North Yarmouth Planning Board's August 8 public hearing for the proposed Boundary Line Solar project concluded with no vote taken on the project.
Owner, Chris Byers, asked the Planning Board to delay its vote due to questions regarding wetland buffer requirements of Section 10.3.C of the Land Use Ordinance (LUO).
Byers had withdrawn a waiver request following Planning Board questions during the July 11 site plan review.
After consulting with North Star and the town attorney, Byers updated his application. North Star advised that the project was exempt from buffering restrictions because they considered the project a utility. The planner memo stated requirements of Section 10.3.E.2.b should apply to this project.
Planning Board voted unanimously Section 10.3.E.2.b does not apply, as the project does not meet the description of that part of the LUO.
The town will consult legal to determine whether the LUO gives the Planning Board authority to issue a waiver to 10.3.C buffer requirements or whether the project must go to the Zoning Board of Appeals to request a variance.
The project is scheduled to return to the Planning Board at the August 22 special meeting.
If approved, the 1-megawatt community solar farm will be the 2nd solar farm planned to be built in North Yarmouth. The Water Line Solar project to be built on Sweetser Road was approved on May 10, 2022. Both projects are designed by Branch Renewable Energy and proposed on property owned by Yarmouth Water District.
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