PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Presque Isle city councilors considered for a second time, but did not enact, a moratorium on commercial solar farms during an April 2 meeting.
The idea came about in March, when several residents who live in the area around Longview Drive protested an energy company’s plans to expand an installation in the neighborhood.
Residents didn’t want the solar farm enlarged because they feared it would decrease home values, disrupt wildlife and damage the environment. Presque Isle’s solar ordinance allows solar development in the industrial, aircraft hazard and agriculture, farming and forestry zones. The moratorium was discussed again to allow more residents to comment.
Councilor Craig Green favored keeping land available for agriculture and housing.
“Some of the agricultural zones do very closely abut the downtown part of the community,” he said. “And because they are also areas that are served by or actually have [water] services on their property, they’re a natural progression for future housing projects.”
Green asked if the city could require companies to have a plan for hooking up to the electrical grid before construction was approved, in light of several local projects that have been built but aren’t yet in use.
Before most companies start work, they either have or expect to receive approval from Versant Power, said Tim St. Pierre, code enforcement officer and deputy director of innovation and economic development. But other projects were built without that approval and the utility has a long waiting list, hence the delays.
Presque Isle resident Carol McPherson spoke about the appearance of the solar facilities.
“The people who’ve done it don’t live here and don’t have to look at what they’ve created,” she said. “Also, using some of this land, it has eliminated other possibilities for expansion, with the dire need for housing.”
No specific zoning changes or immediate action on a moratorium were recommended.
The meeting was the first for newly elected Councilor Harold Hull, who will serve the remainder of the late Garry Nelson’s term until Dec. 31. Hull won a special election in March.
In other business, the city will apply for a $2.5 million grant to help fund the new airline terminal project at Presque Isle International Airport.
Councilors voted to have Kim Smith, resource development and public information officer, apply for the grant with the Northern Border Regional Commission.
Work is expected to start this spring on the $52.6 million project that includes a $38 million two-story terminal. The city has received $38.6 million from the Federal Aviation Administration and $2 million in grants.
If approved, the newest grant would help cover $12.1 million in costs that are not yet paid, Assistant City Manager Sonja Eyler said, bringing that total down to $9.6 million.
Eyler reported that the Maine Department of Transportation announced this week they are close to hiring a consultant to work with Presque Isle’s downtown rebuilding, part of DOT’s Village Partnership Initiative.
The council also voted to support the Star City ATV Club in applying for a $100,000 grant from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and approved a request by Skyway Industrial Park Executive Director Tom Powers to discontinue a portion ATVof Taxiway Street that is no longer publicly used.
Following an executive session, councilors voted to appoint Eyler as interim acting city manager and to post the city manager’s job as soon as possible.
The next meeting is planned at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, at city hall.
