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Select board forwards three planning‑board ordinances to voters, including commercial solar limits
Summary
The Buckfield Planning Board recommended three ordinances for the annual town meeting — a commercial solar ordinance with a proposed one‑eighth‑acre size limit, a property maintenance ordinance to address visible blight with farm exemptions, and amendments to reestablish the planning board's membership rules — and the select board voted to place them on the warrant.
The Town of Buckfield select board voted April 7 to place three Planning Board–recommended ordinances on the annual town meeting warrant, sending the questions to voters rather than adopting local rules now.
A Planning Board representative told the board the package includes a commercial solar ordinance, a property‑maintenance ordinance and an amendment to reestablish the Buckfield Planning Board. The commercial solar draft says, in part, that “commercial solar energy systems for on‑site use shall not exceed an eighth of an acre” and requires screening so systems are not plainly visible from public ways, the presenter said. The property‑maintenance draft would give the town clearer authority to cite properties that have become visible blight while exempting active agricultural operations; the presenter said farms and those actively planting crops would be carved out.
Board members debated timing and whether to add agricultural carveouts or accommodations for community solar co‑ops before sending the measures to voters. One member urged delay to allow time to draft specific exemptions after consulting AVCOG feedback; another said the board should place the ordinances on the warrant and, if voters approve, pursue amendments later. The board noted a moratorium that affects solar permitting will expire in mid‑June and could be extended by the select board for up to another 180 days if more time is needed.
The Planning Board representative also described changes to the planning‑board ordinance intended to ease appointment: the residency requirement was struck so nonresidents could serve when the town has difficulty filling seats, and a temporary governance clause would allow the select board to act as the planning board until appointments create a quorum.
After discussion, a select board member moved to approve placing the Planning Board's recommended ordinances on the town meeting warrant; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor.
The measures will appear on the warrant for voter consideration at the annual town meeting pending clerical finalization of the warrant language and deadlines.
