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Town waiting for soil report regarding Dewittville solar project

OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon Residents spoke out against a proposed solar project in Dewittville.

The Chautauqua Town Board is waiting for a soil report from the state before making a decision on a proposed solar project in Dewittville.

During the recent town board meeting, the board continued a public hearing on the 5 megawatt solar project proposed to be constructed on Wright Road near Hartfield-Centralia Road, which is County Road 54.

The public hearing began in May and continued in June. At the May meeting, the developers were present. They did not attend the June town board meeting.

At the May meeting, Steve Long with Sol Source Power said the project will affect about 20 acres of farmland. Long said the soil was classified as “farmland of statewide importance,” which is the lowest level of farmland. They received that information from the United States Department of Agriculture.

After that presentation, the Chautauqua County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board said the proposed project will result in the conversion of approximately 35 acres of farmland.

Of that amount, the Farmland Protection Board said the proposed project area contains 7 acres of prime farmland and 26 acres of prime farmland if drained, both which register higher than “farmland of statewide importance.” That designation came from a soil survey done by Chautauqua County about 30 years ago.

Because of this conflict between what the developer and the county Farmland Protection Board are saying, Chautauqua town officials have requested the state Department of Agriculture and Markets make a determination as to which classification is correct.

According to town attorney Joel Seachrist, if the state Department of Ag and Markets determines the soil should be considered “prime farmland” the town board would likely adopt a “positive environmental declaration” for the project. A positive declaration doesn’t necessarily stop the project, but it would require additional environmental studies.

There were a number of people at the June town board meeting who spoke out against the project. The hearing went on for around 45 minutes.

Concerns included drainage, the impact the solar project would have on the value of neighboring properties, possible glare issues, the financial viability of the project, and the loss of farmland.

The town board has been reviewing this project for more than a year.

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