ML LETTERSeptember 25, 2018
Planning Board
210 Main St., Room 11
City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Planning Board Members and Carolyn Misch AICP, Senior Land Use Planner and Permits Manager:
I want to inform you that I will not be able to attend the meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 27, 2018 due to a prior commitment. Please insure that all Planning Board Members
receive a copy of this letter.
As a City Councilor of Ward 6 I received notice from Syncarpha Solar LLC, several months ago, informing me that they had scheduled a meeting on a Thursday that included abutting neighbors
of this project. They told me that they found out that I had a City Council meeting and apologized for not talking to me in advance to check my schedule. Some of my residents attended
and told me how they felt about the project.
Looking at the agenda for the Planning Board, they are scheduled for 7:40 pm Thursday, September 27th, for a Special Permit Site Plan Major, Syncarpha Solar LLC for construction of a
large-scale ground mount solar array on the north side of Park Hill Rd, Florence, Map Id 49-12.
I have been in contact with Wayne Feiden recently, going over the project. I have also talked to Carolyn Misch. I want to give you my perspective of the plans for this project. 14.6
acres will be dedicated to the City of Northampton for conservation along the Hannum Brook. There is a huge amount of wildlife that visits the brook including many deer, coyotes, turkeys,
bears and birds. It is not suitable for housing. Another 17 acres will be used for the solar array.
I had questioned Carolyn and Wayne with concerns of what route would be used to access the construction to be done. As a City Councilor, and I was approached by some residents, we have
great concerns of the amount of extra traffic and large trucks accessing from Westhampton Road into Glendale Road and then to Park Hill Road Extension. It is now, and always has been,
a very heavily trafficked throughway. The intersection has become a site of many accidents.
A question that I have been asked is about glare from the panels. Will the glare affect abutters? What will be used so that won’t happen? There are concerns from one abutter who is
further up on the hill at Park Hill Road Extension of always seeing this open field, now they will be seeing panels. Will there be plantings on the boundary.
Another concern I have as a Councilor, when will construction begin and when will the project be finished. What type of noise will be involved with this project? Will there only be
noise during construction? Can we expect any noise from the completed solar array during operation?
I have been informed that on the north side of this project there will be 2 frontage lots with 2 ½ acres each that will be sold at market rate.
I am supporting this project because of preserving the 14.6 acres of conservation land. Saving wildlife plays a great role in ensuring a check on the ecological balance, thereby maintaining
a healthy eco-system, and the beauty of the precious wildlife that lives in that area. I feel that Syncarpha Solar LLC will benefit our City by being taxed on the land and the 17 acres
of panels that will bring money to the City. As a City Councilor I am supporting this project because it provides clean energy.
Sincerely,
City Councilor
Marianne LaBarge
Ward 6