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Commission informed proposed 20‑acre solar lease falls under Connecticut Siting Council, not local review
Summary
Staff told the zoning commission a proposed solar array on a town property would be reviewed by the Connecticut Siting Council, not local land‑use bodies; the proposal described a roughly 20‑acre lease area within a larger 100‑plus‑acre property, and staff said the town had submitted a letter and would update commissioners as appropriate.
Town staff informed the Zoning Commission that a proposed solar array on a property in Simsbury is subject to review by the Connecticut Siting Council rather than local land‑use review, and that the project as proposed would occupy about 20 acres of leased area within a larger 100‑plus‑acre property. Staff said the state law assigns siting and review authority for certain large energy projects to the Connecticut Siting Council, so the town does not have local land‑use approval authority for that project. Staff said they had copied the commission on a letter sent to the Siting Council and would keep commissioners apprised of material developments as appropriate. Commissioners asked about the size of the proposed array; staff said the lease area is about 20 acres and that the total property is roughly 100 acres. No local permit application was before the commission because, under state siting law, the project is reviewed at the state level. Staff said they would notify the commission when local awareness or action was appropriate; no formal town action was requested or taken at the meeting.
