HOPKINTONÂ â Members of the Town Council last week approved three amendments to the townâs photovoltaic solar energy systems ordinance while rejecting a motion to reopen the public hearing in order to consider amendments to the farm viability ordinance.
The Hopkinton Town Council voted 3-2, with Michael Geary and Scott Bill Hirst opposed, to approve amendments to Section 5 of Chapter 134 of the Zoning Ordinance, which impacts the district use table, and an amendment to Chapter 246 regarding non-residential photovoltaic solar energy systems. Geary and Hirst also pressed to reopen a public hearing to consider further amendments to the townâs farm viability ordinance, but were unsuccessful in garnering a third vote in support.
HOPKINTON âMembers of the Town Council had a lengthy discussion at a Dec. 14 workshop of a proposal to amend the townâs zoning ordinance as it pertains to applications for solar energy projects.
The changes, first discussed at the Dec. 7 council meeting, were deemed sufficiently complicated as to require at least one workshop to allow councilors and members of the public to ask questions.
The proposal was submitted by attorney Peter Skwirz on behalf of his clients, Tom and Cynthia Sculco, owners of a property that abuts the sites of two proposed solar energy facilities.
âThey are in the abutter radius of a couple of projects, some of the larger projects in town,â Skwirz said. âI wonât mention them by name because this ordinance is not aimed at those projects specifically, but thatâs how they became involved â concerned citizens.â
HOPKINTON â Members of the Hopkinton Town Council agreed at Mondayâs meeting that they needed to better understand proposed amendments to the townâs zoning district use table and scheduled workshops to consider the proposed changes.
The amendments have been proposed by attorney Peter Skwirz, who represents Tom and Cynthia Sculco, owners of property that abuts the Palmer Circle site of a large proposed solar energy facility.
The draft amendments, which would significantly impact the townâs solar energy systems and farm viability (solar installations on farms) ordinances, are contained in a 19-page document. If approved, they would update the review procedures for solar projects and amend the permitted uses for solar energy systems.