ROSENDALE, N.Y. – Town Board members have agreed to seek a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for the proposed 5-megawatt Lewis Solar Project at 173 Coutant Road.
Approval was given during a meeting Wednesday, with officials saying the appraisals will be needed to determine the amount sought and the length of the agreement.
“Our assessor is evaluating the property and similar facilities in the area to determine what would be an appropriate PILOT agreement,” Deputy Supervisor Kenneth Hassett said.
Under state law, municipalities have 60 days from the submission of a solar project application to notify developers that a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement will be required. Without the notification, the project would be entirely exempted from property taxes.
“If there was no PILOT agreement, then they would get to operate the facility tax-free,” Hassett said.
Under the application, the array would use about 9.74 acres of a 131.9-acre parcel.
A summary of the application notes that requirements for approval will include limiting tree clearing to the winter months.
“The applicant indicates that northern long eared (bats), Indiana bat and bald eagle are present in the vicinity of the project site,” officials wrote. “With respect to the bald eagle, the Planning Board should be aware that (state officials) will indicate what, if any, monitoring, permitting and/or mitigation requirements that the applicant will be responsible for during the (environmental) review and subsequent permitting process.”
Officials also wrote that Lewis Solar will need to provide a plan for “how they will develop, implement and maintain native vegetation and foraging habitat beneficial to game birds, song birds, and pollinators. .. .Any planting/seed mixes should be included in the final site plan set as a landscaping seeding plan.”