Solar law hearing moved to ESM: Law would pave the way for Bowman Road project

TOWN OF MANLIUS – A planned public hearing for the town of Manlius’ new solar code has been moved to East Syracuse Minoa High School because of the large crowd it is likely to draw. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday March 23 at 6:30 p.m.
If adopted, the new law would cut the town planning board out of any decision-making process related to the proposed Bowman Road solar project. The new code states that the town board – not the planning board – would control the site plan review for any solar project proposed on town-owned property. Several town board members have been on record in support of the project.
The Bowman Road project would be sited on the town’s capped landfill, which is currently a grassy field. The site is easily seen from homes in the Clark Hill and Star View Estates neighborhoods, and because of elevation changes, it is difficult to screen.
The project had been working through the planning board’s site plan review until it was suddenly pulled last month when it appeared the planning board would reject it. The following week, the town board released a draft of the new solar code which would cut the planning board out of any oversight of the project.
Planning board members didn’t mince words in their reaction to the town board’s perceived usurpation of their responsibilities.
“If this proposed law change passes, the public needs to understand that the vast experience of the members of this board will be usurped, and we will be circumvented,” Planning Board Chairman Joe Lupia said.
The town has received correspondence from hundreds of residents related to the project. Those living near the project largely oppose it while other residents support the project, citing the need for the town to do its part in the fight against climate change.
Last summer, when the town board considered a six-month moratorium on solar projects, a public hearing drew dozens of residents including a group of young activists who held a rally outside of town hall before the hearing began. Because of the large crowd, many could not fit into the meeting room at town hall and the meeting was livestreamed into the town hall lobby for the spillover crowd to observe.