An advisory board dedicated to protecting farmland in Chautauqua County has expressed concerns about a proposed solar project in Dewittville.

The county Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board has sent a letter to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Land and Water Resources regarding the revised five megawatt solar project proposed to be constructed on Wright Road near Hartfield-Centralia Road in the town of Chautauqua.

The letter states, “If carried out, the proposed project will result in the conversion of approximately 35 acres of farmland of statewide importance which is actively farmed land. The proposed project area contains approximately 7 acres of previously classified prime farmland and 26 acres of previously classified prime farmland if drained.” It was signed by Daniel Stewart, chairman of the county Farmland Protection board.

In May, a public hearing was held on the project. Developers there said it would only affect about 20 acres of farmland and added that it was not considered prime farmland or prime farmland if drained.

The son of the owner of the property said during the public hearing that section of the land is wet and not very productive. They have about 300 acres total that they farm.

The Chautauqua Town Board did not close the public hearing at its May meeting and is expected to resume public comment June 12.

At the end of Farmland Protection board’s letter, it states “The Board finds that the project siting would result in major impacts to farmland in the county and would encourage alternatives sites to be considered which would result in no net loss of production farmland.”

According to county officials, the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board is advisory. It does not have the authority to approve or reject solar projects.

In 2023, Sol Source Power proposed a larger solar project in Dewittville but decided to scale it back after receiving a “positive declaration” of the State Environmental Quality Review by the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals. By giving the original project a positive declaration it would have needed additional environmental studies and permits.

According to developers, tree clearing was reduced from 21 acres to 3.63 acres, the access road was reduced from 1,500 feet to 300 feet, there was going to be 3.63 acres of wetlands impacted which was reduced to none, there will be six instead of 12 utility poles installed, there will be increased screening, and greenery was added to the fence.

The Chautauqua Town Board has been reviewing this project for more than a year.