Planning board approves subdivision to create Heritage Wind substation parcel on Pusey Road

The Barre Planning Board voted to adopt a negative declaration under SEQR and to grant preliminary and final approval for a minor subdivision that will create a parcel intended for a point‑of‑interconnection substation for the Heritage Wind project on Pusey Road (tax map 117‑1‑24212).

Clerk read the published notice for the Young Summer LLC/Heritage Wind application and the applicant’s representative told the board the subdivision is a routine minor split tied to the project’s already‑completed state siting reviews. "The subdivided parcel is for the point of interconnection substation," the applicant representative said, and added that environmental impacts associated with the substation were addressed through earlier state proceedings under the siting office and Article 8/Article 10 reviews.

During SEAF discussion the board noted it would rely on the Office of Renewable Energy Siting’s prior findings and the board determined the subdivision itself posed no or only minor environmental impacts as part of the broader project. The board then moved, seconded and took a roll‑call vote. Several members recorded abstentions; others voted yes. The clerk announced the negative declaration had passed and the planning board granted preliminary and final approval for the subdivision.

Recorded votes in the transcript show multiple abstentions and recorded yes responses by Gary Palmer, Tom Decker and John DePatti, plus the Chair announcing a yes vote; several other members abstained and one member was excused. The resolution references the state siting permit dates and that the office found mitigation measures sufficient for the facility.