Walton board adopts one-year moratorium on new solar energy systems after public hearing

The Town Board of Walton on May 11 adopted Local Law No.3-2026, enacting a one-year moratorium on the review and approval of new solar energy systems and solar energy facilities while the town reviews its land‑use regulations. The measure was adopted on a roll-call vote with Supervisor Joseph Cetta and all four council members recorded as voting "Aye."

The moratorium prohibits the town from processing applications or issuing permits, certificates of occupancy, site‑plan approvals, special permits or variances for new solar facilities for one year, while excluding rooftop and on‑site systems that serve only the host property. The law also bars any applications for variances from the moratorium and allows the Town Board to extend the moratorium by resolution.

Supervisor Joseph Cetta opened the public hearing and read the purpose and intent of the proposed local law. The board said the pause is intended to "allow the Town Board to study our code and update our solar energy system and facilities regulations" in light of growing interest in solar development, federal and state incentives, and potential local impacts.

During the public hearing, residents including Lorraine Takahashi, Dean Frazier, Amanda Cicerella, Ron Richards and Katherine Bridges spoke in favor of the moratorium and asked the board to consider making it longer than one year while the town completes its review of regulations. Their remarks were entered into the hearing record as support for temporarily halting approvals to permit a code review.

The adopted Local Law (No.3‑2026) defines "land use" relating to solar broadly to include facilities designed to generate or store electric power to be marketed, sold or used beyond the property on which they are located; it explicitly excludes panels mounted on residential dwellings for personal use and municipal, commercial or industrial rooftop systems. The law takes effect immediately upon filing with the New York State Secretary of State and may be extended by resolution of the Town Board.

The board cited authority for the moratorium in the New York State Constitution, the Municipal Home Rule Law and provisions of the Town Law that govern local land‑use controls. No amendments to the introduced text were recorded in the minutes.

Next steps include the town's code review and any draft regulatory updates the Town Board may propose during the moratorium period. The board moved afterward into routine business and later entered executive session for contract negotiations.