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ZBA keeps hearing open on ground‑mounted solar array at Jessica Court
Summary
Empire Solar Solutions requested a ground‑mounted 20-panel system at 5 Jessica Court; the board raised visibility and precedent concerns and kept the public hearing open to the January meeting so the applicant can provide additional screening options and staff can check a prior case for consistency.
Shannon Murphy, representing Empire Solar Solutions, described a proposed 20-panel REC 460 ground-mounted array on the east side of a home at 5 Jessica Court. Murphy said the location was selected because it is south-facing and offers the most screening; she noted other options were constrained by a septic system or visibility to neighbors.
Chairman Darrin Scalzo and board members flagged consistency with a prior application on Lattintown/Greiner Road and said they wanted to review that earlier file to remain even-handed in decisions. Board member Greg Hermance suggested additional plantings or screening closer to the panels as a possible mitigation; Murphy said additional plantings were feasible but the array would still require a variance because it would fall short of the 250‑foot setback in the zoning standard.
No members of the public spoke. After discussion the board voted to keep the public hearing open and continue the item to the board's January meeting so the applicant can return with any revised siting/screening options and staff can provide the prior case record for the board's review.
