Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Report, April 25, 2024
This assembly was held on Zoom and recorded. It will be discovered right here.
Present
Steve Judge (Chair), Everald Henry, Craig Meadows, and David Sloviter
Staff: Rob Watchilla (liaison), Chris Brestrop (Planning Director)
24 members of the general public attended
Corey McCandless of PureSky and Attorney Tom Reidy of Bacon, Wilson characterize a 41-acre photo voltaic set up and related battery storage undertaking deliberate for forested land on Shutesbury Road. The undertaking was beforehand mentioned on the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) assembly on February 20. It was additionally thought of by the Planning Board in October 2023.
Reidy hopes the ZBA will permit metropolis employees to rent a number of peer reviewers to evaluation your complete undertaking, together with vitality financial savings and lighting. He did not wish to go into an excessive amount of element about present plans with out enter from a peer reviewer with experience within the space. He thinks the applicant and the ZBA will obtain public remark at this assembly after which return on June 13 to verify on the progress of the peer evaluation. He doubts substantive dialogue will start earlier than July.
Since the February ZBA assembly, PureSky has appeared earlier than the Conservation Commission. The Conservation Commission requested minor adjustments to the submission, and the corporate expects to present approval on the May 1 assembly.
McCandless advised the ZBA that PureSky switched its battery storage supplier from Powin to Canadian Solar. Massachusetts regulation requires that each one tasks over 500 kilowatts be associated to vitality storage. This undertaking will present 9.35 megawatts. McCandless stated Powin is just fascinated by engaged on tasks of 100 megawatts or extra. Residents have beforehand raised issues about fires at battery websites in Powin. When board member Everald Henry raised this level, McCandless responded that the majority battery fires are brought on by water contamination, however Canadian Solar’s merchandise are “designed to not have any sort of leakage or contamination of the water. […]They have a confirmed monitor document to indicate that that has not occurred, and we’re very assured that they’re protected techniques. ZBA Chair Steve Judge requested that PureSky current information on Canadian Solar’s monitor document when the undertaking is subsequent mentioned. It may also be checked by a peer reviewer.
Other adjustments to the undertaking embrace altering the boundaries in order that the photo voltaic panels are outdoors the wetland buffer zones, and the storm water plan has been revised accordingly. The undertaking suggests utilizing a screw sort publish to anchor the panels with much less fuss. Also, on the request of the hearth division, the turnaround space for autos was moved no less than 100 toes away from the battery storage gear pad. The set up is smaller than initially deliberate, to 9.3 megawatts from 11; and the battery storage capability is 2 megawatt hours, as a substitute of 4.
Lots of Public Comment
David Cameron of Fleetwood Environmental Solutions, LLC in Hadley mentioned the challenges of huge tasks like Shutesbury Road Solar on forested slopes with close by wetlands. He submitted an in depth report back to the Conservation Commission saying that stormwater administration in the course of the development section is “completely essential.” He emphasised the significance of getting a reliable peer evaluation.
Eric Bachrach, a undertaking abutter, commented on PureSky’s software course of as “sloppy” over the previous 5 years. He cited the unfold of stronger storms with local weather change and the specter of excessive water ranges within the space.
Judith Eiseman of Pelham spoke about erosion harm on her son’s property in Williamsburg as a consequence of mismanagement of stormwater at a photo voltaic undertaking adjoining to the Mill River. A swimsuit was settled for $1.14 million in damages.
Abutter Michael Lipinsky famous {that a} newly delineated wetland space close to the doorway to the undertaking was not proven on the map proven on the assembly. He additionally identified that the Planning Board requested that Pure Sky doc the earlier tasks accomplished, however they haven’t but completed so. The firm lately accomplished a undertaking in East Brookfield, however Lipinski maintains that it’s not akin to the Shutesbury Road undertaking as a result of 50% of that space is open farmland with no close by abutters.
Lenore Bryck spoke of the significance of forests in defending ecosystems and restoring soil well being.
Scott Cashin, a biologist, talks a few uncommon plant, the small whorled pagonia, that’s within the space that’s slated to be constructed. He added that he has not seen any survey within the undertaking space to doc the presence of uncommon plant and animal species, and these surveys are needed to know the impacts of the undertaking and kind mitigation.
Phil Rich, a near-neighbor of the undertaking, stated he has flooding in his basement from stormwater runoff and is anxious in regards to the worsening impression of the undertaking.
Abutter Jenny Kalllick famous that many of the questions posed to the Planning Board final fall haven’t been answered. He additionally pointed to a possible battle of curiosity between Reidy and WSP, a peer evaluation agency lately employed by the city due to their earlier work collectively on the Sunderland Road photo voltaic undertaking. WSP is the engineering firm for Blue Wave, the predecessor of Pure Sky.
Renee Moss, one other abutter, emphasised the 41-acre dimension of the undertaking and famous that the full dimension of the parcel owned by WD Cowls is greater than 100 hectares. He wished assurances that the remainder of the realm could be protected. Stacey McCullough, a member of the Pelham Planning Board, cited research that show the significance of forests to land, groundwater, and habitats. He hopes the state can meet its local weather targets with out clear-cutting forests for photo voltaic.
The public can have a number of alternatives to touch upon future conferences. The undertaking will likely be mentioned subsequent on the June 6 ZBA assembly.
Peer Review Firm Board Questions Hired
Brestrup reported that WSP was the one firm that responded to the town’s request for proposals (RFP) for analysis of undertaking companions. ZBA member Craig Meadows stated if his firm receives just one response to an RFP, they’ll resubmit it. Planner Rob Watchilla stated the city seemed into WSP and felt comfy that it had a excessive degree of experience in finding and creating all these tasks. He stated there will likely be separate peer critiques for battery storage and photo voltaic installations and for water high quality. He added that the undertaking could also be too small for a few of the bigger corporations to bid on.
The Judge requested that the Planning Department take a better take a look at the doable battle of curiosity between Reidy and WSP, maybe checking with the town legal professional for an opinion. However, David Sloviter feels that if the planners are comfy with the selection, the ZBA ought to settle for that. “I do not see something unhealthy taking place right here,” he stated. Henry agreed.
WSP will present peer evaluation on photo voltaic glare and battery storage. The ZBA permits the town to problem RFPs for the endangered species research, website design, and development section, and stormwater administration.
The dialogue of the appliance is sustained till June 6.
