WESTFIELD – The Planning Board will conduct a public hearing tonight to hear details of a proposed ordinance to regulate the construction of solar farms within the city.
The ordinance is being proposed by Ward 1 Councilor Christopher Keefe to “adopt restrictions and Planning Board review requirements for large ground-mounted solar energy facilities.”
Keefe is seeking approval of the ordinance by the City Council and recommendations from the Planning Board because currently the (city’s code of zoning ordinance) is silent on these issues” and under state law (Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A, Section 3, (which addresses zoning exemptions) those facilities can be located anywhere if not locally regulated.
Chapter 40A, section 3 states: No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit or unreasonably regulate the installation of solar energy systems or the building of structures that facilitate the collection of solar energy, except where necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare.
Keefe sponsored the proposed ordinance after the City Council recently approved a tax agreement with Westfield Solar LLC for development of a 12 acre solar array at 219 Russellville Road at the 35-acre J.W. Cowles Construction site.
Keefe said that former Councilor John Beltrandi initiated the process of adopting an ordinance to regulate solar farms a few years ago.
“This won’t affect the average citizen who wants to put a solar panel on his roof or on his property,” Keefe said this morning. ”Large solar arrays (of more than 5,000 square feet) would be allowed, as a by-right use, in the Industrial A, Business A and Industrial Park and Airport zones and in the Rural Residential zone by special permit from the Planning Board.”
City Council President Brian Sullivan said the concern is that solar farms could be “an eyesore, if located in or near residential areas of the city.”
“We want to wait until we have it written (by the Planning Board) as part of the ordinance to cover our bases before we let anyone come in to construct these facilities anywhere where they could be an eyesore,” Sullivan said. “I supported the project on Russellville Road because that site has hazardous materials which the company will remove and because of its location, you’ll never know it’s there. So that is a good location and it generates some revenue for the city.”
The tax agreement will provide the city with $8,000 in revenue for the first 10 years and $10,000 for the second 10 years of the agreement, as well as the current property tax revenue.
“So right now we’re waiting for the Planning Board to give us a recommendation with the proper language so we can put in into the zoning codes,” Sullivan said.
