GRANVILLE – The Planning Board held a public hearing at the Granville Town Hall on Monday night to discuss two proposed amendments regarding solar energy that will be voted on at the annual town meeting on May 13.
The two amendments will be separate warrant articles but are related to one another.
One of the warrant articles is to see if the town will allow the Planning Board to become the granting authority for all special permits for proposed solar projects. Currently, the Zoning Board of Appeals is the granting authority.
According to Planning Board Chairman Rich Pierce, he thought having the Planning Board as the granting authority would be the best decision since they’re the board that receives the most information for the solar projects. Zoning Board of Appeals member Mark Boardman, who was in attendance for the public hearing, agreed that having the Planning Board as the granting authority would make sense.
The Planning Board is seen going over the proposed amendments that will be voted on at the annual town meeting. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Boardman feels that the constant back and forth process of going from the Zoning Board of Appeals to the Planning Board is unneccesary.
“That just didn’t make any sense,” said Boardman. “This is doing it how it should be.”
Select Board Chairman Ted Sussman was also in favor of the proposed amendment.
“It just simplifies things,” said Sussman. “I think it’s how the original intent was.”
The second amendment discussed is to see if the town will allow the maximum number of acres for a solar installation to be 25 acres. Currently, the maximum number of acres is five. If the applicant for a solar project is proposing a site of more than five acres, they have to seek a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals, and that would remain the same if this warrant article passes.
Discussing the amendment, Community Preservation Committee member Brian Falcetti pointed out that all abutters have been notified by the Zoning Board of Appeals about proposed solar projects and was concerned if they’d still be notified if the amendment passed at annual town meeting.
“They’ll still have notice,” said Pierce. “They’ll still have the opportunity to attend the hearings.”
If the maximum number of acres for solar projects in Granville increased to 25 acres, Boardman would be concerned that the setback from a person’s residence to the solar site might be too small and become a concern for some residents.
At this time, the solar site must be at least 40 feet from an abutter’s front yard, 30 feet from the side yard, and 30 feet from the rear yard. Access roads and driveway also need be at least 20 feet back from the side and rear lots.
Boardman would like to see some language added in the amendment that could increase the setbacks in order to keep solar sites from being too close to a residence.
“I would hate to move into town, build my dream home, and then something comes out of left field that you never even considered,” said Boardman.
Pierce went on to say that it’s too late now to be able to add language into the amendment that will be on the annual town meeting warrant. Although, Pierce added that a public hearing could be held after the annual town meeting in order to begin the process of adding some language in the amendment, if it passes at the meeting.
Before ending the meeting, Pierce received no objections from anyone in attendance about the two proposed amendments going to the annual town meeting. Both amendments would require a two-thirds majority vote.
