OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon The Chautauqua Town Board has referred a proposed solar project in Dewittville back to the town Zoning Board of Appeals for further review after the project was scaled back.

A proposed solar project in Dewittville has been scaled back and will be getting a new review from zoning officials.

During the November Chautauqua Town Board meeting, a public hearing was held for the solar project proposed at 6049 Wright Road.

In October, the town Zoning Board of Appeals had recommended the Dewittville project receive a “positive declaration” for the State Environmental Quality Review from the town board. A positive declaration would mean that there could be numerous environmental impacts, which would force the applicant to get additional environmental studies done before a permit could be issued.

When the zoning board reviewed the proposal last month, it was described as two separate proposals.

One would be a 5-megawatt project and the other would be a 3.5-megawatt solar project. The two projects would sit next to one another, covering 43 acres and would require the removal of 21 acres of trees.

The zoning board does not have a final say on special use permits for solar projects, but makes recommendations for the town board. The positive declaration was recommended in part because of the loss of so many trees and affected wetlands.

At the town board’s public hearing in November, Glenn Land with Sol Source Power said they were making changes to their project. Instead of two solar projects, it was reduced to one 5-megawatt project.

The original proposal would impact 3.63 acres of wetlands. Land said the new project would not impact any wetlands.

The overall footprint was reduced from 43 acres to just over 21 acres of land.

Tree clearing was also reduced. The project went from removing 21 acres of trees to 3.68 acres of trees. “That’s an 82% reduction, and the trees we are proposing to clear are just for shade. There won’t be any actual panels in those areas. It’s just to make the system more efficient,” Land said.

Land said they added more screening, put in a greenery fence to hide the panels, and reduced the number of roadside utility poles from 12 to six. “We’re pretty happy with all the changes and all the updates to meet the town’s needs,” he said.

After Land with Sol Power spoke, the public was given the opportunity to speak on the revised proposal.

One neighbor complained that he still believes the project will be an eyesore.

Another neighbor said although the project has been scaled down, it’s still too close to her house. She said the project should be placed on the half where it was originally developed and leave the half where the development is going to be placed empty.

Another concern raised was if the project would be recycled or placed in a landfill once it expires. Land said one of the requirements is a decommissioning plan which requires the solar panels be recycled. He also said there will be a bond should the project become bankrupt.

Land also said there will be no spraying of chemicals, including herbicides or pesticides. The solar panels will come coated and will not need to be resprayed.

Town attorney Joel Seachrist said if a permit is issued it will not allow for any chemical spraying after construction is completed.

One resident said she had a petition of about 25 neighbors opposed to the project. Town Supervisor Don Emhardt encouraged her to submit the petition to become part of the official record.

He also said because there have been so many changes to the original plan, that he recommended it be sent back to the town zoning board for further review.

The full town board agreed with Emhardt’s recommendation and voted unanimously to have the project be re-reviewed by the zoning board.

Sol Power was not on the schedule for the November zoning board meeting agenda. The December ZBA meeting is set for Dec. 19 at 3:30 p.m. although the agenda for that month has not been finalized.

If the zoning board does review the project in December, the town board will continue its public hearing for the Dewittville solar project at its January meeting.

Developers said should they be approved for the project, they expect it will take eight months to construct.

In a separate matter, the town board has scheduled a public hearing on a moratorium on battery storage projects at its December meeting. Officials with Sol Power said this project will not have any battery storage on site.