Town Council Report from Planning Board - Solar Moratorium Town of Barnstable
A Planning Board
www.townofbarnstable.us/planningboard
5 At R'22 P14 :52
chair March, 29, 2022 BARNSTABLE TARN CLERK
Steven Costello
Vice chair Matthew Levesque, President
Stephen Robichaud
Barnstable Town Council
Clerk 367 Main Street
Mary Barry Hyannis, MA 02601
Members
Roberti Mec RE: Report of the Barnstable Planning Board to Town Council on Item No. 2022-134 to
Michael Mecenas p g
TIMO'Neill amend the Town of Barnstable Zoning Ordinance by amending the code of the Town of
Raymond sexton Barnstable,Part I,General Ordinances,Chapter 240 Zoning,Article XIV, Citizens Petition
Town Council Liaison to Establish a Temporary Moratorium on Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar
Matthew Levesque Photovoltaic Systems.
Staff
Director Dear President Levesque,
Elizabeth Jenkins
AssKate al Director The Planning Board held a dui posted and noticed public hearing on March 28 222 on the
Kate Maldonado g Y p p g ,
SenlorPlanner proposal to amend the Town of Barnstable Zoning Ordinance by amending the code of the Town
James Kupfer of Barnstable, Part I, General Ordinances, Chapter 240 Zoning by adding a new§240-129.2
Principal Assistant establishing a temporary moratorium on Large Scale Ground Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems.
Karen Herrand
At the close of the public hearing, a motion was duly made and seconded to not recommend to
Town Council adoption of the proposed zoning amendment, Item No. 2022-134.The vote
approving that motion was a unanimous vote of members present.
Respectfully Submitted,
Stephen R cha , Planning Board Vice Chair
cc: E[rizabethulenkins, Director, Planning& Development
Ann Quirk,Town Clerk
367 Main Street,Hyannis,MA 02601
L;fliiil�. r'LE1� Li=R?
we,the undersigned voters ofthe'Ibwn of Barnstable, request [lielbllowing article
he placed on the agetiila of the Rartis.lable'1'own Cotioeil meeting pursounl to (i.I .
Ch, 40A, Sec, 51:
TO sec if thu own ofBarnstahlo will tuncrid the Town's Zoning Ordinance by
adding a new section as Ibllows:
Title: Temporary Moratorium on tiie Construction of Large Sale Ground Mounted
Solar Photovoltaic Systems, that would provide as tbllows:
a) purpose
The Town or B,arostabie libs a uniquely liagilesote.sourtc aquilu us idealific<I Liy
the United stales Hlivironmenlal protection Agency,and the Massmcitusclts
Department ofEnvironucntal hroleglion, Industrial settle ground mourned
photovoltaic solar systems pose a serious threat to this public tauter sotirce acid
May have drtntaging ellbets on our ecology and therelbre our economy.
The Town is being coerced through litigation to approve an uuncndment to its
zoning ordinmlcc to benefit a single property with the right to build air industrial
scale ground mounted solar photovoltaic system in a residentially zoo*l district
zone, Threatening the safety and welfare ofresideuts as well as the adjoining
wellhead protection, cooservalion reslfietion land orthe Ccuitcrville, Qsh rville,
Marsions Mills water District,
'Chore is an urgefit conrmhoity need to establish lobjg4drro Toning ordimaice
provisions to ensure that such)uses And developmenl will be consistent with the
'gown's lone term planning interests and the health, sarety and welibre of•ils
citizens. It is crucial that the'Ibwn establish a temporary moratorium oil the use of
lun l and the constructiim orstractures related to such large scale ground mourned
4oltir photovoltaic sy'ste.bis,structures, the issuance of ophiaits ill connection With
same., and the antcndglent of zooing ofresideoli'ally zoned properties it] connection
with same,
li)'Moratorium
No building liermil,special permit or site plan approval Qeuision maybe issued in
connudoll to or liv the construction of any large scale ground mounted stilar-
photovoltaic system in size ofmore than 150%of the documented average use off
residential, commercial, business, municip,01 or agricultural application for tiny
property liar which such system is proposed,told not to exceed 35 kilowails; Air
11.5 titilllths utter the approval ofsaid moratorium,or until sufficient deliberations
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