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Farmington planning board hears residents’ concerns as it continues public hearing on Lynn Fish solar project
Summary
At a public hearing on a proposed roughly 5 MW solar array on Lynn Fish’s property, residents raised concerns about private-well impacts, setbacks that they say fall short of the town’s 40-foot standard, wildlife, visual impacts and document accuracy; the board declared its intent to be lead agency and continued the hearing to July 1 for additional applicant responses.
The Town of Farmington Planning Board on Monday held the first official public hearing on the Lynn Fish solar project, a proposed roughly 5-megawatt AC array presented by Tori Clark of New Energy Equity, and directed the applicant to provide written responses to public and agency comments before the board reconvenes on July 1.
Residents at the hearing pressed the board for data and protections they said are necessary for nearby homes. “Portions of the proposed access road and electrical infrastructure will be approximately 35 feet from my home and approximately 30 feet from my well,” Kathy Williamson told the board, asking that the planning board visit Mount Payne Road, require baseline well testing and consider a well-replacement guarantee if construction damages neighbors’ water supplies.
The board framed the proceeding as an environmental (SEQRA) review, not a final site layout hearing. Chair (speaker identified in the record as the meeting chair) told the public the board is focused at this stage on environmental impacts and “we want data, facts, information … that will allow us to make an informed decision on the environment to record for this project.” The board asked the applicant to post written responses on the town website so staff and board members can review them in advance of the July 1 meeting.
Other residents raised additional concerns. Diane Reed said protected bird species—including reported eagles—use the area and asked the board to require wildlife surveys; another speaker with an optical-engineering background warned that solar glare, construction dust and noise could harm thoroughbred horses and referenced peer-reviewed work linking air-quality changes to exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in sensitive animals. Several commenters questioned whether application materials were accurate; Williamson cited a site plan address she said did not exist and urged the board to verify the record.
Tori Clark of New Energy Equity described the project and said the applicant has coordinated with town staff and adjusted the plans to address ordinance concerns. The company representative confirmed the project packet is available to the public through the town and agreed to provide requested materials to staff.
Town staff and the town engineer, MRB Group, were identified by the board as the technical reviewers who will evaluate hydrology, geotechnical reports and setbacks. Board members emphasized that staff will check the application for variances and accuracy and that the building department will enforce screening and maintenance requirements; the chair noted the board typically requires “ongoing maintenance” to replace screening that dies or is damaged by deer.
The board said it intends to designate itself lead agency for SEQRA and formally continued the public hearing to the board’s next scheduled meeting on July 1 to allow time for applicant responses and additional agency review. “By July 1 you’ll have the opportunity to have reviewed all of that,” a staff member said, asking the applicant to submit written answers in time for the board’s review.
What’s next: The applicant will provide written responses to the public’s questions and to MRB’s technical comments; staff said those responses will be posted on the town website and be available to the public before the July 1 continuation of the public hearing. The board did not vote to approve the project at the meeting and left the record open for further evidence and agency feedback.
