Andrew Reilly

MAYVILLE — A proposed solar project in Dewittville is continuing to be examined by local officials.

Omni Navitas Solar Energy Development is seeking to construct a 5-megawatt solar project on Hartfield-Stockton Road, near where Amish residents live. In September, the company sent the Chautauqua Town Board a $15,000 check so it could hire its own engineer to examine the project.

The town hired Andrew Reilly with Wendel engineering. On Tuesday, Reilly attended the town board meeting to give his initial report.

He said his firm has done studies like this for a couple dozen municipalities. He examined the town’s laws and went over the required State Environmental Quality Review.

The town board has been asked to issue a special use permit for the development. Reilly recommended the town decide on what conditions it wants to require in order for the project to be built. “When ever you issue a special use permit, you typically attach the conditions and you’re really going to need conditions on this solar project because your law has requirements,” he said. That can include screening the project, and a decommission plan and bond.

As proposed, the solar project would need area variances because of the side yard requirements.

Peter McAuliffe with Omni Navitas said he can adjust the project so that it will meet the town’s side yard requirements, avoiding them to having to go back to the zoning board.

According to Reilly, Omni Navitas is not proposing any solar battery storage on the property. The company said it will not use chemicals to remove any herbicides on the property.

Reilly recommended the company be required that no PFNA chemicals be permitted in the project. He said PFNA are sometimes used by foreign companies as part of the anti-glare used, however that chemical is found to be hazardous in drinking water. McAuliffe said it won’t be a problem to show that chemical isn’t being used.

According to Reilly, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has signed off on the project. There are no federally protected wetlands or species that would be affected by the construction.

Town Supervisor Don Emhardt noted that there is a popular snowmobile trail that runs through the property. McAuliffe said the trail will be taken into consideration in the placement of the development.

Reilly also recommended the town require the project have different plants and trees be planted to help minimize seeing the solar project. Because of the height of the project and landscaping there, he said placing a berm in front of the project would be impractical.

Over the summer, dozens of people attended a public hearing expressing their concerns on the project, including a number of Amish families.

On Tuesday after Reilly spoke, Karen Engstrom of Mayville spoke out against the development. She said she feels this project will negatively affect the rural nature of the town. “The character of this community is rural and agricultural. It’s your responsibility to guard that character and to prevent this blight from coming into our community,” she said to town officials.

No final vote on the special use permit was taken.

Earlier in the day Tuesday, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency held a public hearing on the project at the town hall. County IDA officials said previously they will not consider Payment In Lieu Of Taxes Agreements if the local municipality has not given its approval of the project first.

In other business, the town board officially adopted its 2022 budget. The spending plan has a levy of $1 million. The tax rate is going to be 67 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation for town only residents and $1.55 for town residents who live in the village of Mayville. The tax rate is a reduction from the current budget. This year, town only residents have tax rate of 94 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation and Mayville residents have a tax rate of $1.85.