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Planning commission approves two Peerless Road solar site plans, grants irrigation waivers
Summary
The commission granted irrigation-system waivers and approved major site plans for two solar projects on Peerless Road, allowing trucked watering and requiring a landscape bond; commissioners discussed shared access and phased construction.
The Worcester County Planning Commission approved two major solar site plans on Peerless Road and granted waivers from the county’s underground irrigation requirement for the landscaped buffers.
At the Aug. 7 meeting the commission voted to approve waivers for WO27 and WO60, both solar projects sited at or near 9251 Peerless Road, and to approve the overall site plans after hearing presentations from project representatives. The applicant for at least one site identified itself as Turning Point Energy; the civil engineer on record was Nick Lefner.
Turning Point Energy representative Francis Uhas told the commission the projects would not rely on underground irrigation. “The underground we believe the underground irrigation is not necessary,” Uhas said, adding that the applicants will irrigate newly planted landscaping by truck and will post a landscape bond to ensure plant survivability.
Engineering staff described shared-access and phasing plans. The two projects share an access drive; staff and the applicant said the construction phasing will likely build access drives first to support equipment delivery, with equipment installation and the remainder of site work following. The applicant estimated full construction could be completed within months depending on seasonal start dates (applicants suggested roughly six to nine months from start, weather dependent).
The commission voted to grant the irrigation waivers and to approve both site plans by voice votes. Staff noted the approvals include the standard conditions: a posted landscape bond, final plan submissions to the development review committee, and the need to return final construction plans for permits.
Planning staff said the projects will return final plans for administrative review and that phasing and shared-access details will be reflected in final permit documents.
