Barre Planning Board Declines to Act on Broad Solar Zoning Amendment

BARRE — November 7, 2017 — Barre's Planning Board fielded hours of public debate over a proposed amendment that would allow large-scale ground-mounted solar facilities in residential zones. The hearing, triggered by a petition submitted by a resident identified as Mr. Cookus, drew an unusually large crowd of farmers, abutters, landowners, and at least one solar developer, who told the board a five-megawatt, 25-acre installation under the state's current program would generate roughly $75,000 per year in payment-in-lieu-of-taxes revenue. Board members signaled broad opposition to the petition's three sweeping changes — opening residential zones to large-scale solar, eliminating frontage requirements, and allowing multi-use parcels — but indicated willingness to consider a narrower, conditions-based revision. Any amendment must pass by a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting and survive review by the state attorney general's office; no vote was taken at Tuesday's hearing.