By Doug La Rocque
Two issues, one that has been before the Brunswick Town Board for only a few months, another that has been discussed for more than a year, saw action taken at the Thursday, December 8 meeting.
First was changes to Town Code as they related to construction of two-family and multi-family homes. Density concerns sparked a moratorium on such consideration and construction in late 2021 while the Town looked at where such construction should be allowed and consideration of a density factor. That moratorium was eventually extended twice. The initial changes, which involved several code modifications, met with some opposition at a public hearing, and were pulled back. The newer version was approved as a local law, and takes effect upon filing with the New York State Secretary of State’s Office.
Too many commercial solar projects and where developers want to locate them initiated concern on the part of the Board over the fall, with some projects proposed close to residential areas and developers asking to reduce their financial participation in the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program. That program requires solar developers to pay $6,000 per megawatt each year, with 50 percent going to the school district, 25 percent to Rensselaer County, and 25 percent to Brunswick. The Town, like in the case of multi-family homes construction, wants to step back and review the solar situation, thus the one-year moratorium, which affects all projects currently proposed or under consideration by the Town’s Planning Board. It does not impact solar construction already approved.
Other Solar Action
The Board accepted a decommissioning bond from CVE Solar in conjunction with the previously approved solar collector at 7 Belair Lane. This bond guarantees there will be money available to take down the solar panels once they have outlived their usefulness, generally about 25 years. Also accepted were PILOT programs for this same project as well as North Troy Solar on Oakwood Avenue and Tamarac Solar on Brick Church Road. These last two were previously approved as well.
Other Business
The Highway Department said the previous week’s light snowfall was a good dry run for what is to come. The department is hoping for delivery of a new truck in February. Councilman Gordie Christian says orders for trucks are so backed up that if you purchase now, delivery probably won’t occur until sometime in 2024. The Board set its year end meeting for 6:30 pm, on December 29, and its Organizational meeting for January 3 at the same time.