Rome planning board tables 4.2‑megawatt Old Oneida solar project after third‑party review; asks for revisions

The City of Rome Planning Board on March 4 tabled review of Emerson US LLC’s proposal for a 4.2‑megawatt solar array on about 20 acres at 5792 Old Oneida Road after a third‑party engineering review identified multiple plan changes the board asked the applicant to address.

The review, prepared by outside consultant Barton and Le Judas, raised concerns about the project’s visual‑impact assessment, stormwater treatment for impervious features, erosion and sediment controls, landscaping species diversity, emergency access dimensions and a decommissioning cost estimate and photographic baseline. "If the landscaping is shown in the visual assessment, it will definitely help to show how the proposed landscaping will mitigate the visual impacts," Sterling DePaul, an outside reviewer with Barton and Le Judas, told the board.

The board’s request follows discussion among city staff, the applicant and utility and public commenters about site‑specific details. "We do intend to comply with most of Sterling’s requirements," Brian Baer of CNS Engineers said, adding the team will revise submittals and coordinate directly with the city reviewer.

Why it matters: the project would add a utility‑scale solar array adjacent to residences and a road; board members and neighbors flagged visual buffering, stormwater design and long‑term…