HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment - Santaniello Barnstable Conservation Commission re Solect EnergyKimberly.cavanaugh@town.barnstable.ma.us
Kimberly Cavanaugh
Town of Barnstable Conservation Commission
230 South Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Re Solect Energy Application
2240 Iyannough Rd., Route 132
Hyannis, MA (Cape Cod College parking lots 10&11) Hearing
Set for 1/20/26 at 6:30 pm
Dear Members of the Board,
Please accept this letter as a formal objection, and kindly read it into the public record. I am
writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed construction and installation of
solar canopies over Parking Lots 10 and 11 at Cape Cod Community College.
These parking lots are directly adjacent to important, named, historical, and protected
conservation assets within the Town of Barnstable, and the proposed project would have
significant adverse impacts on those resources.
Adverse Impact on Historical Conservation Lands
The following conservation areas and resources would be affected by the proposed solar canopy
project:
• Old Jail Lane Conservation Area
• Hathaway Pond Conservation Area
• Barnstable Conservation Land
• Homerun Pond / Well (a historical groundwater source and vital part of the local
waterresource network)
• Spruce and Wilkins View
• Scrub Forest and Spruce habitats (increasingly rare natural environments)
• Homerun walking and biking path
Installing large, elevated, industrial-scale canopies in this setting would intrude upon and
degrade the viewshed of protected conservation lands, directly undermining:
• Passive recreation
• Scenic enjoyment
• Quiet use of natural spaces
• Conservation values expressly protected by the Town
• Sensitive natural habitats such as scrub forest and spruce ecosystems
These habitats support rare and declining bird species, pollinators, small mammals, and
groundnesting wildlife. Given the limited winter screening typical of scrub forest, the
introduction of steel canopies, associated lighting, noise, and maintenance activity would be
especially disruptive, degrading both habitat quality and user enjoyment of the surrounding
conservation areas.
In essence, this project would cause an adverse visual and environmental intrusion into a
protected conservation viewshed—contrary to Barnstable’s zoning, open space, and conservation
objectives.
Conflict with Scenic and Rural Preservation Goals
Barnstable’s zoning and planning documents consistently emphasize the importance of
protecting:
• Natural landscapes
• Rural and semi-rural character
• Undisturbed scenic views near conservation areas
Even though the project site is an existing parking lot, the proposed canopies would:
• Introduce substantial vertical massing where none currently exists
• Transform a low-profile surface into a continuous industrial roofline
• Remain highly visible above existing vegetation—particularly during leaf-off seasons
and from elevated trail segments and pond edges
Height, Scale, and Massing Concerns
Solar canopies function much like buildings, not pavement. Key concerns include:
• What is the maximum height from finished grade?
• What is the total linear footage and overall coverage?
• Will snow-load or fire access requirements increase the structure’s height?
• Will the project create a near-continuous canopy field?
The proposed height and scale appear incompatible with the character of adjacent conservation
areas and exceed what would reasonably be expected by abutters or longtime users of these
protected lands.
Impact on Hathaway Pond and Homerun Path
Current buffering is largely deciduous and seasonal. During winter, structural steel framing and
reflective panel undersides will be fully visible. Trail users, cyclists, and walkers along the
conservation paths will experience direct, unobstructed views of these industrial structures.
While evergreen buffers or berming may offer limited mitigation, they are insufficient since
conservation land entirely surrounds these lots. The canopy structures will remain prominent in
the landscape.
Glare, Visual Disturbance, and Wildlife Disruption
Even modern photovoltaic panels can produce glare under certain conditions—particularly
during low sun angles, after snowfall, or due to metal framing. This glare could impact wildlife,
trail users, and residential properties. No comprehensive viewpoint or visibility analysis has
been conducted from nearby trails, conservation areas, or adjacent homes.
Stormwater, Hydrology, and Environmental Effects
The project site lies near ponds, conservation areas, and likely wetland buffer zones. The
canopies will alter runoff patterns, accelerate drip-line flow, and potentially increase erosion or
sedimentation within sensitive buffers. The applicant has not adequately demonstrated how these
changes will be mitigated or prevented.
Noise and Operational Impacts
This proposal also introduces mechanical and operational noise—such as humming, power
conversion, and maintenance activity—directly adjacent to quiet conservation trails. These
disturbances would significantly diminish the tranquil experience these public lands are meant to
provide.
Precedent and Cumulative Impact
Approving this project would set a concerning precedent for the gradual industrialization of land
adjoining Barnstable’s conservation areas. Such an outcome runs counter to decades of
community investment in preservation and protection. The limited benefits of this project do not
outweigh its long-term environmental and scenic costs.
Special Permit Findings
Under zoning requirements, the project must demonstrate that it:
1. Is not detrimental to neighborhood character;
2. Does not impair conservation land; and
3. Is consistent with the general intent of zoning.
This proposal fails to satisfy those standards.
Let me be clear—this objection is not against solar energy itself. I fully support renewable
energy initiatives. However, locating large-scale industrial infrastructure immediately adjacent to
historically named conservation lands and scenic public resources contradicts the very principles
that guide Barnstable’s stewardship of its natural environment.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Board to deny approval for this project as proposed and
to seek alternative, less intrusive locations for solar development within the community.
Sincerely,
Daniel and Michelle Santaniello
2051 Main Street
West Barnstable, MA 02668
Cc: Stuart Clark, P.E. (Green Seal Environmental)