East Longmeadow Public Schools Superintendent Gordon Smith and School Committee Chair Gregory Thompson listen as Town Manager Tom Christensen comments on the School Department’s needs.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow Town Council approved amendments to the town’s solar bylaw to include ground-mounted arrays. Planning and Community Development Director Rob Watchilla, who drafted the amendments, was on hand to answer questions at the council’s Jan. 28 meeting.
Under the bylaw, there are three types of solar arrays allowed in town: canopy mounted, roof-top and ground-mounted. The Planning Board cannot deny such projects but can impose reasonable conditions on them. Roof-mounted solar panels and small ground-mounted projects, defined as less than 2,100 square feet, are exempt from the site plan review process, however a building permit is required. The projects must be designed to minimize glare. Small ground-mounted arrays must have a vegetative buffer half as tall at the array with “minimal view” from the surrounding area.
Solar projects that are mounted on a canopy or ground-mounted solar projects over 2,100 square feet must adhere to the front and side setbacks in that zone unless the project abuts a residential property. In such cases, the setbacks must be 50 feet. The projects are limited to 20 feet tall and must be screened from abutters. Medium or large scaled ground mounted solar projects must be enclosed by a chain-link fence.
If a project has multiple structures, they must be architecturally similar. A lighting plan is required and the noise at the property line must be 50 decibels or less. Normal conversational volume is between 60 and 70 decibels. The utility connections are required to run underground except in specific circumstances.
The bylaw has provisions to prevent abandonment of the arrays. If a solar project discontinues electrical generation, the structures and panels must be removed within 90 days. If the project is not removed, the town may seek a court order allowing a vendor to enter the site and decommission the equipment at a cost to the owner.
Mapleshade roof
East Longmeadow Public Schools Superintendent Gordon Smith asked the Town Council to approve $370,000 for a feasibility study of Mapleshade Elementary School’s roof. He explained that a repair or replacement of the roof is eligible for a feasibility study through the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s accelerated repair program. The MSBA, a semi-governmental agency that reimburses municipalities for school repairs, requires the town to appropriate the full amount of funding before it will agree to reimburse a portion.
Town Council President Connor O’Shea noted that the roof has been on the town’s capital plan for a few years and said replacing the roof would “wipe out” the capital budget. The council approved the appropriation from the town’s free cash.
