By Chris English
CARLISLE/SEWARD — A public hearing on a large and controversial solar project in the towns of Carlisle and Seward has been set for Oct. 9, Carlisle Town Supervisor John Leavitt confirmed via telephone on Thursday, Aug. 8.
The hearing will start at 6 p.m. and will be held in Bouck Hall at SUNY Cobleskill, Leavitt said. The hearing was announced and discussed at the Aug. 7 Carlisle town board meeting chaired by Councilperson Robert Smith because Leavitt was unable to attend.
Cypress Creek Renewables is proposing the 20 MW Rock District solar project for 124.5 acres at 190 Brown Road, a piece of property that lies within both Carlisle and Seward. The matter is in the hands of the state's Office of Renewable Energy Siting after Cypress Creek switched tracks a while ago and decided to seek approval through ORES rather than through the two towns.
Leavitt said ORES recently issued what is being referred to as a temporary permit for the project, a document he said acknowledges that Cypress Creek's multi-page application for the project is complete and it's time to move on to the public hearing. That hearing will be chance for the public to voice opinions on the matter and also for Carlisle and Seward officials to state their positions. Both towns are fighting the project through legal channels and it's also being vehemently opposed by a local group called Schoharie County Citizens Against Solar Assault and others in both towns and the surrounding area.
Leavitt said Rock District (Cypress Creek) would have a limited time period after the public hearing to respond to issues brought up at that event.
"If there are any issues of monumental concern, ORES can set up a hearing with a hearing officer but that is rare," he added.
While there seems to be an air of inevitability among many that the project will be approved by ORES and built, members of CASA and others who oppose it have vowed to continue the fight, saying the project would have negative impacts on nearby roads, stormwater management and other areas. At the Aug. 7 Carlisle meeting, CASA member Bill Toohey said he believes the group has "other arrows in its quiver", including trying to get the project stopped by the federal Fish and Game Commission.
In other news from the Aug. 7 Carlisle meeting, Council member Katie Schweigard said during her recreation report that she and others are setting up a town-wide garage sale for Saturday, Aug. 31. Anyone who wants to participate can hold a garage sale on their property on that date, Schweigard explained.
There was initially discussion of having all who were interested bring their items for sale to Town Hall, but that was rejected rather quickly and a decision was made to hold sales town-wide on individual properties.
Highway Superintendent Mike Broadwell reported that Carlisle has recently been working with the towns of Richmondville and Cobleskill on some projects. Some Carlisle roads that were paved this spring were recently single sealed, he added.
Broadwell said the town is expecting a reimbursement payment of slightly more than $195,000 in September or early October from the state's Consolidated Highway Improvement Program. The money will be reimbursement to Carlisle for projects the town has already undertaken or equipment it has already purchased, including a new lawn mowing tractor, Broadwell explained.
He added that he and his crew are starting to tackle some maintenance projects at town public works buildings and other installations. Included is some tin repair or replacement at the cold storage pole barn, with Broadwell explaining that he is looking into ways to get that done.
"Also, I will probably eventually paint that building," he said.
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