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Planning board approves solar canopy at Memorial United Methodist Church with landscaping and fire-safety conditions
Summary
The planning board approved a site plan for a solar parking canopy at 250 Bryant Avenue (Memorial United Methodist Church) subject to Department of Public Works conditions, a landscaping/screening plan for the eastern property line, and fire department sign-off on the fire prevention plan.
The City of White Plains Planning Board on Feb. 18 approved a site plan for a solar canopy in the rear parking lot of Memorial United Methodist Church at 250 Bryant Avenue, with conditions requiring DPW and fire-department sign-off and a landscaping plan to screen the eastern property line.
Michael Shelter, associate director of project management for EcoG Energy, described the proposal and said the project had secured a height-variance approval from the zoning board. Shelter said the applicant had been awaiting city staff comments. "We have received our zoning board approval for the height variance," he said.
Board members and staff noted DPW comments had been incorporated into the environmental findings resolution and recommended several standard conditions, including Department of Public Safety sign-off on the project's fire prevention plan. Board member Vanilla Yachadi asked about tree removal and replacement; staff and the applicant said 25 trees within the parcel were expected to be removed to provide solar access but that adjacent properties (including a New York Hospital property) provided existing landscaping. The board added a condition requiring the applicant to submit a landscaping plan before issuance of a building permit, focused on the eastern property line and screening options such as lower-growing evergreen plantings.
The board declared itself lead agency for SEQRA purposes, adopted environmental findings (including DPW comments and the screening requirement), and then approved the project subject to the conditions discussed: DPW comments, fire-department sign-off on the fire prevention plan, and a landscaping/screening plan to be submitted prior to building permit issuance.
The board's action was procedural site-plan approval with conditions; the approval did not itself substitute for building permits or fire-safety reviews that the city or state codes require during later permitting stages.
