Falmouth planning board pauses solar‑canopy proposal after fire department flags safety and storage violations

The Town of Falmouth Planning Board on June 9 continued a special‑permit and site‑plan hearing for a solar‑canopy project at 709–737 Gifford Street after the Falmouth Fire Department read a written referral saying it could not approve the project “at this time.”

Kieran Healey of the BSC Group, representing the proponent (Next Grid), told the board the project would pave an existing driveway, install three solar canopies and associated battery‑storage pads, and place existing boat and RV storage under the canopies. Healey said the design includes a subsurface stormwater infiltration system sized for a 100‑year storm and that the canopies would bring lot coverage to about 20.5 percent, roughly 0.5 percentage points over the 20 percent limit in the zoning bylaw.

Captain Ryan Gavin of the Falmouth Fire Department wrote that a site visit found multiple unaddressed hazards: milling operations and log storage, unknown trailer contents, insufficient access and water supply for firefighting apparatus, and potential contamination of stormwater from hazardous materials during a fire. The referral also specified the proposed canopy must provide at least 11 ft 10 in of clearance and flagged required permits for combustible storage. The referral cites 527 CMR 1.00 and MGL chapter 148 and concluded the department is "against this project at this time." (Referral read into record by Clerk Tom.)

Board members urged the applicant to address fire‑safety and engineering referrals before the board acts. One member said enforcement issues tied to existing unauthorized uses are separate from reviewing a new special permit but acknowledged that safety concerns—fuel in boats, propane tanks, trailer contents and apparatus access—may make it appropriate to require resolution before approving canopies.

Given the outstanding issues, the board moved and seconded to continue the hearing to July 7, 2026, with a requirement that revised materials be submitted at least one week before the meeting so engineering and fire referrals can be reviewed. The motion passed on a voice vote. The board also requested explicit responses to each referral and encouraged the applicant to consult with Eversource or other utilities where overhead lines could affect canopy siting.

Next steps: the applicant will return with revised plans that respond to the fire department and engineering comments; the board scheduled the continuation for July 7 and asked staff to circulate referrals and a draft decision in advance.