HADLEY — Valley Community Development will install ground-mounted solar arrays as part of its project converting the former EconoLodge into 50 units of affordable housing.
The Planning Board Tuesday began its administrative review of the 29-kilowatt system that will be located at the back of the site, on a slope between the building and existing storage units.
Laura Baker, real estate project manager for Valley CDC, said most of the photovoltaics proposed for the development, to be known as Russell Crossing and located at 329 Russell St., are on the roof of the three-story building and have been approved through the building permit. The stand-alone solar system, though, needed separate administrative review through the Planning Board.
Planning Board Chairman James Maksimoski said this process means abutters don’t have to be notified, no hearing is required and planners will have conversations with various municipal departments to make sure there are no issues.
Baker said she would be available to answer questions in advance of the board’s anticipated Nov. 3 decision.
Matt Valliere, commercial project manager for PV Squared Solar, said the town’s fire department has already approved the location for the panels.
Keiter Corp. of West Springfield is handling the work on the $16.3 million development, which is expected to open to residents next summer.
Other business
In another renewable energy project, neighbors and other residents have asked the Planning Board to reopen the hearing for ZP Battery Devco’s 5-megawatt battery energy storage system planned for a gravel pit on Breckenridge Road. This would allow the board to take more comments and community members to ask more questions.
Planning Board Clerk William Dwyer said he was unaware of previous requests to reopen a hearing but would ask the town attorney whether this is an option. The board previously intended to use its Oct. 20 meeting to set conditions and approve the project.
In other items, the board also:
- approved new signs, with revised corporate branding, for the Stop & Shop supermarket at 440 Russell St. and its associated gas station at 456 Russell St. All signs will be identical in size to what currently exists, and those on the main building will continue to have illuminated channel letters;
- approved a new sign for Hadley Pointe, the 20 North Maple St. nursing home and rehabilitation center, formerly the Elaine Center. The structure for the sign has already been installed, but without a building permit;
- postponed a decision on approving signs for Country Bank, which intends to open a branch at 455 Russell St., the former Friendly’s Restaurant. The board is waiting for plans showing that the pylon sign will not be internally illuminated but will instead use halo lighting;
- continued a site plan review hearing for 7 Brew Coffee to Dec. 1, with hopes that will give the applicant enough time to meet with the Conservation Commission about wetlands on its parcel. The site where the drive-thru business would be located is between the Jiffy Lube at 347 Russell St. and the Mountain Farm Mall’s perimeter road.
