Residents Concerned Over Upcoming Application on Solar Farm

With a solar ordinance currently in the works, some residents have turned their attention to concerns over an application soon to come before the Land Use Board that could put up to 49,000 solar panels on the Kirby Farm.

The ordinance itself has been discussed for months, and is scheduled to come before the township committee for introduction March 4.

It was last discussed Dec. 6 before the Land Use Board, and is intended to amend Bedminster's codes in order to deal specifically with solar installations and equipment.

The ordinance separates the standards of solar installations into three different categories—roof-mounted panels, parking lot canopy systems and ground-mounted arrays.

Bedminster resident, and former mayor, Joe Cirona said at Tuesday's committee meeting that he is concerned the process has taken as long as it has.

"This is an important ordinance for the township," he said, adding that he is surprised revisions from the Dec. 6 meeting took so long.

Mayor Steve Parker said the ordinance that was given to the committee from the professionals did not mirror any of the concerns expressed by residents and Land Use Board members at the Dec. 6 meeting.

"When we got a chance to see it, it wasn't what we had heard from the audience, and that's why we are making changes," he said.

"We expect lots of interest and feedback, and we want to make sure all voices are heard on this," he added.

But aside from the ordinance itself is an application that will be coming before the Land Use Board soon, and which many residents are already opposing through their group, Preserve Bedminster.

The group, led by resident Jill Barone, is opposing an application from KDC Solar of Bedminster for variances to develop an industrial solar power plant on the Kirby Farm at the corner of Country Club and Meadow Road.

According to information from the group, the application is looking for the installation of a 55-acre, 49,000-panel industrial-scale solar power plant on the 106-acre residentially zoned farm.

The farm, the group says, would power only Sanofi-Aventis on Route 202/206 in Bridgewater.

The group also has a petition on change.org, asking for a no vote on the use variance to build this solar farm. The petition currently has 193 supporters.

Barone, whose home borders the Kirby Farm, said she is very concerned about this application, and is leading the charge against it.

"I purchased my home that borders the Kirby Farm for the beauty of the land and the municipality's devotion to keeping Bedminster beautiful and, most important, safe," she said in the petition. "This proposed solar power plant will decrease my property value, create runoff, raise my taxes in addition to the health risks the proposed Inverter Power Stations cause."

At this point, however, the application has not yet been introduced before the Land Use Board. It has been on previous agendas, but representatives with the township have not brought it before the township yet because, as of Jan. 3, it was deemed incomplete.

At the Feb. 7 Land Use Board meeting, township engineer Paul Ferriero said they had received revised and updated submissions to complete the application, but they had not finished going through them.

Ferriero said he expected to bring the application to the board in March or April, depending on when it is deemed complete.

The application is on the agenda for the March 7 Land Use Board meeting, but it is not clear whether it will be introduced at that time.

Still, Parker said it is important to remember that these are two separate issues the township is considering with two different boards taking charge.

"The solar ordinance itself is separate from the application to be before the Land Use Board," he said.

Committee members said they would not be commenting on the application once it is brought before the Land Use Board.

But the solar ordinance is currently expected to be introduced March 4.