Unofficial summary. This is a community summary of the town's official minutes, provided so the record is searchable and readable. It condenses the meeting and may omit detail. The official signed PDF is the complete record of authority.
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Office of the Planning Board, Town of Schaghticoke — November 1, 2023, at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose.
Public hearings
- ASD Schaghticoke Solar II — former landfill (Tax Map #21.-2-5), 7:00 PM. Paul Lubera, P.E., of Lansing Engineering and Paul Kruger of Active Solar Development presented the 5-megawatt, 10,732-panel facility on the town-owned 20.9-acre former landfill at 863 Old Schaghticoke Road (HC district). The fencing will sit on ballasts so as not to penetrate the landfill caps, with extra screening, and — after meeting the Hemstreet Park Fire Chief — additional access gates for fire safety. The ZBA granted a use variance. Closed 7:02 p.m. (no public comment).
- ASD Schaghticoke Solar III — town garage (Tax Map #21.-2-4.2). Paul Lubera presented the 1.2-megawatt facility on the triangular 6-acre site at 895 Old Schaghticoke Road. The ZBA granted area and use variances, and additional gates were added per the Fire Chief’s recommendation. Closed 7:05 p.m. (no public comment).
- Boyko / Northline Drive solar farm (Tax Map #41.-1-34). Tyler Garrity of Creighton Manning Engineering, LLP presented the 5-megawatt facility on a 71-acre parcel at 154 Northline Drive (RA district), with Steve Long of SolSource Power and applicant Michael Boyko present. An existing farm road and a new access road serve the arrays, with swales for drainage and sufficient existing trees for screening. Closed 7:08 p.m. (no public comment).
Regular meeting (7:00 PM)
Members present: Frank Alessandrini (Chairman), Dan Clow, Brian Davidson, Elizabeth Hale, Vince Ragone, and Bob Weir. Absent: Chris Reynolds. Kristin Pratt, Deputy Town Attorney, was present. The Board approved the September 6, 2023 minutes (Clow moved, Davidson seconded; Ragone abstained) and reviewed the October 4 notes (no quorum had been present that month).
Applications
- ASD Schaghticoke Solar II (Tax Map #21.-2-5). The Chairman noted a new DEC policy (DMM4) for photovoltaic projects at solid-waste landfills. The town’s reviewing engineer accepted the SWPPP; native pollinator plantings will go under the panels away from the caps (where excavation is restricted); the developer met neighbors across the street on additional screening; and the fences were shifted to meet setbacks. As a Type II action, Solar II is exempt from SEQR. The Board granted site-plan approval and a special use permit, contingent on the standard conditions, SWPPP approval, and final DEC approval under Policy DMM4 (Davidson · Clow · all).
- ASD Schaghticoke Solar III (Tax Map #21.-2-4.2). With the ZBA’s area and use variances granted, the existing driveway will serve the site (no curb cut needed), with six poles along the road and the connection at the nearby high-tension lines behind existing vegetation; 25–27 trees are planned. The Board advised that additional staggered evergreen and deciduous screening may be needed once construction reveals the poles, to be determined by Building Inspector Scott Frisino at completion. Having issued a SEQR negative declaration in September, the Board granted the special use permit and site-plan review, contingent on the standard conditions, SWPPP approval, and possible additional screening (Weir · Davidson · all).
- Boyko / Northline Drive solar farm (Tax Map #41.-1-34). Jason Dell of Lansing Engineering is the town’s reviewing engineer; the preliminary application was reviewed and the (still-incomplete) SWPPP received. Based on Part 2 of the EAF, the Board found no significant adverse impacts and issued a SEQR negative declaration (Clow · Ragone · all). The Chairman requested visibility photos from several vantage points, including Madigan Road, for the next meeting. The applicant reported that neighbors he spoke with had no concerns and considered a solar facility preferable to a housing development.
Vince Ragone was introduced as a new member of the Planning Board. The Board adjourned at 8:40 p.m. (Davidson · Clow · all).
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk.
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