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Planning Board declares SEQR lead for May St. 5 MW solar; lot-coverage question sent to ZBA
Summary
MDB Equity Partners and Community Power Group told the Planning Board that substation upgrades will likely delay the May Street 5 MW solar array until about 2028. The Board declared itself SEQR Lead Agency and advised the applicant to seek an Area Variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals to resolve a 40% lot-coverage interpretation.
Mike Borkowski, speaking for MDB Equity Partners and Community Power Group, told the Planning Board on Oct. 9 that the proposed 5-megawatt solar array on May Street has a signed interconnection agreement and NYS incentives in place but cannot go online until a substation upgrade is completed — now expected around 2028. "This project will not go online until 2028," Borkowski said, adding that panel-efficiency improvements over the coming years could reduce the acreage needed and prompt future site-plan adjustments.
Board members and the Town Engineer discussed how the Town Code’s 40% lot-coverage standard should be measured for utility-scale solar: whether to count only the panel surface area or the full array "envelope" including spacing. Borkowski cited NYSERDA advisory guidance on model bylaws; Town Engineer Chris Koenig described the envelope as "the edge of the array and the spacing between the panels (10’-12’), not including the space between the fence and the array." Board members noted precedent — one past project received an Area Variance — and reached consensus that the applicant should apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals if an interpretation or variance is needed. On a motion by Zachary Middleton, seconded by Max Fruchter, the Planning Board declared itself Lead Agency for SEQR coordinated review; the motion passed unanimously. The Board scheduled SEQR review of the project for its Dec. 11, 2024 agenda.
