HomeMy WebLinkAboutGroton South Main I & II Solar - Updated Plan Review TCB 9-22-2025
TIMOTHY C. BUHL, P.E.
187 Burtis Point Road
Auburn, NY 13021
(607) 423-1919
September 22, 2025
Town of Groton
108 E Cortland Street
Groton, NY 13073
RE: South Main Street, Groton Solar Farm – North and South Site Plan Revisions
Tax Map Numbers 26-1-25.22 and 31-1-12.1 on the North (NY Groton I, LLC) and
South (NY Groton II, LLC)
Attn: Don Scheffler, Town Supervisor; Town Board Members; Robin Cargian, Town Clerk;
Rick Fritz, Town CEO; & Fran Cosullo, Town Attorney
This letter is to confirm my recent review of the updated Site Plans and cover letter submitted on
9/19/2025 pertaining to the above-referenced project. I also spoke with the applicant’s engineer
on Friday 9/19/25 to discuss the changes and upgrades to the new plans submitted.
As previously noted, the updated proposal for this project is to change from the prior approved
fixed racking system to an upgraded tracker racking system, along with several other site
improvements. This most recent submittal is meant to address the concerns raised in my September
6, 2025 letter concerning site grading, stormwater runoff controls, the SWPPP document, and the
NYSDEC permit status.
To begin with, the applicant has indicated that this project will be submitted for permit and
constructed under the new 2025 NYSDEC permit and the new Stormwater Management Guidance,
which was unclear with the applicant’s previous submittal. Not only does this guidance cover the
major concerns of solar project development on steeper slopes (>8%), but there are
recommendations for many smaller site-specific problems such as localized washouts,
construction sediment control, inadvertent discharges, and decompaction during construction.
As noted in the attached cover letter & updated plans, the missing site grading sections for Groton
II have now been provided, along with new & more detailed localized runoff/erosion control fixes
for the box culvert. They have also provided better runoff controls at the proposed site entrance
at South Main Street for the North site (Groton I), which was one of my earlier concerns. The
added cross-sections now shown on the South site (Groton II) are somewhat preliminary in nature,
as the existing/proposed % slopes are not shown. (I estimate them to be 5% for Profile B, and over
10% for Profile A). The 10% slopes will require special attention during construction and also
post installation monitoring to be sure runoff practices are performing as required. This should
also be the case for the area southwest of Profile A, where the finish grades are even steeper (15%).
I do have some additional concerns about the amount of earthen fills shown for the approaches to
the box culvert stream crossing (13’-15’) on the north site (Groton I), in terms of both the slope
stability and the potential for washouts during a major storm event. Again, it is my opinion these
more minor concerns can be addressed in the final construction drawings submitted for the
issuance of the actual project building permit.
To summarize, the most recent submittal by the applicant has addressed my remaining major
concerns, and in speaking with the project engineering team members, the more minor outstanding
issues will be taken care of in the final building permit documents. It is my recommendation that
great care should be taken to follow the NYSDEC Stormwater Guidance requirements for this
project, especially during the construction & grading operations. The Town should also request
direct copies of the regular weekly site inspection reports made by an independent certified
inspection service retained by the developer. It is important for the Town and the Code Officer to
be kept current as to conditions at the site, so that immediate corrective measures can be taken to
protect adjacent downstream properties if necessary.
Very truly yours,
TIMOTHY C. BUHL, P.E.
Timothy C. Buhl
Cc: Fran Casullo, Robin Cargian, Rick Fritz