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31 <br /> 1 before and after, and close in versus further out. So my conclusion is that this proposed farm <br /> 2 would not have any effect on the adjacent properties or the nearby community. And then,just to <br /> 3 continue, this site plan has got a really lower density than most of the existing solar farms that <br /> 4 have been built in the last two or three years. That's fewer solar— a smaller array—versus the <br /> 5 total land area. It's got significantly more set back and buffer and screening. I think the visibility <br /> 6 of this —of the solar panels on this property—will be very limited. I just don't think that you'll be <br /> 7 able to see with the natural vegetation that will surround the array. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 My finding says that being adjacent or being able to see those solar arrays doesn't have an <br /> 10 effect on the value. In this case, you won't be able to see it or very, very limited visibility. My <br /> 11 conclusion is this will have no effect on the values of the adjacent properties. <br /> 12 <br /> 13 Pete Hallenbeck: Are there any questions from the Commissioners? <br /> 14 <br /> 15 Beth Trahos: Mr. Chairman, I would tell you that with those experts, in combination with the <br /> 16 testimony of your staff, we believe meets the prima facia burden of proof under your Ordinance. <br /> 17 We would point out to you also that you have previously approved a solar farm just up the road. <br /> 18 There is an existing one in operation today, a five megawatt solar farm just up the road, and you <br /> 19 made all of the same findings of fact relative to that solar farm that you would be required to <br /> 20 make with regard to this solar farm. And so we would say to you that nothing has changed <br /> 21 since you made those findings except that you have amended your Ordinance to require <br /> 22 additional buffers and screenings. And we are, of course, complying with that. I would tell you <br /> 23 that, again, we do have a variety of experts that would be available to come and talk with you. <br /> 24 We have a Mechanical Engineer, we have someone very knowledgeable about solar and we <br /> 25 have another appraiser. If there are any questions that you have we would be happy to bring <br /> 26 those folks forward. We would reserve time for rebuttal and we would thank you very much for <br /> 27 your time and ask for your support of this green and renewable energy project. Thank you. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Pete Hallenbeck: Are there any questions from the Commissioners? Are there any questions <br /> 30 from the Planning Board members? <br /> 31 <br /> 32 Lydia Wegman: question... <br /> 33 <br /> 34 Pete Hallenbeck: I'm sorry, go ahead. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 Chair McKee: Could you step to the microphone, please? <br /> 37 <br /> 38 Lydia Wegman: My name is Lydia Wegman. I'm a member of the Planning Board. I haven't <br /> 39 had a chance to look yet through this document and the appraisal that was just discussed by <br /> 40 Mr. Hester, and I'd like a chance to do that—and we'll have a chance to talk about that, in our <br /> 41 next Planning Board meeting. But I do want to get a sense for whether the situation that he <br /> 42 examined in his paired analysis are, in fact, comparable to the situation in White Cross, where <br /> 43 there's already an existing solar farm. And, I haven't had a chance to look through this yet since <br /> 44 1 just received it. So I just wanted to flag a concern, and that I want to better understand the <br /> 45 kind of appraisal that he did. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 Chair McKee: I think you may be getting ready to get an answer. <br /> 48 <br /> 49 Lydia Wegman: Okay. Great. <br /> 50 <br />