Hollis planning board approves ground-mounted solar array for Congregational Church with HDC review stipulation

The Hollis Planning Board on Tuesday approved a ground‑mounted solar array proposed by the Congregational Church of Hollis, after staff testified the array should not be visible from public rights of way and the board secured a Historic District Commission review condition.

The project, sited at the church’s parsonage on Broad Street, is described in the application as roughly 40 feet long, 15 feet wide and about 11.2 feet tall, sloped on an A‑frame rack oriented due south. Kevin Anderson, the town planner and environmental coordinator, told the board he could not see the array from surrounding public rights of way after a mock‑up and site walkthrough, and recommended that a sidewalk not be required for this location.

Michael Seakils, chairman of the church’s board of trustees, said the church had already appeared before the Historic District Commission and that its approval is pending the planning board’s action. A handful of abutters asked for clearer visuals on the town website; one resident said he had been unable to tell from online materials how prominent the array would be. The applicant and staff displayed plan dimensions and the board confirmed the front (low) edge sits roughly 3–4 feet above grade and the far edge at about 11.2 feet, at a 35‑degree tilt.

Board members moved to accept the application and then to approve the project with one condition: staff must verify the HDC has formally reviewed and approved the array. The motions passed on roll call with no recorded no votes.

The planning board recorded the acceptance vote and the approval with the HDC verification stipulation; staff will file the HDC documentation in the project record and confirm compliance before final permits are issued.