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Board tables environmental declaration for 58.9‑acre Solar Liberty project after glare and planting concerns
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Summary
The board declined to approve a negative declaration for Solar Liberty Energy Systems’ proposed ~59‑acre solar array, citing unresolved glare modeling and inconsistent planting schedules. The applicant will return with clarified plant counts, glare‑modeling explanations and a refined mitigation plan.
The Goshen Town Planning Board on Aug. 9 declined to adopt a negative declaration for a proposed 58.9‑acre solar energy system by Solar Liberty Energy Systems Inc., citing outstanding technical questions about glare modeling, planting plans and screen effectiveness.
Dan Kruskowski of Barclay Damon, representing the applicant, presented a revised planting plan that increases evergreen screening—principally arborvitae varieties—targeting Areas 2 and 7 near Millburn Road to mitigate panel glare observed in the project’s LaBella glare assessment. The applicant proposed planting taller stock (12‑foot stock in key corners) and advancing planting ahead of ground disturbance to accelerate screening growth.
Board members raised multiple technical concerns: inconsistent tree counts across plan sheets (planting totals shown as 236 in one report and 307 on another), uncertainty whether the planting schedule matches the screening geometry used in the glare analysis, and whether existing tree buffers (notably Area 6 on Millburn) are sufficient given sparse coverage. A planning board member also questioned why the glare model used a 3‑foot receptor/panel modeling assumption; other local solar studies modeled panels at 5–8 feet, and the board flagged that difference as material to assessing whether glare is significant.
The applicant said it could provide clarifications, revise the planting schedule so the planting quantities and species exactly match the glare‑study assumptions, and agreed to a 1‑year look‑back provision to confirm survival and placement of plantings. The board said the concerns are substantial enough to withhold a SEQR negative declaration and to delay scheduling a joint public hearing until the applicant provides the requested clarifications in writing. No final approvals were granted at the meeting.
