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Farmington ZBA unanimously approves 3‑MW solar farm at former Cardinal landfill
Summary
The Farmington Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 5-0 to grant Cardinal Landfill Solar LLC a use and dimensional variance allowing a 3‑megawatt solar array on Map R19, Lots 12 and 12‑1. The applicant said it cleared back taxes and will seek a PILOT; a 30‑day appeal period applies.
John Scruton, chairman of the Farmington Zoning Board of Adjustment, presided as the board voted 5-0 to grant Cardinal Landfill Solar LLC a use variance under Section 3.24(E) and a dimensional variance under Table 2.07(B) to permit a 3‑megawatt commercial solar array on Map R19, Lots 12 and 12‑1.
The board considered an application presented by Andrew Kellar, the applicant for Cardinal Landfill Solar, and legal counsel Jeffrey Christensen. Kellar said the project traces to 2016 and that the company re‑acquired site control, worked with state regulators and engaged with Eversource on interconnection. "We elected to pay off all the back taxes on these two specific properties before we even came in front of the board," Kellar said, adding that the developer intends to pursue a payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILOT) arrangement with the town.
Christensen told the board the former landfill site is "particularly well suited" for a solar array because it is a wide, cleared area that is not suitable for many other forms of development, is visually screened from nearby residences and would produce minimal noise, traffic or emissions. "This is a reasonable use of the property," Christensen said, arguing the written application addresses each of the five statutory variance tests.
Chairman Scruton closed the public hearing after no members of the public spoke. The board took separate motions on the five variance criteria, each of which passed by a 5-0 vote, and then voted to grant the variance package (motion by John Scruton, second by Bob Morgan). Scruton noted that the decision is subject to a 30‑day appeal period.
The approved relief allows the developers flexibility on an internal lot line setback between Lots 12 and 12‑1 to accommodate the two arrays as designed; the two lots together comprise roughly 26.5 acres adjacent to the Town Transfer Station. The applicant said an investor will be the long‑term owner/operator and that prior issues with title and delinquent taxes have been resolved.
Procedural next steps identified in the meeting: the applicant will take the approved variance before the Planning Board as required for site plan review and will continue interconnection discussions with Eversource. The board adjourned at 7:19 p.m.
(Reporting based on Town of Farmington Zoning Board of Adjustment minutes, Jan. 8, 2026.)
