Maybrook’s first large solar farm project moved a bit closer to construction, following a village board meeting last week. The board set a public hearing for 7 p.m. on Monday, October 11, to discuss some new site plan changes.

According to an engineer from solar farm developer Carson Power, only two changes to the site plan are significant. One changes the access road to the site from the east to the west side of the property (for improved design) and the other will make a smaller physical footprint for the solar panels but increase the megawatt output to the grid from 5.5 to 6.9. Environmental impacts are expected to remain the same as with the original site plan.

The village board had approved a special use permit for the project in July. The site plan changes mandate another public hearing to amend the special use permit. The village board will also have to re-do its original negative declaration of environmental impact. Carson Power is also expected to return to the village planning board for amended site plan approval.

The project, planned for the west side of Maybrook near Cardinal Health and Taylor Recycling, would send the megawatts produced into the Central Hudson Gas & Electric substation on Maybrook Road. The 80-acre Carson Power site will only use about 29 acres for the project, with the remaining acreage to be deeded over to the village.

The additional public hearings and board approvals required may set back Carson Power’s initial November estimate for construction to begin. Project completion is estimated to take from six to eight months.