Village of Baldwinsville Zoning Board of Appeals
Monday, November 8, 2021 @ 7:00 P.M.-Training Session
      Via Zoom
Approved 1/10/2022
PRESENT: Jim Zuccolotto, Chairman
                   John Tonello, Planning Board Chairman
                  Jon Ream
                  Matthew Fox
                   Peg Halleron
                   Eric Reinagel
ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Bob Baldwins, Attorney
Bill Oberkehr, NYSERDA
                              Gregg Humphrey, Code Enforcement Officer
Mary Augustus, Secretary
Jim Zuccolotto welcomed a new Zoning Board member, Peg Halleron.
The Zoning Board invited Bill Oberkehr from NYSERDA to speak on planning and zoning aspects of solar farms. He discussed possible use in sections of the Village that are currently used as farmland. They also discussed aspects of zoning for solar arrays for residential parcels and non-residential parcels.
On the NYSERDA website under clean energy siting homepage there is a link, "NY Solar Guidebook for Local Government" for future reference if needed, or email Bill and his team at cleanenergyhelp@nyserda.ny.gov, if you have any questions.
Bill stressed how important it is for a municipality to have a comprehensive plan prior to developing a local Solar Energy Law.
•	10 or more acres in size will be a Type I action in SEQR
•	For very large project the State is in charge of permitting them, but the State would take into consideration the local law if in place. If there is not a local law in place the State would use their own guidelines.
•	62 days action on application applies
•	Per Mr. Baldwin, variances may apply
•	A site over 10 acres considering solar use, the project would go before the Village Board as a request for a zone change to a Planned Development District.

John Tonello will organize a committee to construct a comprehensive plan. This plan will extend beyond just a Solar Energy Law.
Jim Zuccolotto stated the continuation of training session when a regular Zoning meeting is not schedule is important. Bob Baldwin agreed. It is required the Boards have 4 hours of training per year. Gregg suggested the Board review procedures, Finding of Facts protocol, limits to the Board's input on any certain project and possibly discuss the procedure for an applicant requesting a handicap ramp on their property. Jim also feels it is necessary to have the new Village Engineer attend one of these work sessions to become more acquainted and an outline of when an engineer should be involved with a project.
Work session dismissed at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully Submitted,
Mary E. Augustus
Mary Augustus, Planning Board Secretary