The Town of Montgomery’s October 30 Planning Board Meeting opened with an update to the New York Solar Farm proposed for Plains Road, including comments from both the developer and a resident.

Kami Cohen, developer manager of Lightstar Renewables, stated that one of the project’s poles was moved south per the request of a resident who lives nearby.

“We sent the updated version of the site, which shows the pole location moved 63 feet away south from the previous location, which we hope would appease the adjacent neighbor’s concern of the pole being too close to her home,” she said.

Cohen also noted that she recently spoke with Andrea Martinez, a resident who lives adjacent to the project, about paying for her forsythia bushes, which would serve as a buffer between her home and the solar farm.

“I’ve also been communicating with Miss Martinez about having Lifestar pay her for the installation and purchase of the forsythia bushes,” she said.

Cohen concluded her comments with a request for the board to close the public hearing and work with the developers to obtain a negative declaration or approval resolution.

“At this point, we do believe that we provided all the necessary comments, responses, and changes requested by the board and by Miss Martinez, and would hope that today would be the day that we can close the hearing and move forward to adopt the neg dec or the approval resolution or both,” she asserted.

During public comment, Martinez reiterated her stance against the project, explaining that a solar farm would prove problematic in her neighborhood and hoping that the board would keep residents’ well-being in mind when coming to a final decision.

“To be clear, I want to share that we do not support this project for reasons that I’ve shared before. It’s in a residential area, the size of the project is very large, and we feel that there’ll be a decline in the value of our home and other homes in the area,” she said.

“We are hopeful that the town board will make a decision that will not only be focused on potential income but align with what is best for the entire community as a whole. I would hate to think that every decision we make in life is tied to a monetary value,” she continued.

Martinez also thanked Lightstar Renewables for helping her and her family pay for and install the forsythia bushes she requested.

“At the last meeting, one of the talking points was the landscaping, and as the neighbors most directly affected by this project, we had requested the forsythia bushes. And we were greatly surprised and thankful that the solar company is agreeing to assist us with paying for that and having them installed,” she said.

Fred Reichle, planning board chairman, suggested that the board first look over the developer’s plans and provide adjustments if necessary before closing the public hearing. The board then motioned to continue the hearing on November 13 at 7:45 p.m.