Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Project Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
LCPC signals support for two small projects — 30 kW solar at Strawberry Hill and antenna additions at Bush Hill tower
Summary
The Lamoille County Planning Commission voted to send standard conformance letters — while reserving the right to future comment — for a 30‑kW solar array at Strawberry Hill (300 Meadow Lane, Stowe) and for new antennas on an existing tower at 879 Bush Hill Road in Stowe.
The Lamoille County Planning Commission voted to send standard conformance letters — while reserving the right to future review — for two separate projects presented to the planning and project review (PPR) committee.
For the first project, staff described a 30‑kilowatt solar array proposed at a property in Strawberry Hill (300 Meadow Lane, Stowe). The presenter noted this is large for a single‑residence installation — “five times the size that most houses would have” — and said the array serves both a residence and an on‑site business that hosts events such as weddings and concerts. The commission moved and approved a standard letter finding the project in conformance with the current LCPC regional plan and forwarding the letter to Stowe Electric and the Public Utility Commission while reserving the commission’s right to provide additional comments later.
The second item was a telecommunications upgrade: Verizon intends to place antennas on an existing tower owned by T‑Mobile at 879 Bush Hill Road in Stowe, below the T‑Mobile antennas. Staff said the work would not increase the tower height; it would add antennas and require construction of a small platform and equipment roof. The commission again voted to send the standard conformance letter to the applicant and to the PUC, preserving the right to future review.
Why it matters: Both actions are procedural reviews under the commission’s PPR process. The solar array raised questions about when residential‑scale projects warrant review and about utility interconnection/backfeed concerns. The tower work was characterized by staff as modest because it uses an existing facility and does not change the tower height.
Vote details: Both motions carried by voice vote with no opposing votes recorded in the meeting transcript.
Background: The PPR presenter noted LCPC’s practice of reviewing projects that are larger than a typical residential installation and of forwarding conformance comments to utilities and the PUC. The solar project was identified in the meeting by applicant name and location as “Suncom and Solar Ray — 300 Meadow Lane, Stowe.” The telecom applicant was described as Bell Atlantic/T‑Mobile/Verizon for infrastructure at 879 Bush Hill Road.
Next steps: Staff will send the standard conformance letters to the applicants, Stowe Electric and the PUC and may conduct additional review later if the projects advance.
