County planners give OK to entertainment farm, used car sales businesses in Shelby
Board backs Albion battery storage regulations, storage addition for Ridgeway book and toy business
ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board reviewed several proposals at its meeting last month and gave its recommendation for approval for an entertainment farm with a putt-putt course in Shelby, as well as other proposals.
Andrea Walton is proposing a recreational facility with putt-putt golf, an ice cream stand, gem mining, pumpkin sales and a corn maze at 11412 Maple Ridge Rd. Walton plans to utilize existing buildings on site without new construction.
The Orleans County Planning Board recommended the Town of Shelby approve the site plan for the outdoor recreational facility and activities, which are in an industrial zone.
In other action on June 24, the Planning Board:
• Recommended approval for the site plan and a special use permit for a used car sales business at 5138 South Gravel Rd. in Shelby.
Todd Walter plans to use the site as a pickup location for vehicles that are bought online. He plans to remodel an existing garage and add a 20-by-80-foot lot north of the garage. Walter will be limited to no more than 25 vehicles being offered for sale at the site.
• Backed an 11,200 square-foot addition for product storage at 3161 Fruit Ave. in Ridgeway. Living Waters America LLC, a Christian book and toy business, is adding more room to an existing 4,605 square-foot structure.
• Recommended Town of Albion approve its proposed law to regulate battery energy storage systems. Albion establishes a tier 1 storage system (capacity less than 600kWh) and tier 2 (more than 600 kWh).
Building permits will be required and an electrical inspection must be conducted with the systems. The tier 2 systems will be subject to a public hearing, and adjoining landowners within 500 feet of the property must be notified within 10 days of the hearing. The hearing notice also needs to be printed in a newspaper with general circulation.
The tier 2 systems shall be enclosed by an 8-foot high fence and with a self-locking gate. The tier 2 system also should have screening from adjacent properties “to the extent reasonably practicable” using architectural features, earth berms and other landscaping.
The one-hour average noise generated by the battery storage systems also shall not exceed a noise level of 60 dBA as measured at the outside wall of any non-participating residence or occupied community building.
The operators also need to have procedures for a safe shutdown, de-energizing or isolation of equipment under emergency conditions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and personal injuries.
Albion also includes decommissioning requirements for the systems, requiring them to be removed if they haven’t had any electrical storage for six months. Applicants for the systems will need to have a decommissioning plan for the projects.
