BELCHERTOWN — As a large-scale solar project makes its way through municipal permitting, residents are continuing to express worries that it will create significant water runoff during storms, and that a scenic area of town will be compromised by the removal of acres of trees.
Though the Conservation Commission had notices of intent for six solar projects on its agenda Monday, most of the 35 residents in attendance, like at a Planning Board hearing last month, came to Town Hall to provide feedback on the 8-megawatt array being proposed for land on Gulf Road owned by W.D. Cowls Inc.
The project, which would be handled by BlueWave Solar and be known as BWC Scarboro Brook, LLC, continues to be the focus of concern.
Stephen Garabedian, of Federal Street, said he sees problems with the stormwater plan for the project, which he argues will cause significantly more water runoff than the company’s engineers estimate.
The design, in which the landowner is replacing a forest with metal, is “nowhere near adequate” to control potential flooding, he said.
Jenny Speck-Sherson, of Gulf Road, said that she remains nervous about the scale of the project and what amounts to 500 football field’s worth of trees being taken away. Living nearby, she said she appreciates the park-like setting of the street.
Ken Elstein, a member of Belchertown Citizens for Responsible Land Use, said the commission needs to look carefully at all aspects of the project to protect Scarborough Brook Conservation Area.
Members of the Conservation Commission appeared sympathetic to some of the concerns and said they understand the need to do a thorough review. The project site covers five parcels of land totaling 156 acres, with three stream crossings and a critical drainage area near Scarborough Brook.
Commission Chairman David Haines said that when the project commences and trees are removed, the developer will have to soil in place of each stump. He also noted that the trees should not all be removed at the same time.
“I don’t want to see 48 acres cleared at once,” Haines said.
Commission member John Henry said that because of the slope of the Gulf Road property, the solar project development will have to use terracing that will prevent water from flowing the full length during construction,
BlueWave will be back before the commission Oct. 1, when it will have a documentation of soils on the property and get a peer review of its plans.
Prior to the BlueWave hearing, David Albrecht, a principal civil engineer for the Lowell-based Barrego, discussed both a 4.5 megawatt project for Franklin Street and a 1.4 megawatt project on Bardwell Street. These would be dual-use projects, meaning that agricultural land below the panels will continue to be used.
A resident asked if these solar arrays will pose any health concerns because of how they are manufactured.
“There are no heavy metals that are toxic or hazardous in our panels,” Albrecht said.
The Planning Board, which must issue special permits for solar projects, will continue the public hearing on BlueWave plans Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
