SKOWHEGAN — Public input was light on Tuesday for scheduled public hearings on an upcoming meeting where voters are deciding on several items that include amending the town’s planning board ordinance and creating language for a solar ordinance.
The hearings, held during the regular Board of Selectmen meeting, were in advance of a special town meeting scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m.
Selectmen opened the floor shortly after the meeting began to discuss three upcoming items: an Amended Planning Board Ordinance, Utility Scale Solar Energy Facility Ordinance and the Ground Lease Agreement with BD Solar Skowhegan LLC.
Dirigo Solar of Portland has proposed a solar project that would be built on top of the closed landfill at 29 Transfer Station Drive.
The Skowhegan Landfill Solar project anticipates a 2-megawatt solar farm on approximately 10 acres of land. The $3 million investment is expected to provide additional income sources to the town, including revenue from the property lease and property taxes.
Input at Tuesday’s hearing was mostly from a resident asking for clarification on the specifics of the project. The project would be tapping into an existing distribution network on Steward Hill Road and would feed into the Skowhegan North Side Substation. The town as well as local businesses and homes would also be able to purchase power directly from this project.
Nobody in attendance at the meeting or viewing the livestream spoke up about the Utility Scale Solar Energy Facility Ordinance during Tuesday’s public hearing. This ordinance defines how the town will proceed with and creates standards for utility-scale solar facilities.
Under the ordinance, any qualifying facilities must receive a permit from the town’s Planning Board. Exempt from the ordinance are facilities that occupy 800 square feet or less, though they must also meet state electrical codes and permitting requirements.
A utility-scale solar energy facility is defined as “any solar facility, project or installation which is intended to/or in fact, does generate solar power” and feeds power into the electric grid.
This ordinance will serve as an additional level of review along with the Site Plan Review Ordinance. A list of application requirements is detailed in the proposed solar ordinance, found on the town’s website, skowhegan.org.
Meanwhile, proposed amendments to the Planning Board Ordinance include the addition of two alternates alongside a board of seven members. Terms for alternates are for five years, which match the regular members’ tenure.
These alternates are to serve when a member of the Planning Board is unable to attend a meeting or cannot act on an item due to a conflict of interest. The chairperson of the board then designates an alternate as a voting member for that portion of the meeting.
Alternates may attend meetings and participate in proceedings but can only vote when they have been designated to sit in for a member.
One resident spoke up during this time to address some questions on the amendments, including the reason for the amendment, questioning whether the board has problems meeting quorum and if having alternates is a common practice.
Todd Smith, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, clarified that the Planning Board did have an issue meeting quorum, which is four members, during a July meeting. But this was the only instance that he’s been aware of and not an ongoing problem.
“The idea from the Planning Board was more of a mechanism to encourage people to join the board,” said Joel Greenwood, Skowhegan’s town planner. “Having an alternate position where they could sit on the board and see how things happen before they join officially was more of the idea behind this, so then they can move on to a full board position if and when it becomes open.”
The special town meeting to vote on the items is scheduled for Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
