HOWELL – As several residents geared up to continue their fight against a proposed solar energy project in the township, the Howell Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting for January 24 was canceled.
Members of the Zoning Board were set to hear additional testimony from the applicant IPP Solar, LLC, who is proposing a 23-acre solar farm on Victory Road running between Maxim-Southard Road and Lakewood-Farmingdale Road. However, the project will now be heard on February 14.
The applicant and the property owners, Stavola Realty Company and Stavola Construction Materials Inc., are seeking a conditional use variance, preliminary and final major subdivision approval, and preliminary and final major site plan approval to construct a 23-acre, 4.7-megawatt solar facility consisting of two solar panel arrays, two concrete pads for equipment, a 7-foot-tall chain-link perimeter security fence and two 26-foot-wide gravel access drives at the location.
Additional associated site improvements include stormwater management basins and buffer landscaping, as well as electric utility improvements on an adjacent lot to connect the proposed solar energy facility to the Jersey Central Power and Light electric grid network on Victory Road.
Attorney Salvatore Alfieri and engineer Christopher Rosati said at a previous meeting that about 20 acres of the property is in a Special Economic Development zone and eight acres is in an Agricultural Rural Estate zone. There are wetlands on a portion of the property, Rosati said.
The proposed site is currently fully wooded and the applicant is seeking to remove 23 acres of trees to construct solar arrays.
At the December 13 meeting, a public comment portion was held and many residents discussed their dissatisfaction with the project, saying it’s not beneficial to the town’s environment.
Resident Candace Dovenero who lives on Victory Road brought up concerns about runoff water and drainage as this area of town already has these problems.
“Victory Road as a whole has a lot of drainage issues… we are very concerned of the extra ground water, runoff water, that Victory Road already has an issue with, as well as the woodland issue,” Dovenero said. “Are we going to make sure there’s no runoff water that will affect the surrounding people?”
After hearing that the January 24 meeting was canceled, residents expressed online why the project is wrong for Victory Road.
“I have nothing against solar in the right place – in a landfill, vacant farmland – but clear cutting 23 acres of trees with wetlands and natural habitats for multiple species and where drainage problems already exist is insanity,” resident Kathleen Novak said.
Residents are also concerned about the negative impact the solar farm would bring to the town, like threatening endangered wildlife that live in that area – being built on wetlands – and its close proximity to residential neighborhoods.
The applicant stated that they will be submitting revised plans on the following areas: recycling details of the panels and infrastructure; the power demand of the utility versus what they’re proposing; possible solar panel pollutions with well water; and shadow study of trees.
These revised plans will be heard at the next meeting on February 14, and the public can once again speak about the changes.
