Pittsfield Board Denies Permit for Solar Field

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's Zoning Board of Appeals struck down a proposed solar array site in west Pittsfield, following opposition from residential neighbors abutting the land.

By a 3-2 vote, the board ruled against the request from Aegis Renewable Energy to construct a 2.6-megawatt solar facility on undeveloped Churchill Street land.

The project had faced substantial neighbor opposition at a prior public hearing on Feb. 24, prompting developers to look at ways that its visual impact could be reduced with vegetative screening.

James Scalise of SK Design said that while the initial plan called for "a fairly dense screen" (berm) of plantings to obscure the solar setup, the company wanted to be sensitive to aesthetic concerns of neighbors and was open to coming up with a compromise.

"I would suggest that we meet with the abuttors and with a landscape architect," Scalise told the board. "If they want us to landscape that berm with different plantings or different spacing or different species, we're willing to look at all of those variables."

"In my experience, with these types of projects, a proper screen is the best approach," said Scalise.

But Churchill Street resident Ralph Cianflone Jr. said the new development would inevitably prove detrimental to over $2 million in combined property values of the surrounding four homes by changing the appearance of the abutting land.

"I don't care how much screening you put up, you're going to see it," Cianflone protested.

Furthermore, he maintained that approving this permit would "open the floodgates" to such solar projects in other residential parts of the city, a usage he felt was more appropriate in commercial zones.

Neighbor Fran Curro also fiercely opposed the plan, and suggested the city craft more "iron-clad zoning" on solar arrays "so no other neighborhood has to go through this."

Board member John J. Fitzgerald agreed with the opponents, saying the new solar apparatus was "visually detrimental," and thus does not meet the criteria for permit approval that it not negatively impact existing neighboring property usage.

"There is no way that you are going to convince me ever that this type of construction across the street from that kind of residential area with that kind of view... is ever not going to be detrimental to this community," concurred fellow board member Miriam Maduro.

"Would I want something like that next to my back yard? Absolutely not," added Maduro forcefully. "I believe in this case the public is best served if these people don't have to look out their window at an eyesore."

Board member Thomas Goggins disagreed, characterizing the proposal as a "low-impact usage" that would not create a significant change to the neighborhood.

"I think a lot of effort has been made to make sure it's not detrimental," said Googins of the site plan.

"This is very difficult," said Esther Bolen, who along with Googins voted in favor of the special permit. "Something should be done to make sure we're not put in this position again."

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.