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Pittsfield adopts zoning ordinance to regulate utility‑scale solar; developer urges parity with wind rules
Summary
The Pittsfield Town Council on Dec. 17 adopted Ordinance 2416, establishing rules for utility‑scale solar. A developer with a pending project in the industrial park asked the council to treat solar the same as wind in zones that allow wind energy; councilors said the ordinance had been reviewed by the planning board and voted to pass it.
The Pittsfield Town Council on Dec. 17 voted to adopt Ordinance 2416, amending Town Chapter 13 zoning to establish regulations for utility‑scale solar energy facilities.
The ordinance — introduced at a public hearing and described by staff as having completed the planning board process — sets new conditions for where and how large solar projects may be built within the town’s zoning districts.
The ordinance matters because it creates a formal permitting pathway for large solar installations and clarifies conditions and conditional‑use review steps that applicants must meet.
At the hearing Glen Walker identified himself as the owner of Kad Energy and said his company holds a site in Pittsfield’s industrial park that entered the planning process before a municipal moratorium. “If you’re allowing wind energy in your commercial district but not solar,” Walker said, “anywhere that you’re allowing wind energy you also allow solar energy.” He asked the council to permit solar in the same zones that allow wind energy under conditional use so projects already in the planning pipeline can proceed.
Town staff and councilors noted the ordinance had been reviewed by the planning board. After brief discussion the council opened and adopted the ordinance by voice vote; the meeting record shows the chair declared the ordinance passed.
The ordinance’s adoption will allow applicants to pursue conditional‑use review where those uses are permitted; specific permit requirements and project siting will continue to be determined through planning board hearings. Walker said he was available to answer questions about his site and the council did not change the ordinance language during the session.
The council did not record a roll‑call tally in the minutes; the chair announced the ordinance had passed by voice vote. The council may receive further permit applications to implement the new rules under the town’s conditional‑use process.
