Carson Power solar project SEQR determination expected soon

PINE PLAINS —  In a special meeting on Saturday, June 10, the Pine Plains Planning Board held the final public hearing for the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) assessment being undertaken by the board on the proposed solar project in Pulvers Corners.

A contingent of 10 community members opposed to the project was present at the meeting, represented by John Lyons of the law firm Grant & Lyons, as well as 10-20 others also largely opposed to the project.

The meeting kicked off with a presentation from Andrew Gordon, representing Carson Power, who provided an overview of the solar project and the many revisions that have occurred, as well as fresh updates to the proposal. The proposed Tier 3 solar plant would be built on 43 of the 172 total acres at 454 Bean River Road, and include 24,000 solar panels.

Among the newer updates were preliminary plans to place 70 acres of forested land on the property under a permanent conservation easement administered by local environmental nonprofit Scenic Hudson, and official communication from U.S. Fish and Wildlife that the project will have no impact on endangered species.

Frank Fish, of BFJ Planning and consultant to the planning board, then drew attention to areas where the board has preliminarily indicated that the project could rise to the level of “significant adverse impact” under SEQR. Stressing that no final conclusions have been drawn, Fish highlighted “Impact on Plants and Animals,” “Impact on Aesthetic Resources,” and “Consistent with Community Character” as particular areas of consideration for the board.

At the end of the meeting, town attorney Warren Replansky cautioned that the final determination on SEQR could take “a few weeks” if a negative declaration seems likely, but that a positive determination would theoretically arrive sooner.

A positive SEQR determination would delay the solar project for a full year while an Environmental Impact Statement is compiled for public review. A negative determination would move the project forward, but is just the first in a series of assessments that the planning board must make before the project can begin.

Also to be considered and individually voted on are a special use permit, site plan approval, and a variance approved by the zoning board of appeals, all of which will likely incur lengthy back-and-forth between the board, Carson Power, and community members. The public hearing on those items remains open.

Pine Plains community members speaking at the meeting, by and large homeowners in the vicinity of the project, urged the board to make a positive determination, suggesting that delaying the project for a year would allow the town to fully assess its solar zoning laws, and give more measured consideration to the kinds of industry encouraged in Pine Plains.

The group represented by Lyons asserted that the town’s solar zoning laws had been put together too hastily, and that a variety of commercial projects allowed under them are out of step with the character of the town. Lyons submitted a new memorandum of comment, which contained detailed memos from Lyons; Nan Stolzenburg, former planning consultant to Pine Plains; and George Janes of George M. Janes & Associates on the issues of town character, solar zoning, and viewshed impact.

Councilwoman Sarah Jones, the town board liaison to the planning board, also spoke during the public comments section, drawing particular attention to the felling of 25 acres of forest for the project, suggesting that Carson Power “[has] been downplaying big time the loss of this forest.” Jones went on to indicate that she supports a solar project on the site otherwise, and that the work of the all-volunteer planning board has been thorough.

Though the public hearing on the SEQR assessment has closed, it remains open for written comment until Friday, June 16, at 4 p.m. The next meeting of the planning board is set for 6 p.m. on Monday, June 19, at the Town Hall, though further discussion of Carson Power will not occur until at least 7:30 p.m.