HomeMy WebLinkAboutBARNSTABLE ZBA - Wakeby Rd Solar Proj - Presentation_4-12-23Wakeby Road Solar Project
810 Wakeby Road, Marstons Mills
Town of Barnstable
Introduction
Wakeby Road Solar Project Presentation:
•Existing Conditions
•Obtained Approvals/Determinations
•Proposed Development
•Modification Permit
Greenhouse Gas Savings per year
Existing
Conditions
•Previously cleared/disturbed
•“Gifford Brothers Sand & Gravel” approximately between 1920 and late 1980s
•Topography
•Generally, slopes towards interior of property
•Steeper slopes along the northern and western boundaries
•Existing natural/excavated depressions to be utilized for stormwater
•Resource Areas
•No wetlands onsite
•Not within Priority Habitats of Rare Species or Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife Zone (NHESP)
•Not within FEMA Flood Zones
•Not within Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)
•Site lies within MassDEP Zone II and Sole Source Aquifer (per MassGIS)
Parcel
Acreage ±19.32 acres
Zoning
District
Residence F (RF)
Resource Protection Overlay (RPOD)
Groundwater Protection Overlay (GP)
Property
Owner Wakeby Road Realty Inc.
Obtained Approvals/Determinations
•Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
•Determination of No Hazard to Air Navigation – Oct. 25, 2021
(Aeronautical Study #2021-ANE-6069-OE)
•Cape Cod Commission
•No Development of Regional Impact (DRI) review necessary -
July 25, 2022
•Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
•Comprehensive Site Assessment (CSA) Approval – Sept. 27, 2019
•Barnstable Conservation Commission
•Negative Determination of Applicability – Nov. 26, 2019
•Barnstable Site Plan Review
•Conditional Approval – March 6, 2023
Greenhouse Gas Savings per year
Proposed
Development
•Key Solar Array Points
•±4.99 MW AC
•±10.26 Acres within perimeter
security fence.
•Include security gate, FD access
Knox Box, and emergency
contact signage
•Minimum tree clearing
•Two (2) concrete equipment
pads (±240 SF/Each)
•Utilize above & below ground
electric infrastructure
•Stormwater meets MassDEP &
Town of Barnstable Stormwater
Management Standards
•Erosion control measures along
L.O.W. and within solar array
Greenhouse Gas Savings per year
Greenhouse Gas Savings per year
Greenhouse Gas Savings per year
Modification
Permit
Denial of Modification Permit would Substantially Diminish the Usefulness of the Proposed Development
•Current Design Setbacks
•Minimum 150-foot setback from solar modules to residentially developed lots in accordance with solar bylaw amendment (north, east, and south)
•Proposed16-foot setback from solar modules to undeveloped lot owned by Town of Barnstable in accordance with zoning bulk regulations (west)
•Denial of Modification Permit would Substantially Reduce Proposed Development:
•±2,976 Modules Total (±33.6% Reduction)
•±1,992 Modules West Side (±22.5% Reduction)
•±984 Modules Due to Access Road (±11.1% Reduction)
•±133,597 SF Total (±3.07-Acre Reduction)
•±94,378 SF West Side(±2.17-Acre Reduction)
•±39,219 SF Due to Access Road(±0.90-Acre Reduction)
Greenhouse Gas Savings per year
Modification
Permit
Modification of the Bulk Regulation will not Create a Public Safety Hazard along Adjacent Roadways and will not Create a Nuisance to Other, Surrounding Properties Such that it will Impair the Use of Those Properties
•Screening berm along portion of eastern boundary and vegetative hedges along northern, eastern, and southern Site boundaries to obscure view from abutting residentially developed properties
•Proposed 150-foot setback from residentially developed lots to address noise concerns (per solar bylaw amendment)
•No increased environmental risk
No proposed Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Proposed solar development with not utilize modules which contain PFAS
Transformers will utilize biodegradable Envirotemp FR3 Fluid (primarily food-grade vegetable oils) as the cooling medium
Per manufacturer, FR3 Fluid does not contain PFAS/Genx chemicals
Per MassDEP, MassDOER, and MassCEC’s Q&A Ground-mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems Guide (June 2015):
“Because PV panel materials are enclosed, and don’t mix with water or vaporize into the air, there is little, if any, risk of chemical releases to the environment during normal use.”
“…researchers have concluded that the potential for emissions derived from PV components during typical fires is limited give n the relatively short-duration of most fires and the high melting point (>1000 Degrees Celsius) of PV materials…”
Per MassDEP Q&A for PWS on PFAS in Public Drinking Water Supplies (PWS) (11/14/22):
“We [MassDEP] have not identified any water sampling results that have detected PFAS coming off solar panels or that PFAS is present on panels.”
Thank You!