Zoning board approves special exception for White Oaks solar farm

LACONIA — Members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment have approved a special exception for a solar company to construct arrays on a large plot of land on White Oaks Road.

The application, filed by Rewild Renewables on behalf of White Oaks Road Solar LLC, sought permission for a project to construct two solar arrays on just over 20 acres of land within a 108-acre parcel which includes open space, wetlands and forest in a rural area of the city.

Before a packed board room at City Hall, 45 people, many of whom opposed the project, heard from a representative of Rewild Renewables that the project would not have an egregious negative impact on the environment and wildlife. Instead, it could provide power for up to 1,200 homes. 

Richard Boddie, an alternate on the ZBA, recused himself from the discussion and vote because he is an abutter to the property. He was acting as a voting member at the meeting Monday night because another ZBA member, Roland Maheu, was absent. 

Kevin Corbett, vice president of construction for Rewild Renewables, told ZBA members the project would offset the carbon emissions of around 1,400 cars and would cover roughly 21 acres on the property. To facilitate construction, 36 acres would be cleared, leaving about 72 acres out of the 108 total untouched. 

“Obviously, a lot of people bring up the fact that we’re clearing trees and that’s not ideal,” he said. “Unfortunately, sometimes we do have to do that. What we do on all of our projects, we incorporate pollinator grass seed mixes in. So even though we’re clearing trees, we’re creating a different habitat for different types of species to be able to thrive.”

The property occupies three different zones, rural residential I, rural residential II and airport/industrial. Roughly half of the property is located within an airport/industrial zone and would not need the special exception to the zoning ordinance to move forward. 

Corbett told the audience the company takes measures to offset their impact on the land, such as planting pollinators. The solar arrays would be fenced-in, he said, and monitored remotely — there wouldn’t be any staff onsite. 

ZBA members heard construction would take between six and eight months to complete. The solar company is apparently in discussions with Eversource, a regional utilities company, to connect the power generated at the site to a transmission line which runs over the property. 

The roughly 20 acres of land used for the fixed-angle solar arrays would be split into two, 10-acre plots and fenced in individually. Representatives told the ZBA there would be around 6,000 individual solar panels on each 10-acre plot of land. The entirety of the project would be concealed from public view by a “significant wooded buffer” and residents would not likely see the project once constructed, they said. 

The perimeter fences would be made of wood or steel posts and likely a thin mesh. On other sites, the solar company has used chain link fences to partition their solar arrays. Wildlife would theoretically remain uninhibited, as the perimeter of the entire property wouldn’t be fenced in. 

The lease agreement is to last up to 35 years — the solar company has the option to renew three times for five more years. There is generally a bond involved in the agreement with a municipality which would ensure there is money available to remove and dispose of the panels at the end of the lease period. 

An environmental study of the property and the project is available at City Hall in the planning department, Planning Assistant Director Tyler Carmichael told those in attendance at the meeting. 

But abutters of the property expressed opposition to the project, arguing there could be negative environmental impacts, that people experiencing homelessness may loiter there in the winter and the project could reduce property values for neighboring homeowners. Besides concern regarding disruption of the natural environment, there was some skepticism that residents of Laconia would benefit from the project in the long-term. 

Thomas Bonaccorsi, an abutter to the property, said he was against the project and the stripping of the natural environment on White Oaks Road. 

“We live there, we are part of the environment, the environment is part of us,” he said. “When you strip this land, you’re stripping our soul — don’t do this, I beg you, please, don’t do this.”

ZBA Chair Michael DellaVecchia said, in explaining his thinking on the proposal, residents of White Oaks may not notice as much of an impact as they anticipate if the project comes to fruition.

“It’s not tearing up paradise and putting in a parking lot,” he said. 

This matter could appear before the planning board at a later date.