A packed house came to a public hearing on Marion’s proposed solar bylaw at the Marion Planning Board’s meeting on Tuesday evening. The bylaw was a proposal hammered out between the Planning Board and the Marion Energy Management Committee. The deadline for putting the proposal on the town warrant for fall town meeting – to be held Monday, October 28 – is October 6, so the Board had to put the various options to the public and then take a vote as a Board.
Chairman Pat McArdle opened the meeting with three options on the solar bylaw discussion. The first question was whether the town should allow solar farms in residential areas. The second question was whether the town should prepare a Solar Overlay District for solar farms. The third question was whether the town should restrict solar farms in residential areas via a special permit with certain conditions.
“Let’s have the people discuss this bylaw in full and work it out at town meeting, on the floor,” said resident Margie Baldwin. At issue was dragging out the key question of allowing residential properties to have solar farms on their properties.
Energy Management Committee member Bill Saltonstall spoke and said that limiting solar farms to industrial or commercial properties didn’t make sense, as over 90 percent of Marion land is zoned residential, thus limiting the option to utilize the technology and encourage alternate energy options.
Saltonstall stood before a map of Marion and showed a small strip of land on Route 6 and the Lockheed Martin complex and said that if the bylaw restricts solar farms to commercial and industrial areas, that the small strip he pointed out with his finger was the only place where solar farms would be permitted.
“It’s unlikely that any solar farms would be created in this small strip of land,” said Saltonstall. Saltonstall said that the town should approve solar farms in residential zoned areas.
Saltonstall was the only individual at the meeting who has invested in solar panels at his residence, and answered questions about the positive use of solar energy now and in the future.
The Planning Board voted to bring the document, as drafted, to town meeting but then propose to strike the section on solar farms from the bylaw on the floor at town meeting.
Several residents brought up questions regarding the bylaw, including John Rockwell.
“I’ve been a farmer since the 80s and the wording here says ‘farms’… this is a commercial solar installation and perhaps you should reconsider the wording of the document,” said Rockwell. Rockwell also brought up multiple issues which the Board agreed had not been considered in the discussions on the bylaw.
Another issue, raised by Board member Rico Ferrari, was that of evolving technology and how that would play out with the wording of the bylaw.
“In California, they are working on a solar shingle. How will the bylaw keep up with the technology developing in this area?” asked Ferrari.
Much positive discussion moved the Board to come to a vote, three to three with Chairman McArdle breaking the tie, to bring the current document to town meeting. The Board agreed that they would bring up the issue of solar farms in residential areas and let the town decide if the proposed portion of the bylaw will stay or be stricken from the bylaw.
The Board voted in favor of going to town meeting with the document, but continued the public hearing until September 16. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Copies of the proposed solar bylaw can be picked up at the Marion Town House.
By Joan Hartnett-Barry
