Wetlands PermitApplication_Kenneth C. & John H. Burt & JKB Farms, Inc. (2)Permit Application
Today's Date: 08/28/2018
Owner
Applicant
Kenneth C. & John H. Burt & JKB Farms, Inc.
Syncarpha Solar, LLC Attn: Keith Akers
41 School Street
250 W 57th Street, Suite 701
Hatfield, MA 01038
New York, NY 10107
212-419-4840
keith.akers@syncarpha.com
City of Northampton department: N
Work Location Information
How many lots involved in the project: 1
Map / Block / Lots of all lots in project: 49 / 000 / 012
Deed Book of all lots in project: Book 11316 Page 326
Project work address: 0 PARK HILL RD
City/State/Zip: Florence 01062
Zoning District: WSP
Application for following Permit Types
❑Planning Bd. Special Permit w/ Site Plan
❑Planning Bd. Special Permit w/ MAJOR Site Plan
❑Administrative Site Plan Review
❑Planning Bd. Major Site Plan or 40R Approval
(No Special Permit)
❑Subdivision Preliminary
❑Subdivision Definitive IF NO Preliminary
❑Zoning Board Special Permit
❑Appeal of Building Commissioner -Zoning
❑Variance
❑Historic District Determination of Non -
Applicability
❑Historic District (Elm St) Determination of
Appropriateness
❑West Street Architecture
®Wetlands Notice of Intent, Abbreviated NOI or
ANRAD, IF state wetlands
❑Wetlands Request for Determination OR Resource
Delineation
❑Wetlands Certificate of Compliance request
❑Planning Bd. Special Permit w/ Site Plan for flag lots
❑Planning Bd. Site Plan (NO Special Permit)
❑Approval Not Required Plans
❑Subdivision Definitive IF Preliminary approved
❑Subdivision Definitive Amendment
❑Zoning Board Finding
❑Comprehensive Permit
❑Demolition (Demolition Delay)
❑Central Business Architecture
❑Wetlands Notice of Intent IF ONLY local wetlands
❑Wetlands Amendment
❑Wetlands extension
210 Main St., Rm. 11, City Hall, Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-1262
Fee Information
Wetlands Notice of Intent, Abbreviated NOI $ 1012.50
or ANRAD, IF state wetlands (WPA Form 3, 4, or 4A)
- $225 plus city share of state fee
City share of the State Wetlands Fee $ 787.50
Total fee amount: $ 1012.50
Existing Use
Vacant
Planned Use
The proposed project will consist of the installation of a pole -mounted photovoltaic system, equipment
pads, underground and overhead electrical conduit, fencing, security signage, gravel access roadways
and the interconnection of the resulting facility to the existing electrical circuit within the public right of
way on Park Hill Road Extension. The project's solar panels will be installed on frames that are secured
to the ground by push piles, which will extend a minimum of four feet into the ground (pending final
geotechnical analysis). In the event that rock is encountered, helical auger foundations will be used. The
panels will be interconnected through a series of underground electrical connections. The solar panels
will be divided into two (2) zones. Each zone runs through a transformer, joining the main system line
that leads out to Park Hill Road Extension and through an interconnect point to the National Grid system
on the existing Park Hill Road Extension pole line.
In order to further support the goals of the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the Solar
Massachusetts Renewable Target Program (SMART), the project will incorporate energy storage.
Energy storage can provide a variety of benefits across the electric grid, including: improved power
quality, mitigating substation upgrades, and the ability to shift solar energy production to match peak
demand.
The energy storage associated with this project will be co -located with the solar, meaning they will share
a common point of coupling and that the solar will be used to charge the on-site storage batteries. The
project will use and energy storage system that incorporates standard inverters (like those associated
with the solar) as well as lithium ion batteries — the same type of battery technology that is used in cell
phones, digital cameras, and watches. The batteries will be containerized in standard 40 -foot shipping
containers that are flame retardant. Based on the current SMART program regulations, the batteries are
required to be fully charged/discharged a minimum of 52 times a year to facilitate smart grid
management and timed releases of electricity as shall be determined by National Grid.
The applicant is working with National Grid to explore the possibility of running all electrical lines to
the interconnect point underground. It has been expressed by City Staff that there is a strong desire for
no new utility pole locations to be introduced as a result of this project. Provided that National Grid
finds this technically feasible, the project proponents will install all electrical lines and equipment at or
below the ground surface to the interconnect point. In the event that National Grid does not allow this
for a valid technical, safety, or reliability reason, the poles will be minimized to only those National Grid
and Customer Owned poles depicted on the site plan.
The facility will also feature a security fence around the perimeter of the project. The fence will have
210 Main St., Rm. 11, City Hall, Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-1262
chain link fabric and will be seven (7) feet in height. There will be a gap at the bottom of the fence
between the ground surface and the fence fabric to allow small animals to crawl under the fence.
Upon completion of the installation of the panels, appurtenances and fencing, the entire disturbed area
will be seeded with a mix of low growing vegetation which will help maintain a non-erosive soil cover,
minimize dust, and require very little maintenance. In addition, there will be no use of fertilizers,
pesticides, or herbicides for this project.
A public informational meeting with the surrounding neighbors on Park Hill Road and Glendale Avenue
was held in June, 2018.
Detailed Project Information
Special Permit Description: See Site Plan/Special Permit Application filed for the project.
Wetlands Description: No Waivers Requested
Files Uploaded:
Supporting Information: Notice of Intent Narrative.pdf
Comprehensive (40b):
Drainage Information:
Traffic Information:
Plan Sheets: Plansheets.pdf
Wetlands Information: Wetlands.pdf
Approval Not Required:
Autocad:
Tiff or PDF:
Historic Information:
By typing my name in the signature box, I certify that all the information above is accurate to the best of my
knowledge, I am the property owner or have permission from the property owner to apply for this permit. I also
grant permission to the City of Northampton to inspect the proposed work
Signature: Keith Akers Date Signed: 08/28/2018
210 Main St., Rm. 11, City Hall, Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-1262