VASSALBORO: Getchell’s Corner folks object to planned solar farm

by Mary Grow

A dozen residents of the Getchell’s Corner area in western Vassalboro came to the March 4 Vassalboro Planning Board meeting, mostly to voice opposition to a planned solar farm in the area.

After the hour and a half discussion of the preliminary application for the solar farm, to be developed by Minnesota-based Novel Energy, another area resident, David Theriault, brought his separate question to the board’s attention.

Novel representative Ralph Addonizio explained the proposed development on Tyler Cain’s property on the east side of Riverside Drive, south of Getchell’s Corner Road. Much of his presentation described how the solar farm will meet criteria in Vassalboro’s town ordinances.

He discussed tree buffers to block residents’ views of the solar panels; the absence of traffic, noise, lights, odors or other disruptions to the rural area; the fence around the solar panels with ground clearance to let small animals pass underneath; planned maintenance (minimal); the lack of impact on municipal services; and the creation of a fund to pay for decommissioning when the project reaches the end of it 25-to-30-year life.

Addonizio promised no unnecessary removal of existing trees, pointing out that protecting trees and promoting solar power “sorta goes hand in hand with being green.” In sum, he said, Novel’s development will be “a good neighbor.”

Audience members were not persuaded.

Frank Getchell, after whose family the area is named, invited planning board members to come and see how beautiful the proposed site is now. It doesn’t need “a field full of junk,” he said.

Susan Higgins said she already has an extensive and attractive view and does not want to look instead at a wall of trees hiding solar panels. Michael and Doris Lyons also objected strongly, with Doris Lyons showing board members photos on her phone.

Higgins asked board members whether there is any way to make a town-wide plan that controls and limits location of such developments. Board chairman Virginia Brackett replied that updating Vassalboro’s strategic plan, approved by voters in June 2006, is the select board’s responsibility.

As the discussion wound down, Brackett suggested Addonizio’s final plan include more buffering on the north and east sides of the solar farm. Addonizio intends to submit a final application at the April 1 planning board meeting.

Assuming local approval in April, solar panels will not appear immediately. Addonizio said after Novel gets its state and town permits, the next step is to order supplies and components. Getting ready for construction he expects will take 10 to 12 months, during which, he said, constantly-evolving technology may lead to plan changes.

Theriault’s unrelated question was whether a former fire pond behind the old Masonic Hall,, on Dunham Road counts as a pond with a shoreland district that would limit land use.

Theriault is considering buying the former Masonic Hall and the adjacent former Methodist Church and tearing them down – after years of neglect, both are too dilapidated to be restored, he said. He would like to construct new buildings on the property.

Codes Officer Eric Currie said a nearby creek is on shoreland zoning maps, so it has setback requirements. The pond he said is on Google maps, but not on the town shoreland map.

Therefore, Brackett said, Theriault can ignore the pond, or can fill it in. She advised him to have the property surveyed before building on it.

The next regular Vassalboro Planning board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1.