Vassalboro planners give approval to Novel Energy’s planned solar farm

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Planning Board members approved Novel Energy’s planned community solar farm, at 2235 Riverside Drive, at their April 7 special meeting, despite last-minute surprises from neighbors (see the April 10 issue of The Town Line, p. 9).

Novel representative Ralph Addonizio brought the additional information board members requested at their April 1 meeting, an updated map showing required buffers and larger copies of the site plan, to accompany the two-inch-thick application.

With those additions, planning board members found the application complete. They then spent more than an hour and a half comparing the application to Vassalboro’s ordinance criteria for commercial developments in general and solar projects specifically.

They added three conditions to their approval of the project: construction of a turn-around outside the gate (at fire chief Walker Thompson’s suggestion); provision of a drawing of the planned solar panels; and planting a buffer of at least two dozen trees on the southwest corner.

The new buffer is intended to meet objections raised by Alison Thompson: she and her husband plan to build a retirement home on a knoll from which they will be able to see the solar panels.

Alison Thompson claimed that only solar developers like solar panels; she thinks they are “cluttering our state.”

Planning Board chairman Virginia Brackett doubted the ordinance required the board to consider nearby future developments when reviewing an application. Addonizio, citing Novel’s desire to be a good neighbor, was willing to add the buffer.

The second issue Alison Thompson raised, as the meeting drew toward a close, was that she and her husband had not received a certified letter notifying them before the first planning board discussion of the project. Nor, Walker Thompson said, had he – he came to the second meeting because a neighbor told him about it.

The ordinance requires – requires, Alison Thompson emphasized – notice to abutters by certified mail. Walker Thompson added that the neighbor who informed him is not an abutter, but he got a notice.

The reason for the notice, Brackett said, is to make sure people know about projects on properties adjoining theirs. The Thompsons knew; the purpose was achieved.

But only, Walker Thompson protested, because of his neighbor. He insisted the board should follow the ordinance – otherwise, why have one?

Codes officer Eric Currie said he relied on inaccurate town records in making the list of abutters for Novel to notify. Board member Paul Mitnik, formerly Vassalboro’s codes officer, said he had had similar problems.

Board members agreed a mistake had been made. But they saw no point in going through the review process again, as they expected the result would be the same.

Board member Dan Bradstreet pointed that both Thompsons came to board meetings, and board members heard their concerns and addressed them as best they could. Looking at accurate information on town tax maps, Bradstreet and Currie found no other abutters who had not received notice.

Board member Douglas Phillips doubted another review would bring a different result. Dissatisfied parties can appeal to Superior Court, he told the audience.

Brackett, Bradstreet and Phillips voted to approve Novel’s application, with the three conditions. Mitnik said he could not vote to approve it, because the notice provision had not been followed.