Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Schodack Town Board declines to reopen PDD for Norbut Solar after residents raise SEQR, drainage and notice concerns
Summary
Residents pressed the Town Board to reopen a PDD/local law for Norbut Solar, citing alleged shortcomings in SEQR notice, drainage, truck access and visual impacts; town representatives and Norbut said stormwater plans were vetted, but the board concluded changes were not sufficient to reopen the previously defeated local law.
The Town Board of Schodack on June 11 declined to reopen a proposed Planned Development District (PDD) designation for a Norbut Solar project after residents and company representatives debated whether recent changes to the proposal amounted to a material change.
At public comment several residents said they had not received written notice about the project and raised environmental and traffic concerns. "The Environmental Assessment Form was flawed and should be reviewed by the Town Board," said J. Dolan, who said he obtained documents through FOIL and urged further review. Neighbors also questioned drainage plans, heavy-truck access on Reno and Payne roads, potential blasting for access, culvert capacity and visual impacts from interconnection poles.
Norbut Solar representatives said the company had removed battery storage from the proposal at the Town Engineer's suggestion and that stormwater and other plans had been reviewed by the Planning Board and Town Engineer. "The comprehensive stormwater plan had been thoroughly vetted," said A. Champion, identified in the transcript as Norbut's president of development. Senior development counsel for Norbut, Mr. Saunders, asked the board to evaluate the project on the material changes made and requested an explanation if the board would not reconsider the PDD designation.
Town Attorney Christopher Langlois outlined the procedural position: the board previously considered Proposed Local Law 2 of 2025 and it was defeated on March 26, 2026; reinstating or reopening the local law would be at the board's discretion and would require the members to determine whether the revisions constituted a material change. Several board members said the changes did not warrant reopening the law. Councilmembers C. Bult and C. Swartz said the removal of battery storage alone was not significant. Supervisor Charles J. Peter said the reduction of project size and relocation could be significant, but he did not favor reopening the local law; Councilmember Sarah Rae Coyne and Councilmember Michael Kenney likewise opposed reopening.
Mr. Saunders pressed the board for an explanation of denial; Attorney Langlois said the board did not intend to provide further explanation beyond the meeting discussion. With no formal reopening or new local-law action, Norbut’s application status remains effectively unchanged pending any new filings or Planning Board processes.
Next steps: the Planning Board and town process would control any future hearings if Norbut submits a materially different application or if the board chooses to act further. The town’s record shows the earlier local-law proposal was defeated on March 26, 2026; no new public hearing on a PDD was scheduled as of the June 11 meeting.
