Planning board continues Atlantic Solar master‑plan review, extends decision deadline to Dec. 31, 2025

The Hopkinton Planning Board agreed to continue the master‑plan application for Atlantic Solar to its October meeting and to extend the statutory deadline for a board decision to Dec. 31, 2025.

Interim Planner Ashley Sweet said the applicant requested a continuance and had extended the decision clock; she said the application is mid‑master plan and that the applicant has repeatedly requested continuances while awaiting studies and additional materials. Sweet explained the board must have a certified complete application and adequate time for review and public notice before taking a decision.

Sweet said the applicant’s team had been waiting on a national‑grid study and that because the matter has been continued several times, the applicant agreed to renotice abutters when the application next reaches a decision stage. “That clock has been ticking for, I don't know, years at this point,” Sweet said, and she summarized that the board had previously agreed on handling extensions to avoid automatic approvals.

The applicant’s representative, through counsel, requested the continuance; the board moved to continue the item to October and to extend the decision deadline to Dec. 31, 2025. Board members noted that if the application appears later in the year, staff and the applicant may need to discuss further extensions so the board has time to review materials and provide adequate notice.

No approvals of permits or project components were issued at the meeting; the action before the board was only to continue the matter on the calendar and to set the decision‑deadline extension.