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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-3-2021 Public Hearing-PB MTG Draft minutesDraft Minutes 1 Public Hearing: Norbut Solar Farms Town of Enfield Planning Board Meeting March 3, 2021, 7pm Via zoom platform Password 14850 Landline or smartphone Present: Board chair Daniel Walker, Acting Chair Michael Carpenter, Vice chair Henry Hansteen, Board member Ann Chaffee, Board member Richard Teeter, Alternate member Aaron Abb, Alternate member Joseph Dawson Code Enforcement Officer Alan Teeter, Town Supervisor Stephanie Redmond, Councilperson Jude Lemke, John Stone (Norbut Solar Farms BDM), Norbut Attorney Nate VanderWal Opened: 7:00 pm Henry Hansteen moved to approve the February 2021 minutes Board member Ann Chaffee 2nd Vote: All aye Motion carried Public Hearing convened at 7:05 PM. Board Chair Dan Walker recused himself from voting and acted as facilitator for Public Hearing on Norbut Farms Enfield Solar Project. Alternate Board member Aaron Abb acted as voting member in place of Board chair Daniel Walker. Acting Board chair Michael Carpenter was present to direct the discussion in compliance with the Site Plan Review and Town of Enfield Solar Law. The discussion was opened by Councilperson Jude Lemke. Participants included Water Protection Committee Chair Nancy Spero, Planning Board Vice chair Henry Hansteen, Board members Richard Teeter and Ann Chaffee, Alternate board member Joseph Dawson, Town Supervisor Stephanie Redmond, (NSF) Norbut Solar Farms Legal representation Nate VanderWal, NSF BDM John Stone The Decommissioning Plan and provision of 125% was presented as Gross value with no scrap value (task/value of task) . Screen sharing illustrated the argument (up to $450,000.00 over a 15 to 25 year period). Financial assurance in a letter of security is required at the time the permit is issued according to the Town of Enfield Solar Law and Site Plan Review. Norbut Solar Farms was prepared to present a decommissioning bond which would be unacceptable under the Town of Enfield’s Solar Law. Draft Minutes 2 NSF requested waiver for lot coverage lot coverage requirement now at 38.9% of 249 acre lot, (97 acres), as opposed to the original plan of 60% of acreage provided in Site Plan Review process and Town of Enfield Solar Law per condition of approval. NSF will be property owner, the remainder of the tax parcels would be subject to deed restrictions under the Enfield Solar Law and Site Plan Review Law. NSF intends to continue to lease the land currently leased by Renevous to Renevous. Concerns included discussion of conditional decommissioning, O & M Plans (Operations and Maintenance), health and safety, Complaint Plans (including general complaints/disputes/risk assessment), Enfield Emergency Response Plans, the PV Report and Lot coverage, subdivisions, deed restriction, waivers, array configuration, property ownership and leasing, compliance to building code, Solar Law mitigation, glare assessments (neighboring airport), 3rd party review, timelines, section 3.1 of Site Plan Review (waivers) and changes in NSF’s plan and the IDA Tompkins County (Industrial Development Agency). NSF attorney provisions for Town Board review. Looking forward the IDA will disclose it’s terms of agreement (possibly 26% distribution to Town Enfield) after the approval of the Enfield Planning Board and Town of Enfield’s Town Board. NFS will be prepared to discuss an update on the subdivision, financial assurance (125% of decommissioning estimate) determination, pending waivers, conditions of approval, and the timeline at the April 7, 2021 Town of Enfield Planning Board Meeting. The Town of Enfield Planning Board’s review and public hearing Norbut Solar Farms adjourned on a positive note. Members of the board appreciated the transparency, thoroughness and focus of the solar company’s presentation and response to The Town of Enfield’s Solar Law and The Site Plan Review process. The solar company will most likely be installing (3) 15 megawatt arrays as opposed to the (4) 15 megawatt arrays as originally planned due to NYSEG requirements. The impact on electricity production and revenue will be negligible and the configuration of the arrays will not change significantly. The Public Hearing adjourned at 8:21 PM 767 Hayts Road, tax parcel 3.42 Discussion: Planning Board chair Daniel Walker, Code Enforcement Officer Alan Teeter, Town Supervisor Stephanie Redmond, Acting Board chair Michael Carpenter Planning board consideration for pending sale with intention to build on the property. Screen sharing of tax map. Considerations were rite of way, Fire Company’s turnout requirement, adequate easements and access. Compelling statement. Result: no recommendation. Draft Minutes 3 Family Life Radio Network Tower Presented by Mr. Rick Snavely & Roger Supek FM station; 50’x50’ compound, generator for emergency power, 6’ satellite dish, 199’ self- supporting lattice type tower with FM antenna @ 185’ Request: building permit for tower and radio station Discussion: Rick Snavely, Planning Board Vice chair Henry Hansteen, Roger Supek, Planning Board Chair Daniel Walker, Planning Board member Ann Chaffee, John Coulter, Acting Board chair Michael Carpenter, Town Clerk Ellen Woods Site desirable for FCC regulations Emergency management benefits for community. North of Enfield Center Road West of Sheffield between Van Dorn and Sheffield Roads. *Tower over 100’ requires site plan approval, possibly a Public Hearing. The Town of Enfield Planning Board will review the request at the April 7, 2021 Planning Board Meeting Acting Planning Board chair Michael Carpenter moved to adjourn 2nd Planning Board Vice chair Henry Hansteen All AYE Motion carried Adjournment: 9:19 PM