Public hearing on an ordinance change in town of Schuyler

The Schuyler town board voted unanimously to approve an amendment to a zoning law to permit a solar farm to be placed in an area that is zoned as a commercial telecommunications district.

The town of schuyler... a change that could lead to the next step in what some call a controversial project.

That project would put a solar farm in schuyler and the town of herkimer.

News channel 2's caitlin irla explains in our top story tonight.

Nats - "clerk call the roll.... motion carried."

The schuyler town board voted unanimously to approve an amendment to a zoning law, which they call the solar law, to permit a solar farm to be placed in an area that is zoned as a commercial telecommunications , or ct, district.

Many people voiced their concerns during the public hearing about this change because it now could allow a proposed solar project to happen in the future.

No cg - "it's the first part of a very large puzzle, if this was not allowed the solar project would end."

The proposed project is to install a 20-megawatt solar farm on a 172 acre site in the towns of schuyler and herkimer.

Michael (lvell)avelle livein the proposed project area.

He is agaisnt this ordinae cnge.

.

None .

None "its not that we're ainst sor power, s that wre against sor plants in residential areas."

Another property owner in the proposed project area, paul sokol, says he see's no problem changing the zoning ordinance.

"i see no problem using the property for thars been zoned for the ct to be acceptable for solar panels."

Sokol's property would be a big part of this proposed site.

"you really can't use it very much for agricultural we did have limited success with that and this is a way to use the property."

Standup -- "amending this ordinance could pave way for this project, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen."

"they did not approve the project, they only said that in any area in the town that is currently zoned ct that a solar plant can be located there."

The ordinance says when this change is added... it's subject to the site approval from the zoning board of appeals.

The next step is for sun east, the company proposing the project, to send their plans to the zoning board.

In schuyl, caitlin irla, news channel 2.

> new tonight...the utica common