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Planning staff urges compliance steps for solar project; PILOT hearing scheduled
Summary
Planning Director Kyle Pimental told the board that the Cardinal solar project’s PILOT will be before the Board of Selectmen and a Planning Board compliance hearing is set; third‑party engineers and the Code Enforcement Officer are reviewing stormwater controls and may seek a targeted work stop to prevent new site openings until compliance is achieved.
Town planning staff told the Board of Selectmen that the Cardinal solar project will come before the board and that the Planning Board has imposed conditions intended to protect stormwater and site stability.
Planning Director Kyle Pimental said the applicant has chosen a $3,500-per-megawatt PILOT and that the PILOT and a draft decommissioning plan were submitted to counsel for review; the PILOT and related materials will be the subject of a public hearing on May 4. He also described ongoing concern about stormwater management at the larger solar site: third‑party engineers (TF Moran and Tighe & Bond) and town staff are conducting observations and corrective-action reviews. Pimental said the Code Enforcement Officer has been put on notice and may pursue a narrowly targeted work-stop order to halt new site openings while the developer stabilizes areas at risk of runoff or sediment discharge.
Chairman Charlie King said a full stop-work order could halt improvements; staff and the Planning Board prefer a targeted halt of new site work so crews can stabilize problematic areas before resuming broader construction.
Why it matters: The project affects land use, stormwater runoff and potential downstream impacts; the PILOT affects town revenue over time and the compliance process will inform whether the developer can proceed on schedule.
Next steps: A public hearing on the PILOT is scheduled; staff and engineers will continue monitoring and the Code Enforcement Officer will determine whether a targeted stop is necessary.
