Attorney Ford's Wakeby Rd Solar Proj - Presentation_3-8-23Wakeby Road Solar Project810 Wakeby Road, Marstons MillsTown of Barnstable
IntroductionWakeby Road Solar Project Presentation: •Existing Conditions•Obtained Approvals/Determinations•Proposed Development•Modification Permit
Greenhouse Gas Savings per yearExisting Conditions•Previously cleared/disturbed •“Gifford Brothers Sand & Gravel” approximately between 1920 and late 1980s •Topography •Generally, slopes towards interior of property•Steeper slopes along the northern and western boundaries•Existing natural/excavated depressions to be utilized for stormwater•Resource Areas•No wetlands onsite•Not within Priority Habitats of Rare Species or Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife Zone (NHESP)•Not within FEMA Flood Zones•Not within Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)•Site lies within MassDEP Zone II and Sole Source Aquifer (per MassGIS)Parcel Acreage±19.32 acresZoning DistrictResidence F (RF)Resource Protection Overlay (RPOD)Groundwater Protection Overlay (GP)Property OwnerWakeby Road Realty Inc.
Obtained Approvals/Determinations•Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)•Determination of No Hazard to Air Navigation – Oct. 25, 2021 (Aeronautical Study #2021-ANE-6069-OE)•Cape Cod Commission•No Development of Regional Impact (DRI) review necessary - July 25, 2022•Barnstable Conservation Commission•Negative Determination of Applicability – Nov. 26, 2019•Barnstable Site Plan Review•Conditional Approval – March 6, 2023
Greenhouse Gas Savings per yearProposed Development•Key Solar Array Characteristics •±4.99 MW AC •±10.26 Acres within perimeter security fence.•Include security gate, FD access Knox Box, and emergency contact signage •Minimum tree clearing•Two (2) concrete equipment pads (±240 SF/Each)•Utilize above & below ground electric infrastructure•Stormwater meets MassDEP & Town of Barnstable Stormwater Management Standards •Erosion control measures along L.O.W. and within solar array
Greenhouse Gas Savings per year
Greenhouse Gas Savings per year
Greenhouse Gas Savings per yearModification PermitDenial of Modification Permit would Substantially Diminish the Usefulness of the Proposed Development•Current Design Setbacks•Minimum 150-foot setback from solar modules to residentially developed lots in accordance with solar bylaw amendment (north, east, and south)•Proposed16-foot setback from solar modules to undeveloped lot owned by Town of Barnstable in accordance with zoning bulk regulations (west)•Denial of Modification Permit would Substantially Reduce Proposed Development as Follows: •±1,992 Modules (±22.5% Reduction)•±94,378 SF (±2.17-Acre Reduction)
Greenhouse Gas Savings per yearModification PermitModification of the Bulk Regulation will not Create a Public Safety Hazard along Adjacent Roadways and will not Create a Nuisance to Other, Surrounding Properties Such that it will Impair the Use of Those Properties•Screening berm along portion of eastern boundary and vegetative hedges along northern, eastern, and southern Site boundaries to obscure view from abutting residentially developed properties•Proposed 150-foot setback from residentially developed lots to address noise concerns (per solar bylaw amendment)•No increased environmental riskNo proposed Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)Proposed solar development with not utilize modules which contain PFASTransformers will utilize biodegradable Envirotemp FR3 Fluid (primarily food-grade vegetable oils) as the cooling mediumPer manufacturer, FR3 Fluid does not contain PFAS/Genx chemicalsPer MassDEP, MassDOER, and MassCEC’s Q&A Ground-mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems Guide (June 2015):“Because PV panel materials are enclosed, and don’t mix with water or vaporize into the air, there is little, if any, risk of chemical releases to the environment during normal use.”“…researchers have concluded that the potential for emissions derived from PV components during typical fires is limited given the relatively short-duration of most fires and the high melting point (>1000 Degrees Celsius) of PV materials…”Per MassDEP Q&A for PWS on PFAS Regulations (03/11/21):“We [MassDEP] have not identified any water sampling results that have detected PFAS coming off solar panels or that PFAS is present on panels.”
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