Oppose Petition NO. 1583 to Keep Bethany Beautiful and Rural
Nancy Sasso Janis, Patch Mayor
ATTENTION Bethany Homeowners:Don’t let a California developer put a commercial solar field in a residential zone.
OPPOSE PETITION NO. 1583 @ 428 Bethmour Rd
https://portal.ct.gov/CSC/3_Petitions/Petition-Nos-1501-1600/PE1583
CONTACT:
EMAIL: [email protected]
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[email protected] (203) 393-2100 x1100
[email protected] (203) 393-2100 x1115
DON’T BELIEVE THE STORIES - THESE ARE THE FACTS:
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OPPOSE PETITION NO. 1583Keep Bethany Beautiful and Rural
In the fall of 2022, the property abutters received certified notices from the Michaud Law Group of an online informational meeting regarding the proposal that TRITEC Americas, a solar company, install a commercial 1.38 megawattt photovoltaic facility on 21 acres at 428 Bethmour Road. Only property abutters were permitted to sign on to this meeting; the Town officials were blocked.
There is a loophole in the law allows solar companies to bypass the jurisdiction of the Town if the proposed solar project would produce more than 1 megawatt of electricity.
The property abutters had many complaints about the proposal with concerns for the impact on this beautiful rural area, the wetlands contained on the property, and risk of contamination of our well water (and ground water) by herbicides that might be used to clear the land. Using those points and others, the group began a letter writing and phone calling campaign to the Connecticut Siting Council to oppose the proposal.
They didn’t hear anything else about the proposal until early this month when all abutters received an email from Lina Frazier in the Zoning Department of Bethany announcing that the TRITEC Corp. had filed PETITION NO. 1583 with the Connecticut Siting Council.
Interestingly, all of the points of opposition that were made in the letters to the Siting Council had been addressed in PETITION NO. 1583. The size of the solar proposal was reduced to a 0.999 megawatt facility and it no longer crosses over wetlands (Please see link below to the PETITION).
In addition, the Petitioner added statements saying that this would be an ‘Agrivoltaic’ facility, and quickly added three vertical beehives on the land behind one house to make environmentalists believe that he cares about the land and its creatures and does not intend to spray herbicide, and had some people come in and 'tap' maple trees so he could say he is making maple syrup.
The neighbors believe that the ‘Agrivoltaic’ term is a smokescreen put in place to appeal to the nature loving property abutters.
One might think that the Town of Bethany could now reject the proposal outright, but there is another twist. TRITEC Corp. is now petitioning the Siting Council to bypass the Town and rule on PETITION NO. 1583 rather than allow the Town to be involved.
The neighbor are trying to raise awareness and ultimately trying to block it.
They believe that a commercial facility does not belong in a residentially zoned area.
The property abutters are receiving no benefit from this. No payment. No electricity.
The group believes that the only person in Bethany to benefit is the property owner, Dean Fiske, who lives in town on Earley Court. He will make thousands, if not millions of dollars, from a 25-year lease of this land to TRITEC.
Fiske is purported to be the principal of a Nevar Company, which the property abutters believe is a shell company.
The group has contacted an attorney to advise them and are in search of an environmentalist to advise them.
On July 26 at 7 p.m. there is a Special Selectmen’s Meeting at the Bethany Town Hall.
First Selectman Paula Cofrancesco her Counsel have put together the agenda.
BOARD OF SELECTMENSPECIAL MEETINGTHIS IS AN IN-PERSON MEETINGJULY 26, 20237:00 P.M.TOWN HALL GYMNASIUMAGENDA1. Call to Order2. Discussion & Possible Action – Resolution/Letter to Connecticut Siting Council RegardingPetition No. 15833. Discussion & Possible Action – on Scheduling a Town Meeting Concerning the Petition filed byLinda Caruso Regarding the Solar Farm Project Application filed by TRITEC Americas, LLC,which is on file with the Connecticut Siting Council. Ruled out of order by Town Attorney as noaction by a Town Meeting is necessary.4. Discussion Regarding Proposed Solar Farm Project at 428 Bethmour Road *5. Adjournment*This item is expected to go into Executive Session (CGS Sec. 1-200). Executive Session will include the Board of Selectmen, Town Attorney, Town Planner, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Chairs of relevant boards and commissions, inhabitants qualified to vote in town meetings, and electors or voters of the Town of Bethany.
Link to website
Link to PETITION NO. 1583 on the Connecticut Siting Council website under Pending Matters https://portal.ct.gov/CSC/3_Petitions/Petition-Nos-1501-1600/PE1583
Sample letter for Bethany residents to use as a template to write the Connecticut Siting Council.
Melanie A. Bachman, DirectorState of CT Siting Council Ten Franklin SquareNew Britain, CT 06051 Email: [email protected]
RE: PETITION NO. 1583
Dear Ms. Bachman-
I am writing to express my strong opposition to PETITION NO. 1583, the TRITEC Commercial Solar Proposal at 428 Bethmour Road in Bethany, CT.
Bethany is a small town with a wonderful rural character. If permitted to move forward in this location the TRITEC Solar Proposal will destroy our community. It will be unsightly, contaminate the soil and ground water, adversely affect local wildlife habitat, and lower property values.
This is a residential-zoned neighborhood. We have wells and septic tanks. Property owners have spent thousands of dollars improving their homes and gardens and do not want to see, hear, smell, or taste the impact of an industrial facility in their backyards.
Ugly chain-link fencing, toxic herbicides, towering electric poles, excessive lighting, megawatt converters, maintenance truck traffic, and chemical cleaning agents will cause irreparable harm to the neighborhood.
Toxic herbicides will be used to spray the vegetation and will build up in the soil year after year rendering this land unfit for anything. The chemicals used to clean/lubricate the solar panels may contaminate the ground water, the drinking water, and the on-site wetlands. The constant sound pollution from DC/AC power inverters, and the high intensity lighting can impair hearing and the ability of animals/birds/insects to migrate, find food, and avoid predation.
I urge you to reject PETITION NO. 1583.
Thank you for your continued service.
Best regards,
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