Farmington planning board says Lilac Solar project returning to compliance after stepped‑up oversight

The Farmington Planning Board on May 20 reviewed compliance materials for the Lilac State Solar Project after abutters reported runoff during an early‑March snowmelt and the town briefly restricted work on Phase 4. Chairman Rick Pelkey said site walks and inspections in March and April revealed “a number of issues that needed to be addressed,” and that oversight changes have since produced measurable improvement.

Planning Director Kyle Pimental told the board the applicant submitted four required items for the compliance review: a Comprehensive Site Stabilization Plan; a Phasing and Construction Sequencing Plan; Infiltration and Basin Performance Verification; and an Updated Inspection and Reporting Protocol. He also confirmed a stop‑work order issued by the Code Enforcement Officer had limited activity in Phase 4 to erosion control and stabilization tasks.

Nick Cole, engineer of record for TF Moran, acknowledged prior communication gaps between inspectors, staff, and the contractor and described new measures intended to close that loop. TF Moran will provide weekly SWIP inspection reports and an active construction log that tracks historical issues, planned resolution dates and completion status. "A good project is like a good relationship. It's communication," Cole said, and said embedding TF Moran’s inspector/engineer role allowed corrective actions to be communicated to field crews in real time rather than waiting for the next report.

Brooks Construction’s chief contractors presented a phased schedule that breaks work into discrete tasks—clearing, grading, temporary stabilization, foundation and array work, electrical, and permanent stabilization— with start and projected completion dates for each. Chairman Pelkey noted that, aside from Phase 4 (subject to the stop‑work restriction), most phases were at or near 100 percent temporary stabilization, with one phase at 90 percent and another at 50 percent that crews were actively addressing during a site visit that morning.

The board also reviewed stormwater verification and test‑pit data. Cole explained the difference between infiltration basins (which depend on soil recharge capacity and require test pits to check separation to seasonal high‑water table) and detention basins (which are less reliant on sub‑surface infiltration). He said that test pits for basins on the western side of the site—areas that were harder to access earlier in construction—were the outstanding items covered in the recent submission and that TF Moran revised runoff calculations where necessary.

Chairman Pelkey and Planning Director Pimental confirmed the board had approved an October amendment to the project’s AOT permit that reduced the disturbed footprint from about 6,076,484 square feet to about 4,108,000 square feet. Dale Knapp, Head of Development for Walden Renewables, said that change followed a vendor offer to substitute 585‑watt solar modules for the originally planned 550‑watt panels at the same price and schedule; the higher‑efficiency modules and a denser row layout allowed the project to meet its 20‑megawatt target on a smaller footprint. TF Moran updated stormwater calculations where panel slope required panels to be treated as impervious surface under AOT methodology.

Dennis of Tie and Bond, the board’s third‑party engineer, characterized site conditions as substantially improved compared with late March, calling the change "almost 180 degrees" and describing the current state as "night and day." He said remaining issues were typical post‑storm maintenance of erosion controls rather than unmanaged runoff. Board member Gerry, who joined a site visit, echoed the assessment and praised on‑site crews for proactive outreach to abutters, including offers to install riprap around culverts and provide other drainage improvements at no cost.

The board agreed by consensus to continue existing oversight: weekly SWIP inspections by TF Moran with periodic site visits from Tie and Bond through project completion. No formal motion was required because this continued an existing oversight arrangement. Chairman Pelkey noted the Code Enforcement Officer had visited that morning and expressed satisfaction with the remediation steps underlying the stop‑work order, and that a formal decision on the stop‑work order was likely soon.

Planning Director Pimental asked that third‑party oversight continue to document compliance for town conditions outside state‑regulated SWIP items—fencing, screening, buffer plantings and other site‑specific requirements—so TF Moran’s weekly reports and Tie and Bond’s periodic visits can certify the project’s final as‑built compliance. Walden Renewables said it intends to be a long‑term owner and neighbor and is providing neighbor‑specific improvements as part of mitigation.

The board’s deliberations focused on ensuring timely, documented corrective actions rather than imposing new conditions; state agencies were consulted but staff and local third‑party oversight played the primary role in moving the project back toward compliance. The board will monitor weekly SWIP reports and the active construction log until the project’s final certification and the as‑built documentation are submitted.