Residents Weigh In On Kirkland Solar Project

In their first monthly meeting with a new supervisor and new Board members, the Kirkland Town Board last week approved a Host Agreement for the Limberlost Solar Project.

The 3-2 vote allowed the Kirkland Planning Board to have a public hearing on the project two nights later with the idea of moving on.

The final decision falls to the Planning Board. The Planning Board hearing included some of the same residents who attended the Board meeting.

RIC Limberlost Solar representative Conrad Karsten answered questions from Planning Board members and residents.

At the end of the hour, the Planning Board did not vote on the Host Agreement.

PB member John Hecklau said the Board has concerns about landscaping and did not see those addressed adequately.

Ideally, Board members said the solar facility would have some of its infrastructure underground.

Karsten said drawing up that plan will require going back to National Grid, and it would be more expensive.

But Board members said they would not approve it as is and wanted to see the underground option.

“That is the only outstanding site plan issue we have,’’ Hecklau said.

The project has already been found to have no significant impact on the environment.

About a dozen people attended the Town Board meeting as Garry Colarusso moved from Board member to superintendent.

Joining Board members Rick Maxam and Melanie O’Neil as council ...