Melink Solar Development Partner Jeremy Chapman discusses a couple proposed solary array projects at the Planning Board meeting with abutters in the audience.
Reminder Publishing screen capture
WARE — During the Planning Board meeting on Aug. 15, representatives from Melink Solar Energy discussed two solar projects that have been discussed since 2019.
Melink Solar Development Business Development Partner Jeremy Chapman led most of the meeting but was also joined by CJ Bertin and attorney T.J. Recupero.
Melink Solar Development currently has three different solar array projects for which it is seeking approval.
The first item on the agenda was a site plan review for a solar facility to be mounted at 278 Osborne Rd.
The original application was submitted in 2019 with a proposed site plan review and special permit application on behalf of Joel Harder to construct and operate a 1.9+/- megawatt ground-mounted solar facility.
It stated that a large scale solar array is proposed for this site that will generate electricity to be sent to the existing power grid. The facility contains solar panels mounted on racks, electrical inverters and transformers, battery storage, underground cables and utility poles with switches and other equipment.
From November 2020 through February 2021, a proposed subdivision was discussed to create two lots known as lot A and lot B. Lot A would entirely be in the Ware while lot B would be in both Ware and Hardwick with access to the lot only in Ware.
After a few meetings of revisions, the subdivision was unanimously approved by the Planning Board in February 2021 to allow for the project.
Since then, Chapman said the project has received approval from the Ware Conservation Commission in November 2022 and Hardwick Conservation Commission in 2023.
The discussion at the meeting Aug.15 lasted nearly two hours as neighbors of the projects had concerns and stated there were not informed of the subdivision change that took place.
The group also went over stormwater plans, if the project needed to be resubmitted based on the address changing, frontage arguments, proposed plantings around the property and adjustments to the overall project.
Although the address is identified at 278 Osborne Rd., the property is technically now on Hardway Circle.
There has also been a new solar bylaw added to Ware since the original application which was approved by voters at a Town Meeting.
Planning Board Chair Kenneth Crosby said there are too many legal questions and revisions that might need to be made to approve the site plan and award a special permit.
Chapman said he was open to having another peer review conducted on the property to give a more updated look at the property and show the adjustments to the project.
He added, “I think peer review is the best thing to do if we can past these four questions that we have, which I think we will, and we’d love to get going on that as well.”
The public hearing was continued to Sept. 5 at 7:05 p.m.
The next item was another site plan review and special permit application for a solar facility on Greenwich Road.
This was another reopening and hearing that was continued from Aug. 1 but that project was also first applied for in 2019.
The original proposed site plan and special permit application was submitted on behalf of FT Smith Trucking & Excavating to construct and operate a 4.2+/- megawatt ground-mounted solar facility
Chapman also spoke on behalf of the applicant for this project and said that once two phases of gravel removal is completed on the site, the intention is to add solar to the property.
He added that as of last year, they had a draft order of conditions but were waiting the letter from Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program to continue the project.
The site is listed as a priority habitat, so Chapman said they are working with Endangered Species Review Biologist Tim McGuire from MassWildlife to figure out the next steps.
Chapman said they are still waiting for final feedback from and hoping to have that meeting within the next couple of weeks.
The project also still needs approval from the Conservation Commission once the plan is finalized.
“Much like the other project, we’ve done a redesign where we’ve really reduced the overall footprint. The overall footprint we’re under 10 acres,” Chapman added.
The Planning Board viewed the plans and Chapman said Melink Solar Development would buy the land once the gravel is removed.
The group continued to go over the plan and discuss gates, stormwater, drainage, decommission plan and other revisions they would like top see.
Chapman said, “Coming into this, the expectation was wanting to kind of reintroduce things. We wanted to reintroduce this to the board, get Natural Heritage taken care of, get the letter and then we can go back in front of Conservation Commission with this letter.”
He said the next steps after that would to be get shared Conservation Commission and Planning Board peer reviewer for the project to help get everyone on the same page.
The public hearing for this project was continued until Sept. 19 at 7:05 p.m.
