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Planning Board approves 35-panel solar canopy over parking at 8 Trumbull Road
Summary
Northampton Planning Board approved a 35-panel parking canopy solar array at 8 Trumbull Road with a condition requiring final plans that show separation from a 4-foot brick sewer line per DPW.
The Northampton Planning Board on the evening of the meeting approved a site plan review for a photovoltaic (PV) parking canopy at 8 Trumbull Road, by Trumbull Road Partners LLC, conditioned on final construction plans that demonstrate required separation from an identified brick sewer main.
The array, presented by Matt Valier of PV Squared, is sized at about 18.5 kilowatts DC (about 20 kilowatts AC) and was reduced during design from 50 panels to 35 panels after the Department of Public Works (DPW) identified a 4‑foot‑diameter brick sewer main running through the rear lot. "We estimate it will offset around 80% of the current electrical loads of the building," Valier said, adding that new on-site loads such as heat pumps could reduce that offset.
The project will be supported on three columns with precast footings (concrete to rise about 24 inches above grade) and 8‑inch‑diameter steel poles. Heights range from about 8 feet at the south edge to about 16 feet on the north side. Valier and the applicant team said the array is intended to offset the building’s electricity use rather than serve a third party.
Neighbor Beth Spong, of 10 Trumbull Road, told the board she and her husband were concerned about visibility and night lighting from their backyard. "We really enjoy the use of our backyard and kind of consider it a little downtown sanctuary that we've created, and so we're concerned about what we will see from our backyard, and any light issues as well," Spong said. The applicant confirmed no new lighting is proposed under the canopy.
Planning staff noted the site sits in a transitional zoning area from the Central Business (CBS) district to Urban Residential, and that the applicant now meets a 20‑foot setback after revising the design to avoid the main sewer line. Staff and the board also discussed that the three posts will encroach into existing parking and could reduce capacity in the rear lot; from review of the plan board members observed the posts appear to intersect roughly three parking spaces of an estimated nine-space rear lot.
The Planning Board closed public comment, then approved the project with a condition that the applicant submit final construction plans showing post locations and array layout that satisfy DPW trenching and sewer separation requirements prior to construction. The board recorded the approval by voice; members present voted in favor unanimously.
The applicant indicated they will amend an already-filed building permit to reflect the reduced system size and will coordinate with DPW to locate lateral connections before construction.
