modifications would hold up in a similar rain event and asked Department of Public Works Director Randy Brown for his thoughts.
“I think this gives multiple levels of protection,” said Brown.
Terry then asked Noble and Baillargeon if they were satisfied with Puntin’s proposal. Noble quickly said he was not and said he was not convinced it would alleviate future problems.He mentioned an existing small river that had formed and wondered if filling it in would be beneficial.
“I don’t want to fill it in,” said Puntin. “I don’t think it’s a good answer.”
The discussion included a conversation about vegetation, which would naturally slow down any water running off the solar property. Puntin said they would seed the area but there were no plans to add trees or other vegetation other than what exists currently.
Terry suggested they seed as soon as possible and see how the winter and spring go, then revisit the situation if necessary. Noble asked what recourse the homeowners had if Puntin’s solutions did not work and was told the town would not have any further recourse because there was no special permit for the project.
“They got this project in before we had a solar bylaw,” said Terry, who also praised the project managers and Puntin for using the draft solar bylaws while designing the project.
Puntin did agree with Noble that ruts on the property created by waterflow should be looked at and said he would bring that to the table for consideration.
No further action was taken by the board.
