“The town last week amended its solar law to include assessment of “visual impacts” while the project that helped to spur the change has been moved to preserve the view of the Helderbergs for which citizens had advocated.
Joseph Muia had planned to have a five-megawatt solar array featuring more than 10,000 solar panels installed on his property next to the golf course on Dunnsville Road.
A citizens’ group, Save Our View, formed to protest the proposal and to advocate for changes in the town’s law on siting solar arrays.
John Abbruzzese — who with his brothers owns Altamont Orchards, an apple farm that became a golf course and event venue — hoped to swap land with Muia to let him have the solar array built in a place that wouldn’t mar the view.
The initial handshake deal fell through in February but this week Donna Abbruzzese, John’s wife, writes in a letter to the Enterprise editor, “With the help and support of neighbors, friends, the Altamont and Guilderland community, and others, both near and far, our efforts have been successful!
“Joe Muia has agreed upon a plan to move the proposed solar array from his field fronting Dunnsville Road to property on the other side of the hill; there will be deed restrictions on the property fronting Dunnsville Road to prevent commercial development and preserve the Helderberg viewshed. A contract has been negotiated with a verbal agreement, awaiting signatures and closing date.””
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Hale Spencer, Melissa. Altamont Enter[rise 30 April 2020.