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Planning Board tells Town Board: no blanket exemptions for pending battery projects; seeks more study
Summary
The Planning Board reviewed a draft Town Board local law proposing a six‑month moratorium on commercial battery energy storage systems (tier 2/3) while the town commissions further study. The board voted 4–2 against recommending exemptions for applicants already in process and asked counsel to draft comments for the Town Board.
The Planning Board discussed Introductory Local Law No. 9 of 2025, a Town Board proposal for a temporary six‑month moratorium on commercial battery energy storage systems (exempting residential tier‑1 installations). Staff explained the moratorium was introduced to allow the town time to study environmental and public safety concerns raised by several board members and neighboring jurisdictions’ experience with thermal events in battery installations.
Board members debated whether projects already in the pipeline should be exempted. Advocates for exemptions argued that applicants who submitted under the prior zoning regime had invested in engineering and permitting work and that a narrowly crafted exemption tied to a project milestone would be fair. Opponents argued the town needs an uninterrupted moratorium to complete technical study and that allowing waivers would undercut the purpose of the moratorium. After discussion, the majority (four board members) recommended the Town Board not include a milestone‑based exemption in the moratorium; the board asked counsel to draft a letter conveying that position to the Town Board.
Planning staff noted that if the Town Board revises the local law to allow exemptions, the change would be re‑referred for planning review. The Planning Board’s formal recommendation will be delivered in writing to the Town Board.
