HomeMy WebLinkAboutI - 15(2) Town of Cortlandville - County Planning Review, Recommendations & Resolution (Solar Energy System PILOT). Cortland County Planning Department TRISHA R. JESSET, PE
60 Central Ave • Cortland, New York 13045-2838 Director ofPlanning
Planning
Telephone: (607) 753-5043 email: tiessetftortland-co.or4
General Municipal Law (GML) Report
TO: Cortland County Planning Board March 11, 2022
FROM: Cortland County Planning Department
RE: Town of Cortlandville Local Law — Solar Energy System PILOT
Applicant: Town of Cortlandville
3577 Terrace Road
Cortland, NY 13045
SYNOPSIS -
Local Law review for the purpose of ensuring that the benefits of the community's
solar energy resource are available to the entire community, by promoting the installation
of solar energy generating equipment through a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), granting
reduced costs to system developers and energy consumers, and providing a revenue stream
to the entire community. This local law is being referred to the Cortland County Planning
Board because the local law impacts property throughout the Town of Cortlandville.
ANALYSIS -
The Town of Cortlandville is adopting a local law to ensure that the benefits of the
community's solar energy resource are available to the entire community, by promoting the
installation of solar energy generating equipment through a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT),
granting reduced costs to system developers and energy consumers, and providing a revenue
stream to the entire community.
Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 outline the proposed local law's title, statutory authority, intent, and
definitions.
Section 5 requires owners of property on which solar energy systems are located to enter into
a PILOT agreement with the Town of Cortlandville unless the solar energy system is residential or
the owner does not seek or qualify for an exemption from real property taxes. The lessee or licensee
of any owner of a property required to enter into a PILOT agreement, which owns or controls the
Solar Energy System, may enter into the PILOT agreement on behalf of the owner of the property.
Section 6 outlines the requirements of PILOT agreements required under this local law. This
section provides that the Town of Cortlandville establishes the payment amount of PILOT agreements
by resolution. This has already been done in the form of resolution #288 of the year 2020, which
establishes a minimum annual payment of $7,000.00 per megawatt, together with an annual cost of
living adjustment (COLA).
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Sections 7 & 8 establishes the local law's effective date and ensures the integrity of the local
law for the future.
Finally, the proposed local law is considered a Type I Action Linder SEQR as it would change
the allowable uses in a zoning district affecting more than 25 acres. The Town should therefore
complete a Full Environmental Assessment Form to determine if this proposal would result in any
significant adverse environmental impacts.
RECOMMENDATION -
The staff recommends approval of this application for a local law for the purpose of ensuring
that the benefits of the community's solar energy resource are available to the entire community, by
promoting the installation of solar energy generating equipment through a payment in lieu of taxes
(PILOT), granting reduced costs to system developers and energy consumers, and providing a
revenue stream to the entire community only upon compliance with SEOR.
Prepared by:
Alex M. Schultz
Planner
Reviewed/revised by:
Trisha Jesset, P.E.
Director of Planning
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