“For those communities concerned about the prospect of large solar panel arrays taking up acres of space, threatening the environment and spoiling the view, the town of Glenville is an example of how good government planning, stringent local review and public input can make a difference.
The town’s Planning & Zoning Commission earlier this week recommended the town board not approve a change of zoning that would have allowed Hinion Solar to construct a 5-megawatt solar array on 45 acres of a 65-acre parcel near the intersection of Van Voast Lane and Sacandaga Road.
It’s not the rejection of the project that makes this worthy of attention – it’s the process.
Like many communities in our region, Glenville has struggled to deal with the growing popularity of solar energy. Everyone likes solar power until they see acres and acres of blue solar panels in a field by the side of the road in their community.
So it’s vital that communities have legitimate, legal, thorough review processes in place to manage the growth of solar arrays.
As with controlling any growth in a community, it starts with the zoning.
The town has designated a specific type of zoning to deal with solar arrays called a Solar Energy Farm Overlay District. The district has a strict set of rules in place for solar arrays within the district and an extensive government and public review process to change existing zoning to comply with the overlay district requirement.
With those rules as a guideline, planners then reviewed the project itself, critiquing it for its compliance to such rules as distance from a substation and the amount of acres that would have to be cleared to accommodate the panels.
The process requires the Planning & Zoning Commission to make a thumbs-up/thumbs-down recommendation to the Town Board for the zoning change. The Town Board has the final say on whether to move forward.
In this case, the commission unanimously recommended against the proposal for the reasons cited. And residents of nearby single-family homes also objected because of the potential impact on their properties.
So the process continues, with the Town Board weighing the recommendations, the impacts and the community’s concerns before deciding whether to allow the project to move forward.
This process not only protects the community, but also provides clear guidance for green-energy developers considering projects in Glenville. Companies don’t want to waste their time and effort trying to site a project if there’s a strong chance that it won’t pass local government muster. It also gives them an opportunity to better assess the locations likely to receive approval.
Communities dealing with this new phenomenon need to settle on a similar review process and similar rules specific to the needs of their citizens.
Consistency, fairness and thoroughness are the key.”
read the entire article
Editorial Board, Schenectady Daily Gazette. 26, November 2024.