Planning Board discusses solar farm, property values

PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains Planning Board held a workshop meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 25, concerning the Carson Power solar project in particular. 

The first item to be discussed was whether a comment made pertaining to a study mentioned during the Sept. 13 public hearing was admissible, as the comment came after the public hearing was closed. It was determined by the board, and agreed to by the applicants and attorneys, that the material and research could be referenced but the commentaries coming after the public hearing had closed would not be part of the record.

The material in question had to do with a Berkeley Lab study on the influence a large solar farm has on property values in the surrounding area. It was determined by members of the board that property values have been going up since the advent of COVID-19: the bubble will burst at some point, and property values will then begin to drop.

The distance a home is from a solar farm has something to do with how the property value is determined, but very little; the actual appearance of the solar farm can have an effect on property values, but Carson Power has promised that it will attend to landscaping to make the area as attractive and as inconspicuous as possible.

Carson Power has also negotiated with conservationists and will adhere to conservation principles favored by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and conservationists so that the impact on the environment is minimal. It was mentioned some studies have shown that property values have actually increased when solar power has been instituted in a given area. It was also noted that this is an elastic situation and there is margin for error.

After reading through the materials in question, it was agreed that nothing had changed and a conditional approval could be made, although the board wants to see an actual conservation plan, environmental protection as represented by special permit, and they want to see what is actually filed. 

It was further restated, as it had been in prior meetings, that the fire chief said proposed road access to the site was 10% above the grade that is necessary for access, not just for EMS vehicles, but for all emergency vehicles.

Further questions were asked about the possibility of the town finding a beekeeper to help pollination propagation at the site. It could be in the buffer zone, outside the fence line. There would have to be insurance in case of injury with mowing or maintenance and the bees.

A motion was passed for a special draft resolution allowing the application to go forward; a formal resolution and vote will be made at the regular Wednesday, Nov. 8, Planning Board meeting.

A mention was made of the day care proposed for the town on Pilcher Drive. There has been a site visit by two board members, who claim there is an invasive plant species in the playground area but that it is not toxic, and this will be brought up at the Nov. 8 meeting when the applicant will be on hand and a resolution concerning the day care may be made.

Latest News

Fallen trees injure man, destroy fences at dog shelter

Two uprooted locust trees still lie in the yard in front of Animal Farm Foundation’s original kennels where they fell on a fence during a storm on Thursday, June 19.

Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Fallen trees, uprooted and splintered during a thunderstorm, injured a man, destroyed fences and damaged a dog kennel at the Animal Farm Foundation facilities in Bangall.

Isaias Nunez was cleaning along a road on the property with Marco Ortiz, another employee of the dog shelter, when the storm rolled in on the afternoon of Thursday, June 19.

Keep ReadingShow less
Siglio Press: Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature

Uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.

Richard Kraft

Siglio Press is a small, independent publishing house based in Egremont, Massachusetts, known for producing “uncommon books at the intersection of art and literature.” Founded and run by editor and publisher Lisa Pearson, Siglio has, since 2008, designed books that challenge conventions of both form and content.

A visit to Pearson’s airy studio suggests uncommon work, to be sure. Each of four very large tables were covered with what looked to be thousands of miniature squares of inkjet-printed, kaleidoscopically colored pieces of paper. Another table was covered with dozens of book/illustration-size, abstracted images of deer, made up of colored dots. For the enchanted and the mystified, Pearson kindly explained that these pieces were to be collaged together as artworks by the artist Richard Kraft (a frequent contributor to the Siglio Press and Pearson’s husband). The works would be accompanied by writings by two poets, Elizabeth Zuba and Monica Torre, in an as-yet-to-be-named book, inspired by a found copy of a worn French children’s book from the 1930s called “Robin de Bois” (Robin Hood).

Keep ReadingShow less
Cycling season: A roundup of our region’s rentals and where to ride them

Cyclists head south on the rail trail from Copake Falls.

Alec Linden

After a shaky start, summer has well and truly descended upon the Litchfield, Berkshire and Taconic hills, and there is no better way to get out and enjoy long-awaited good weather than on two wheels. Below, find a brief guide for those who feel the pull of the rail trail, but have yet to purchase their own ten-speed. Temporary rides are available in the tri-corner region, and their purveyors are eager to get residents of all ages, abilities and inclinations out into the open road (or bike path).

For those lucky enough to already possess their own bike, perhaps the routes described will inspire a new way to spend a Sunday afternoon. For more, visit millertonnews.com/tag/bike-route to check out two ride-guides from local cyclists that will appeal to enthusiasts of many levels looking for a varied trip through the region’s stunning summer scenery.

Keep ReadingShow less