GRANVILLE – The Zoning Board of Appeals will be taking a vote on the proposed solar project on 1730 Main Rd. at their meeting on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Granville Town Hall.
The Sheets Road property, which is owned by Charles Sheets, is off Main Road and consists of 4.96 acres.
Granville residents are seen at a past Zoning Board meeting for the solar project on 1730 Main Rd.(WNG File Photo)
According to Mark Boardman, a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, if the board happens to vote in favor of the project, the permitting process will begin. Gale Head Development, the developer for the solar array, will have to meet with the Conservation Commission to discuss the wetlands around the project, as well as meet with the police, fire, and public works’ departments.
The next step would then be for Gale Head to submit the project to the state as an application for the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program.
Created by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), the SMART program’s purpose is to build a long-term sustainable solar incentive program that promotes cost-effective solar development. If the DOER approves the project, Gale Head will then be able to begin their plans for construction.
Currently, the SMART program is at capacity for accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2019. However, Gale Head is hopeful that some of the larger projects throughout the state that are in the application process will be denied.
Boardman doesn’t believe there will be a great chance of the proposal being voted down due to the reception it has received since it was proposed.
“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.”
The last discussion on this project came on February 11 when the Planning Board closed their public hearing for the site plan review and approved the project. The next step was to have the Zoning Board of Appeals approve the project.
