Selectmen OK Harvey's Solar Project

Site plan approved Tuesday night.

Selectmen have granted Harvey’s Farm site plan approval for a solar project, the development’s last local board review. The board’s vote Tuesday night was subject to the conditions presented by the various town departments. Selectmen closed the site plan review public hearing exactly two weeks earlier. However, a written decision wasn’t available at that time. During that meeting, Building Commissioner Tin Htway noted that some departments had outstanding issues, and “the lion’s share” were resolved that day. Also at that meeting, attorney Adam Braillard noted that the zoning board of appeals required site plan review in granting a use variance for the roughly 2.24 megawatt project on just under eight acres at 120 South St./7 Maple Ave. in…

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Solar Farm at Harvey's Will be 'Jewel'

Selectmen close site plan review public hearing.

A new solar farm at Westborough's Harvey's Farm will be a "jewel" that will make the town proud, Project Manager Charles Jenkins told selectmen Tuesday night. Selectmen closed the public hearing on the project's site plan review application. The board will vote on a written decision on the request at its next meeting, Town Manager Jim Malloy said. Building Commissioner Tin Htway said some departments had outstanding issues, and “the lion’s share” were resolved late Tuesday. Attorney Adam Braillard noted that the zoning board of appeals required site plan review in granting a use variance for the roughly 2.24 megawatt project on just under eight acres at 120 South St./7 Maple Ave. in October. Jenkins told the board that "I think that you’ll…

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ZBA Gives Harvey's Farm Solar Project Three Stars

The vote was Monday night.

The Westborough Zoning Board of Appeals granted Harvey's Farm LLC's variance request for a ground-mounted photovoltaic farm Monday night. And then a gentleman said, "Now the crowd goes wild." The board voted 3-0 to grant the variance, with these conditions: site plan review; at least 100-foot front, side and rear yard setbacks from abutters, including the cemetery; remove the project within 150 days of ending it; give Westborough the right of first refusal to buy electricity from the project; continue current screening abutting the cemetery; and that the variance was for 20 years, the duration of the project developers' lease on the farm site, as presented by the proponents during a Sept. 10 public hearing. Chairman Jim Johnson said a …

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Patch Facts

5 Things: ZBA Hearing on Harvey's Farm Continues

Looking for Westborough happenings? Consider these ideas.

Each morning, Westborough Patch presents “5 Things You Need to Know,” a collection of announcements, events, reminders and odd little ditties to help you organize your day. What will you be doing today? 1. The Westborough Zoning Board of Appeals' public hearing on Harvey's Farm's proposed solar project continues at 8 p.m. at the Forbes Municipal Building. 2. Support Westborough High School athletics: 3. A book discussion group reflects on "Caleb's Crossing," by Geraldine Brooks at 7 p.m. at the Westborough Public Library. 4. Give the gift of life today: An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Porter & Chester Institute on Route 9. 5. The Fales School Council meets at 8:30 a.m. The agenda is here.

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