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ZBA approves solar project

GRANVILLE – At Wednesday night’s meeting at the Granville Town Hall, the Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously voted 4-0 in favor of approving the proposed solar project at 1730 Main Rd.

Owned by Granville resident Charles Sheets,

The solar project consists of 4.96 acres on Sheets Road property owned by Granville resident Charles Sheets, off Main Road.

Granville residents are seen at a past Zoning Board meeting regarding the solar project at 1730 Main Rd. (WNG File Photo)

As a result of the ZBA approval, Gale Head Development, the developer for the project, will now have to comply with the eight different sets of conditions that the town’s engineer consultant, Michael Petrin of VHB established. The conditions are as follows:

  1. Prior to the issuance of a Building Permit, Galehead Development (Applicant) shall provide the Town with a Certificate of Liability Insurance that will cover the proposed project.
  2. Prior to the issuance of a Building Permit, the Applicant shall provide the Town with a Certification that a Surety Bond has been issued to cover the agreed upon costs associated with decommissioning and/or abandonment of the Granville Solar II project. ( exact terms will be dictated by Granville Town Counsel)
  3. The Town reserves the right to suspend the Special Permit in the event of the Applicant’s and/or its’ sub-contractors non-compliance with the terms of the Special Permit. (A procedure for suspension and reinstatement will be drawn up by Granville Town Counsel)
  4. Prior to the issuance of a Building Permit, the Applicant will provide the Town with a list of sub-contractors for the following phases of the project: a. Sheets Rd. & project access road improvement/construction.; b. Logging & Land Clearing; c. Fencing; d.  Site Grading; e. Erosion Control; f. Solar Structures Installer; g. Electrical

For each contractor, the Applicant will provide :

  • Company Name
  • Company owner
  • Business address
  • Phone and email contacts
  • Business license copy
  • Site project manager
  • Manager contacts
  • Proof of liability insurance
  1. Prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Completion, the Applicant must provide an Emergency Response Plan that is acceptable to the Granville Fire and Police Dept.
  2. The Applicant shall provide the Board with a copy of all Granville issued Building Permits.
  3. The Applicant shall notify the Board of all changes to the planned project that occur after the close of the Public Hearing. In addition, all sub-contractors must be instructed to report all changes to the plan that occur during construction.
  4. Prior to the beginning of array construction, Gale Head Development, as the Applicant for Granville Solar II will arrange with the Planning Board to hold a public information meeting to satisfy the “public outreach” requirement of the Bylaw.

On February 11, the Planning Board voted in favor of approving the site plan review for the Main Rd. solar project.  Along with that, the Planning Board recommended to the ZBA that Gale Head follows the eight conditions.

Earlier this week, Zoning Board of Appeals member Mark Boardman said that he expected a positive outcome to happen with the proposed solar project on 1730 Main Rd.

“Nobody has spoken negatively about it,” said Boardman. “It’s going to be good income for the town of Granville to help us keep our tax rates down.”

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