Weeks and weeks of dialogue and debate over the plans and escrow account for Clean Energy Collective’s proposed solar farm was culminated in a minutes-long discussion by the Marion Planning Board on October 5.
The board, led by Chairman Robert Lane, slightly decreased its desired project decommissioning escrow account sum from $75,000 to $67,500 during its September 21 meeting when the board finally voted to approve the special permit and site plan review for the solar energy facility accessible from Tucker Lane.
For weeks, Lane relentlessly advocated for a higher escrow account number, despite the pleas of the developer, its attorney Richard Serkey, and a few other board members to lower the amount to similar escrow agreement sums of surrounding cities and towns.
Now, during the short October 5 meeting when members thumbed through the final draft of the board’s decision written by Town Counsel Jon Whitten, there was no mention of the escrow amount until after the unanimous vote for approve when board member Jennifer Francis asked if there would be a vote for the escrow account. That matter, pointed out Lane, was included in the language for the agreement the board approved moments earlier.
Once the meeting adjourned, the landowners of the property, Karen and Dennis Clemishaw, had little to say about their first experience with the Marion Planning Board. Mr. Clemishaw declined to comment, while Ms. Clemishaw expressed her relief at the conclusion of the drawn-out ordeal.
“I understand their apprehension,” said Ms. Clemishaw. “It is the first solar farm project in town under the new bylaw. But I’m glad it worked out.
Also during the meeting, the board swiftly approved an application for an Approval Not Required request for Hilma and Frederick Tahtinen to split off two lots located on County Road and create a third buildable lot. The lots, having plenty of acreage and frontage, met the requirements for the ANR.
The board was relieved that an ANR request filed for 268 Converse Road owned by Harold and Margaret Nye was withdrawn by Attorney Peter Paul because of tedious legal complications.
“After extensive work with the Land Court … we found out this afternoon that the plan is incorrect,” said Paul. Engineers erroneously labeled some of the property as unregistered land when, in fact, the land was registered and had been registered for some time. “The good news is I think we’re going to get this resolved.”
This was not a session he was looking forward to, said a reassured Lane. The application was withdrawn without prejudice.
The next meeting of the Marion Planning Board is scheduled for October 19 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry
