Clarksburg Planners OK Golf Course Solar Array, Clubhouse
 Jeffrey Galarneau, a project engineer with VHB, reviews the plans for the solar array and clubhouse at Thursday's Planning Board meeting. |
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Planning Board on Thursday gave final approval to a solar array and clubhouse renovations at the former North Adams Country Club.
The two elements comprise the first phase of the renovations at what is now the Boulder Creek Golf Club; the second phase, the development of the course itself, will come before the board later. The hearing was held at the Senior Center with a few residents in attendance.
The 1.25 megawatt solar array will have more than 4,000 panels over 4 acres and generate enough energy to power about 250 homes. The expectation is that the array will be hooked into National Grid this fall.
Nils Behn, CEO of Aegis Renewable Energy, the array developer and operator, said the array would support the golf course operations and "strengthen the diversity of that entire endeavor."
The revenue from the alternative energy source is a critical factor in making the golf course sustainable, said owner Todd Driscoll, which prompted the decision to do the array and clubhouse together in the first phase.
"The reality is the whole plan has to work together," he said. "We go solar, we go bigger, without it we can't survive ... It would be a shame to see it not survive ...
"You can't make any money on the golf course."
The golf course will be as green as possible — the mowers and carts will be electric, detention ponds will be used to conserve water for irrigation. "The whole golf course idea is it's a green golf course," Driscoll explained.
Driscoll bought out partner James Basiliere in early June, taking over the mortgage obligations for the property. Basiliere had purchased the 100-year-old bankrupt country club on River Road four years ago with the plans to expand the nine-hole course to 18 and to renovate the clubhouse and banquet facilities.
Those plans did not pan out and Driscoll came on as a partner last year and the project was scaled back to a Par 3 and a restoration of the original, much smaller clubhouse. The solar project was added on earlier this year to diversify revenue sources.
The array had originally been lower and to the south slightly but will now be closer to the clubhouse. It should not be visible from the road.
"At first we were trying to hide it and we sort of pushed it back, and then we thought we'd put right next to the clubhouse," Driscoll said. "We're trying to preach this whole green theory. What's wrong with getting out of your car and looking at a solar array?"
The engineer for both the array and country club is Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. Jeffrey Galarneau, a project engineer with VHB, reviewed the plans for the board, which included installing a seven-foot fence around the solar facility as requested by the board. A number of other conditions, including signage, bonding for abandonment or decommissioning, and maintenance were also reviewed.
The clubhouse plans were also approved. The rear of the structure will be demolished, other additions removed and the spacious pavilion restored.
"It's been added onto four times and it's quite a mess on the inside," Driscoll said. "What we proposed to do is peel it back and shrink it to the original clubhouse."
The gravel excavation permit for the property has expired and the Planning Board determined to keep material removal with the site plan permit since the amount being taken out at this point is minimal. The conditions on hours and trucking were kept the same.
Driscoll said another well was found behind the clubhouse with a new pump in it, enough to feed the clubhouse and irrigate half the course. He plans to apply to tie into the North Adams sewer line rather than deal with the old septic system.
A structured tax agreement on the array will be worked out with the town.
"There is certainly the tax piece of this, but that added strength it brings to the community is an intangible to the town," said Behn.
Driscoll said the golf course, array and renewal of the alcohol license will be a "pretty good deal" for the town.
"We want the golf course to be one of the nicest practice facilities ... it will be a nice little gem for the town."
Tags: golf course, Planning Board, solar array,
