The agenda for this meeting was amended on February 3rd to include to introduce an amendment to the town's zoning code §280-40(U) Solar Energy System and to schedule a public hearing for its review.
This amendment is largely in response to the deficiencies in the code uncovered by the proposed Dunnsville Road Solar Farm that threatens the Helderberg viewshed and public educational events like GCRG Alternative and Renewable Energy Public Forum and Discussion and the Sensible Solar Summit in Duanesburg.
Section 280-40(U) Solar Energy System is the part of the code that provides for "for the siting, development, and decommissioning of solar energy systems subject to reasonable conditions to reduce potential impacts to adjoining properties while promoting development of renewable energy resources."
The Town Board tentatively set public hearing date for Tuesday, March 3, 2020 for the proposed law and requested that any initial comments be delivered to the town by the Noon on Thursday, February 13, 2020.
They requested these initial comments quickly so they can make any changes as may be required now before the proposed law is sent for reviewed to the Guilderland and Albany County Planning Boards which needs to be done before the public hearing. The Albany County Planning Board actually needs to review the proposal before a public hearing can be held. That public hearing has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
For the text of this proposed law and more details see: Guilderland Town Board Proposes Enhancements to Zoning Code for Industrial Solar Arrays (Solar Farms)
Please send any substantive comments and suggestions on these amendments to each of the Town Board members for their review at the following email addresses.
Town Supervisor Peter Barber: barberp@togny.org
Councilwoman Pat Slavick: slavickp@togny.org
Councilman Paul Pastore: pastorep@togny.org
Councilwoman Rosemary Centi: centir@togny.org
Councilwoman Laurel Bohl: bohll@togny.org
Also at this meeting the town board scheduled a public hearing for April 7, 2020, at 7pm regarding the application to rezone 89± acres of property located at Relyea Road and Grant Hill Road from Residential 20 (R20) District to Rural Agricultural 3 (RA3) District. There is information about this project on the town's website for the Original Agenda for February 4, 2020. We will be posting more information about that this rezone and proposed projects that are prompting this on the GCRG website soon.
Guilderland Town Hall
5209 Western Tpk.
Guilderland, NY