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A plan for a solar agrivoltaic project with access from Spook Hollow Road in Piatt Township was approved by the Lycoming County Planning Commission at their monthly meeting.
The project, which is known as the Bailey Land Development, is on land which is owned by the Bailey Family Irrevocable Trust and Craig and Trudy Bailey. The solar facility is being constructed by Pivot Energy.
It will be located on a 12-acre leased area and have 5,250 solar panels which will create 2.5 megawatts.The project will be enclosed by an eight-foot fence and sheep will graze in the solar array.
The conditional use for the solar energy facility was approved by the Piatt Township supervisors included: requiring the applicant to plant and maintain vegetative screening; noise emissions from the project, once it is operational shall not exceed 40 decibels as measured at the exterior of any occupied building on a non-participating property; the applicant shall enter into a decommissioning agreement and post a decommissioning bond or other financial security with the township to cover the cost of decommissioning; and the applicant shall complete a renewed phase on environmental assessment and submit it to the township following construction prior to receiving final building inspection to confirm satisfactory environmental management on the site during construction.
A Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) has been issued by PennDOT for access from Spook Hollow Road by a 16-foot cartway. Because Lycoming County's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) requires a 20-foot width for a cartway, a request for a modification to the SALDO was granted on the recommendation of Century Engineering and the county's Director of Planning and Community Development, Jenny Picciano.
The commission then approved the plan with the following eight conditions as outlined by Garrett Russell, subdivision and land development administrator with the county's Planning and Community Development department:
• Provide revisions to the plan as required by the Subdivision & Land Development Administrator and the LCPC (Lycoming County Planning Commission) consulting engineer. Revised plans must include a stormwater conveyance system that demonstrates the ability to accommodate a 100-year storm event, as agreed upon by LCPC consulting engineer and the applicant's engineer.
• Provide an acceptance letter from Century Engineering stating that the stormwater management plan, stormwater management narrative, and opinion of probable cost are acceptable prior to signing and recording the land development plan.
• Provide a zoning determination letter from Code Inspections, Inc. stating that a zoning permit will be issued after receiving land development approval prior to signing and recording the final land development plan.
• Provide an executed stormwater management facilities operation and maintenance agreement prior to signing and recording the final land development plan.
• LCPC staff must be contacted for final land development and stormwater management inspection. As-built drawings must be submitted by a qualified professional for all improvements including stormwater facilities prior to occupancy and the release of financial security. As-built certification shall include language that stormwater management facilities meet the requirements of the approved land development design.
• Upon staff's and LCPC Consulting Engineer concurrence of a cost estimate to complete the required land development improvements, an Improvement Guarantee Agreement with financial guarantee must be established within 60 days of final land development approval. Extension of the 60 days is at staff's discretion (to be provided prior to signing and recording of the final land development plan).
• After the Planning Commission approval, the approved land development plan and the signed approval letter must be recorded within 90 days of the date when all conditions are met. Applicant has six months from the conditioned approval date to satisfy all conditions. Extension of the 6 months is at Staff's discretion.
• Applicant shall install an emergency key box along the fence to provide for emergency access by first responders
It was noted that the wording for the final condition is a draft and the exact wording will be finalized later.