Maybrook solar farm project moves closer to approval

- Audeen Moore
Posted 3/15/23

The Maybrook Village Board took another step along the lengthy process to establish the first solar farm on a site on the west side of Maybrook, near Cardinal Health and Taylor …

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Maybrook solar farm project moves closer to approval

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The Maybrook Village Board took another step along the lengthy process to establish the first solar farm on a site on the west side of Maybrook, near Cardinal Health and Taylor Recycling.

After Village Engineer Sean Hoffman reviewed Carson Power’s latest document submission, an expanded NYS Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) Part 3, the board voted unanimously at its Monday meeting to authorize a draft declaration of a negative environmental impact for the project.  Mayor Dennis Leahy and Trustee Kevin Greany were absent from the meeting, leaving Deputy Mayor James Barnett and Trustees Daryl Capozzoli and Charles Woznick voting to approve the authorization.

The board had previously reviewed Carson Power’s EAF Part 2, with Village Attorney Kelly Naughton then noting some impacts, mostly minimal with a few she characterized as moderate or large.  

The board also voted unanimously to approve a draft local law amending the village zoning map.  Carson Power will, at some point, petition the Town of Montgomery and Village of Maybrook for the village to annex about 24.5 acres of the project site.  The draft zoning change, said Village Attorney Kelly Naughton, to R-4 (residential) will affect the proposed annexation, if and when it is approved.  The village board is expected to hold a public hearing on the draft zone change in about a month.

The second draft of Carson Power’s solar farm proposal calls for two solar fields that would generate a total of ten megawatts of electricity that would link into the Central Hudson Gas & Electric substation on Maybrook Road.  In addition, Carson Power would deed about 52 acres to the village.

In addition to the proposed annexation, many approvals from the village planning and zoning boards will be required.