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Planning Board schedules May 20 compliance hearing after stop-work order at Lilac Solar site
Summary
The Planning Board set a compliance hearing for May 20 after the Code Enforcement Officer issued a stop-work order at the Lilac Solar site; the board demanded four deliverables, and staff and third-party engineers reported continuing erosion-control and infiltration-basin concerns.
Farmington — The Town of Farmington Planning Board on May 6 set a compliance hearing for May 20 to review corrective actions at the Lilac Solar project after a Code Enforcement Officer issued a stop-work order for stumping and expansion on unstabilized areas.
Planning Director Kyle Pimental told the board that the project folder now includes corrective-action plans and updated Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) reports from TF Moran and observation reports from Tighe & Bond. The Code Enforcement Officer issued a stop-work order and set a compliance deadline of May 31 for certain site activities.
Board members and staff described continuing concerns. Chairman Rick Pelkey said his review of SWPPP reports showed outstanding corrective actions and noted infiltration basins on site that appeared to be holding water and not draining despite dry conditions; he said he expects the applicant to provide test-pit data for the basins and other documentation at the May 20 hearing. Selectmen Representative Charlie King said corrective actions submitted to date remain unacceptable and reminded the board that it can revoke approvals if the applicant fails to come into compliance.
Representatives of the solar project, including Dale Knapp and Nate Collanino, told the board conditions on site had materially improved in recent weeks and said they planned to be prepared to address the board’s questions at the May 20 hearing. Board member Jerry DeLemus urged the applicant to demonstrate meaningful good-faith effort prior to the hearing.
The board confirmed that the minimum deliverables required at the compliance hearing are: a comprehensive site stabilization plan, a phasing and construction sequencing plan, infiltration-basin performance verification (including test pits), and an updated inspection and reporting protocol. Chairman Pelkey said he will visit the site with the town’s third-party engineer before the hearing.
The compliance hearing will be held May 20; the board may take further action, including revocation of approval, if the applicant does not satisfy the deliverables.
