BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – After listening to 90 minutes of concerns about a proposed solar project on the Meade Road, the Town of Canton Planning Board on Monday night approved a site plan for a 5- megawatt project at 162 Meade Road.

The approval is subject to 20 conditions which must be satisfied prior to the stamping and signing of the site plans.

“The application was pretty complete,” said Debra Backus, planning board chair.

The approval was preceded by a negative New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) declaration.

The 1,092 panel solar center will be housed on 25.1 acres of land purchased by developers US Light Energy, Latham, N.Y, from Brian Brewer who was in attendance Monday night.

“Pursuant to the Town of Canton Zoning Law, the Planning Board has taken into consideration the location, arrangement, size, design, and general compatibility of the facility to surrounding uses; the potential glare and noise impacts, the adequacy of stormwater and drainage facilities, the adequacy of landscaping affecting visual and noise buffers, and the overall impact on the neighborhood,” the approved resolution reads.

In a letter to the planning board, Brewer expressed his displeasure with the delay in approving the project.

“We write to express our extreme dissatisfaction with the review process. A site plan application seeking approval of the solar project is before you for two years now. You are no longer working in the best interest of town residents,” said Brewer. “The time has come to listen to the applicant. It’s an allowable use of the property.”

Brewer said the money he received from the sale will allow him to purchase additional farmland to cultivate and the solar project land will generate additional revenue for the town.

“My farmland was tax exempt. I’m not sure what the developers will be taxed but I assume it will be quite high,” he said.

Before a public hearing was opened, Zack Lissard, director of operations for US Light Energy, presented an overview of the project.

The public hearing saw residents voice their concerns.

“I’m obviously against it. It’s farmland going to waste,” said Craig Coffey, 163 Meade Road.

His mother Pam Rose told planning board members that US Light Energy had not properly assessed the wildlife aspect of the project, saying there has been a major oversight regarding endangered species; mainly turtles, bats and bald eagles.

“It was brought to the attention of the developers but it was kind of brushed off,” she stated. “There’s been so much misleading information over the past two and a half years. My fears and worries are about the loss of farmland.”

She and her husband Jim Rose, 159 Meade Road and owners of Boyden Brook Body Works, see their property sitting adjacent to the solar farm.

“They said it’s okay to develop near the wetlands. I don’t agree with that. The trees won’t survive and the fencing will be a disturbance to the wetlands,” Rose said.

Canton resident Roger Bailey said he is surprised to hear the planning board considering approving the project having no idea what the benefits to the town will be.

Backus responded by noting that aspect of the project is under the jurisdiction of the Canton Town Board.

Canton resident Rainbow Crabtree inquired about the definition of community solar versus commercial solar and expressed concerns about the decommissioning process.

“Expand our definition on what community solar could be for the community,” she said. “Let’s not move so quickly. Let’s slow down a bit to address the concerns expressed today.”