‘If it is the new normal we need to come up with a new plan because this isn’t working.’ –  IJC commissioner Jane Corwin

GREECE – Four newly appointed members of the International Joint Commission, three representing the United States and one from Canada – heard from elected officials from Orleans County and other south shore communities about the impacts of flooding from Lake Ontario.

The IJC commissioners met at Greece Town Hall with officials for 90 minutes before going into Greece communities to see flooded roads, yards and homes and businesses fending off water with sandbags and pumps.

The IJC is tasked with regulating water levels. The commission has used a new plan for regulating the water levels the past three years, the first change in more than a half century.

A property owner has sandbags inside large grain bags along the shore in Kendall by Monroe-Orleans Countyline Road.

Two of the three years – 2017 and now 2019 – have seen major flooding along the lakeshore.

“I would just ask for patience,” said new IJC commissioner Jane Corwin, who is the U.S. section chair. “I know that isn’t easy for people evacuating their homes and losing their businesses.”

Pierre Béland, the IJC’s Canadian section chair, said Mother Nature is most at fault for the high lake levels, not a plan for regulating the lake.

She and the new commissioners just started the job less than two weeks ago. They want to see how much of the flooding is attributable to Plan 2014 and how much is from melting snow and rainfall.

Pierre Béland, the IJC’s Canadian section chair, said the high lake levels are due to rain and the high water levels in the other Great Lakes.

“These is no plan that would have relieved better than 2014,” Béland told reporters at Greece Town Hall. “There is no way to get more water out of the system without flooding other people.”

But there have been other wet springs and winters with lots of snow. The lake levels only were this high in 2017 and now this year. That has community leaders pointing to the Plan 2014 as a culprit.

Béland said the precipitation is the main cause.

“It’s unique,” he said about the rainfall. “it’s unseen. It hasn’t happened before.”

Corwin said water was let out in the fall at the maximum levels allowed by Plan 2014. But, State Sen. Robert Ortt said the old plan would have let out even more water in the fall, before it’s too late in the spring to respond without flooding the Canadians.

Congressman Chris Collins, R-Clarence, said he supports scrapping Plan 2014 and going back to the plan from the 1950s which resulted in only one flooding event, in the mid 1970s.

“We can’t continue down this road,” Collins said.

He attended the closed door session with officials from the six counties.

“Their testimony confirmed what a catastrophe we’ve been dealing with,” Collins said.

Jane Corwin and other local officials and IJC members meet with reporters after a closed-door session at the Greece Town Hall to discuss the impact of the high waters.

In Orleans County, no roads have been closed yet due to flooding.  Several roads have been closed in Hamlin and Greece in neighboring Monroe County.

Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, attended the session today with the IJC commissioners. She said the IJC’s new representatives will work to have a better plan in place long-term. Unfortunately, that won’t help with this year’s flooding, Johnson said.

“We want more of a quick fix,” she said.

Johnson is thankful Corwin, a former state Assemblywoman from Clarence, is on the IJC. Her Assembly district included parts of Orleans, Niagara and Erie counties.

The shoreline at Oak Orchard Harbor by the lighthouse takes a beating today from the waves.

“She knows our area,” Johnson said. “She knows our lake. She has sailed our lake.”

The three lakeshore towns in Orleans – Carlton, Kendall and Yates – have all declared a state of emergency due to the high lake levels. The towns have worked with residents to put sandbags by the shoreline.

Inmates and the National Guard have helped to fill and stack sandbags. The state also has brought in AquaDams, which are large tubes filled with water.

Corwin said she is impressed by the collaboration among the local governments, and the state and federal agencies.

The IJC commissioners will find answers for the cause of the flooding, to see if it’s mainly from precipitation that can’t be handled or if Plan 2014 is at fault, too, Corwin said.

“Is this the new normal or is it an extended flooding level like 2017?” she said. “If it is the new normal we need to come up with a new plan because this isn’t working.”

In the meantime, Assemblyman Michael Norris, R-Lockport, said the lakeshore communities are suffering economically, as well as from the flooding. He reminded the community that many businesses are still open and would welcome support from their customers.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature last week passed an official resolution asking President Donald Trump to immediately renegotiate Plan 2014, an agreement for regulating Lake Ontario water levels between Canada and United States.

The plan took effect in December 2016. Since then there was record-high lake levels in 2017. Now the lake is an inch away from the record height and the Legislature said the high waters and flooding are devastating residences, businesses and government infrastructure.

The County Legislature went on the record several times opposing Plan 2014 before the document was approved.

Not only has the high water chewed away at shoreline, it has hurt the sportsfishing industry, valued at $12 million annually in Orleans and $30 million annually in Niagara County. Legislators said.

Orleans County and the three lakeshore towns of Yates, Carlton and Kendall have all issued states of emergency due to the current high lake levels.

“The implementation of Plan 2014 has proven an absolute disaster to the southern shore of Lake Ontario, that based on the 2017 high water event we expended $95 million dollars of state taxpayer dollars, plus FEMA funds along with other resources to reinforce property that has had been extremely altered and are right back in 2019 with another devastation that is playing out right now,” the Legislature states in the resolution.

The local lawmakers called on the International Joint Commission, the group that regulates the water levels, “to immediately suspend Plan 2014 and re-implement previous regulatory rules.”

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DARIEN –  The Holley Junior-Senior High School on Friday sent three groups to compete in the Music Festival held at Darien Lake. Groups competed in High School Mixed Choir, Concert Band Class A and Concert Band Class AA.

The Holley High School Concert Choir received first place in the High School Mixed Choir Class, beating six other choirs, with a score of 97.5.

Holley HS Concert Choir Director Kelly Marzano warms up with students before their performance at Darien Lake.

The Holley Middle School Concert Band received first place in the Concert Band A Class, topping seven other bands, with a score of 96.4.

The Holley High School Concert Band also received first place in the Concert Band AA Class, beating eight other bands, with a score of 98.3. The Holley High School Concert Band also received the Grand Judges Award for being the highest scoring ensemble at their performance site.

The Holley Bands and Choir were given a warm welcome home by a police and fire truck escort from Holley and surrounding area fire departments.

Pictured from left include Callie Updike, Evan Valentine, Band Director Zach Busch and Thomas Dobri of the Holley HS Concert Band.

ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board is backing the expansion of a quarry in Barre.

Keeler Construction/Barre Stone Products has acquired land to expand its quarry by 24 acres at 14120 West Lee Rd. The parcel is surrounded on three sides by Keeler’s existing quarry.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation holds jurisdiction over mining and excavating activities. However, local communities retain control over where there should be quarries, the County Planning Board said.

The Keeler expansion “is the next logical step in the life of the quarry,” planners said.

Keeler could start mining from the site later this year. It plans to go down about 30 feet to the mine the high-quality dolomite.

The final reclamation plan includes the entire quarry and will result in a 220-acre freshwater lake, varying 20 to 70 feet in depth.

In other action, the Planning Board:

• Recommended the Town of Ridgeway approve the site plan for a pool services and supply business at 3932 Salt Words Rd., which is in the Light Industrial district.

Sarah and Joshua Ferguson are running a business, Express Pool and Spa, from the site. They sell pool supplies, covers, chemicals and parts, heaters, filters and pumps, as well as in-ground and above-ground pools. Joshua also operates JKF Services, for which he performs handyman services.

• Recommended the Town of Yates approve the site plan for a 40-by-80-foot storage building at 10708 Millers Rd. This property was rezoned on April 11 from Agricultural/Residential to Industrial.

The building will serve the Medina Window business, which is owned by Merle Yoder. The addition will allow Yoder to store windows and window materials.

• Recommended the Town of Shelby approve the site plan and special use permit for an aesthetic pond at 10500 West Shelby Rd. in an Agricultural/Residential District.

Tim Winters is seeking approval for the pond. The town requires 100-foot side and rear setbacks for ponds. Winters is requesting variances of 80 feet for the setbacks. If the town insists on the setbacks at 100 feet, Winters won’t be able to have the pond in the most poorly drained area of the property, planners said.

Brenda Swanger helped lead overhaul of district campus

HOLLEY – Brenda Swanger is retiring from the Holley Board of Education on June 30, following six years as BOE president and 15 years of service total as a volunteer member of the board.

She was praised during last week’s BOE meeting by leaders of the Holley Teachers Association. Melanie Montague, the HTA president, said Swanger has always been “pro teacher and pro student.” She also worked hard to communicate with teachers and staff, Montague said.

She and HTA Vice President Kathy Monks surprised Swanger and presented her with flowers during the Board of Education meeting.

“I love all of you,” Swanger told the HTA leaders. “I love the staff.”

The school campus has been radically upgraded during her tenure with $32 million of upgrades. The middle-high school was largely untouched for about 40 years until a big renovation project.

The school was built in the early 1970s in the “open classroom” model with most of the classrooms in the center of the school building without access to the windows and natural light on the outer walls.

The $32 million in improvements were spread throughout the district campus. There is a new transportation facility for buses, a new athletic field and all-weather track. The school buildings have new roofs.

The junior-high school received the most attention, with the cafeteria moved out of the instruction portion of the school. That reduces noise and disruption for teachers and students. The hallways have new lockers.

The district created an inner light corridor some all classrooms now have access to existing light. The corridor includes many plants. A new cafeteria is in an addition with big windows that let in lots of light. The district also added a “light corridor” in the center of the school to allow natural light for classrooms in the interior.

Brenda Swanger tears up during the meeting last week. She admitted she can be “an emotional wreck.” She is pleased with the progress at the school district.

Swanger said she is most proud of students that excel in the classroom and through BOCES, sports and community service.

At last week’s meeting, two students were recognized for winning first in a skills competition through BOCES. The humanities class shared about a booklet they created highlighting tourist attractions in Orleans County. Four teachers also were awarded tenure.

“Seeing all of this going on tonight shows us that we are moving in the right direction,” Swanger told the crowd at the meeting. “This is a wonderful place.”

Robin Silvis, a member of the board, also praised Swanger for her leadership for the school district, calling her a “great communicator.”

“You have done a fantastic job,” Silvis said.

The new members of the International Joint Commission, the body of Canadian and American officials who control the Lake Ontario water levels, will meet today with elected officials from shoreline communities.

That “listening session” is invite-only and includes the three new IJC members for the United States: Jane Corwin, Robert Sisson and Lance Yohe. Corwin is the section chairwoman and a former state assemblywoman from Clarence. Her district included portions of Erie and Niagara counties, as well as the town of Shelby in Orleans County.

The three IJC members will also be joined today by Pierre Béland, the Canadian section chairman.

The listening session will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Greece Town Hall. The IJC commissioners will then be available to meet the media and will go to the shoreline to see the flooding.

“Despite having just been confirmed, these commissioners are already hard at work learning about the high water levels in our community and the devastation being caused,” Congressman Chris Collins said in a statement. “Western New York finally has a voice with Jane Corwin serving as the U.S. Chair and, I applaud all the commissioners for taking the time to listen to our concerns as elected officials.”

Governor Cuomo has declared a state of emergency for eight counties on the Lake Ontario southshore anticipating damage similar to 2017. Collins faults the Plan 2014, the first change in regulating water levels in a half century, for the flooding in 2017 and now this year.

“Federal, state and local officials, as well both Republicans and Democrats all agree that Plan 2014 is a disaster and needs to be terminated,” Collins said. “This new IJC needs a more rational approach when it comes to managing Lake Ontario water levels.”

Photos by Ginny Kropf

MEDINA – Members of the VFW and American Legion in Medina prepare for a three-gun salute at veterans’ graves in Boxwood Cemetery on Monday morning.

The Honor Guard includes members of the American Legion and VFW in Medina. They annually do a ceremony at each of the veterans’ memorials and cemeteries in Medina.

Tony Vicknair, left, and Jim Freas put the firearms away after a ceremony on Memorial Day at Boxwood Cemetery, which included a three-gun salute.

Tinker Young, left, and Jon Little, who served with the U.S. Army, fold the American flag after Memorial Day ceremonies at Boxwood Cemetery.  Firing at veterans’ memorials in Medina has been a tradition for decades. The veterans repeated the ceremony at Sacred Heart Cemetery, the Company F Memorial at Medina Armory, the Korean Memorial on Park Avenue, the tank at Oak Orchard Elementary School and the John E. Butts Memorial in Butts Park.

Tom Walders, left, plays Taps in front of the Company F Memorial at Medina Armory. In the background is Mustang Band trumpeter Travis Gotts, who played Echo Taps. Saluting are Dave Kusmierczak, left, and Jim Freas.

Members of the Honor Guard from the American Legion and VFW in Medina annually do a ceremony at each of the veterans’ memorials in Medina. Here the firing squad, including Adam Johnson at right, gets ready for a three-gun salute.

At left, Jim Freas from the Medina VFW and Dave Kusmierczak from the American Legion, salute in front of the Vietnam Memorial at the American Legion, while Taps is played by Tom Walders. Trumpeter Travis Gotts from the Medina Mustang Marching Band, played Echo Taps.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Andrews: The Oak Orchard Lighthouse at Point Breeze is pictured at sunset on Sunday evening.

A lakeshore flood watch is in effect for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday in Orleans, Niagara and Monroe counties.

“The combination of very high lake levels and moderate east-northeast winds will result in greater wave action and an increase in lakeshore flooding on the western portion of Lake Ontario,” according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

Lakeshore flooding may increase, especially in bays, inlets, and other low-lying areas along the shoreline. The wave action will produce an increase in shoreline erosion, the Weather Service said.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – There was a big crowd at today’s Memorial Day parade in Medina, which included many participants from the community, including Logan Quackenbush, 8, blowing bubbles on a float by the P.Raising Kids childcare site at the Medina United Methodist Church.

For the second year, the Honor Guard escorted a casket draped with an American flag to send a powerful message about the meaning of Memorial Day.

Wayne Hale, a member of the Sons of the American Legion, handed out American flags, including one to Gail Miller. The American Legion distributed 1,500 flags before the parade.

Medina Mayor Mike Sidari tossed candy to kids along Main Street and East Center Street.

Jeremy Brandenburg and other members of the Medina Skate Society promoted a June 21 Skate Jam at Butts Park.

Brooklyn Garrow is a member of the Color Guard in the Medina Marching Band.

Maisie Griffin, the drum major, leads the band down Main Street.

Trenton Crews and the band were a patriotic presence in the parade.

These Boy Scouts from Medina carry their banner in the parade.

These youth baseball players shared candy with the crowd.

Aurora Owczarczak (left) plays for the Sharks in Medina’s youth softball league.

These Girl Scouts greet many of the community members lined up on Main Street.

There was a long line of fire trucks in the parade.

These kids were on top of one of the fire trucks. They acknowledge the crowd.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion, Medina, Roy-Hart and Akron will all be competing in the semifinal round of the Section VI baseball playoffs Tuesday. Here, during a regular season N-O contest, Albion’s Michael Harling slides into third base as Roy-Hart’s Karl Darling awaits the throw.

The Niagara-Orleans League will be well represented by a quartet of teams in the Section VI Class B1 and B2 baseball playoffs on Tuesday.

In Class B1, N-O champion No. 3 seeded Medina will host No. 7 Olean and No. 9 Albion will travel to No. 5 Depew, both at 5 p.m. The winners will meet for the B1 title on Thursday.

In Class B2, N-O foes No. 5 Akron and top seeded defending champion Roy-Hart will meet at 5 p.m. at Gasport. The Rams bested the Tigers twice during the N-O season by scores of 3-0 and 10-0.

In the other B2 semi, No. 3 Allegany-Limestone visits No. 2 Gowanda.

The B2 final is also slated for Thursday.

In softball, the N-O will be represented by a pair of teams in Tuesday’s Class B2 semifinals as No. 2 seed Roy-Hart hosts No. 3 Fredonia and No. 4 Akron visits top seeded Eden.

In Section V baseball quarterfinal action Tuesday, top seeded Lyndonville will host No. 8 Keshequa in Class C2 and No. 6 Kendall will face No. 3 Arkport-Canaseraga at Letchworth in Class D1, both at 4:30 p.m.

On Wednesday in a Section V Class C3 semifinal softball game top seeded Lyndonville will face No. 4 Bolivar-Richburg at Caledonia-Mumford at 6 p.m..

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Wally Skrypnik (left), commander of the American Legion in Albion, and Mark Roberts, commander of the VFW Post, carry flags in the honor guard to start the Memorial Day parade in Albion this morning.

These youths in the Knights of Columbus carry signs reminding people about the sacrifices from soldiers.

Anna Gillette, checks the Brownie flag, before the start of the parade.

Dominic DiGiulio carries the American flag with Boy Scouts from West Barre.

Girl Scouts in the Cobblestone Service Unit in Albion march in the parade down Main Street. The parade headed down East Avenue to the middle school.

Jan Cheverie carried the American Flag for the Albion Fire Department. She is followed by Fire Chief Harry Papponetti.

Saleya Williams plays the trombone with the Albion Marching Band.

Nate Grammatico serves as one of the band’s drum majors.

The Albion Marching Band performed this year’s show, “Power of Flight.”

The Orleans County Joint Veterans Council promoted its medical transportation service, which offers rides to veterans for medical appointments.

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A wreath was placed on a World War I cannon at State Street Park today when the cannon was rededicated following more than a year of restoration work by Seed Artillery Reproduction and Restoration, in Altoona, Pa.

Since 1935, the B.L. 60 Pounder British field gun has been the centerpiece of not only the World War I memorial in Medina and also village’s annual Memorial Day observances.

The cannon was removed in March 2018 to Seed Artillery Reproduction & Restoration, where it was completely stripped, disassembled, and rebuilt using newly repaired and remanufactured parts.

The display for the cannon now includes three new flagpoles – one for an American Flag, signifying the soldiers of Medina who served and gave their lives in France during the Great War; one for a British flag, signifying the gun’s heritage; and one for a French flag, signifying the theater of service for the big gun and our local soldiers.

A new granite slant was installed, featuring a refurbished bronze plaque that was originally with the monument in 1935. New lighting to up-light both the cannon and flags also has been installed.

Dan Anderson, left, is commander of the VFW and Glenn Whitmore is commander of the American Legion. They place the wreath on the cannon.

The rare and historic artillery piece was manufactured by the Elswick Ordnance Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, in 1916 and saw extensive service on the Western Front during World War I, firing a total of 4,342 rounds in combat action. It weighs six tons and is a 5 inch/127mm caliber gun. There are few left in the world today.

George Bildleman, owner of Orleans Ford, contributed $40,000 to have the cannon restored.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley gives a glance to the refurbished cannon during his remarks today.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley was among the speakers during today’s Memorial Day service and rededication. He also noted this year is the 100th anniversary of the American Legion.

Medina Mayor Mike Sidari also addressed the crowd. He said the community has several memorials for veterans — the historic cannons at Boxwood Cemetery, the tank at Vets Park, the bronze statue and monument outside the former Medina Armory, and Butts Park named for John Butts who was killed in World War I and awarded the Medal of Honor.

The mayor urged the community members, when they are passing by those memorials, to “remember those who fought and died for our freedom to gather and to live in this great nation.”

Sidari thanked Bidleman for the $40,000 donation, and others who contributed to the effort: the Orleans Renaissance Group, the VFW, the American Legion, Village of Medina DPW, Lyons Collision, Automotive Solutions, Orleans Ready Mix Concrete, BarnesMetal Finishing, Brigden Memorials and Anzalone Electric.

Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson thanked veterans and their families for their sacrifice and service. That includes 1.1 million soldiers who have died during wartime in the country’s history, and about 2.8 million who have been wounded.

“These numbers should truly humble us, as they represent people – individuals – who were brothers, husbands, mothers, sisters, friends. These were people woven into the fabric of communities across the nation. They were loved. They were mourned. And they were missed.”

She urged the community to befriend veterans who are their neighbors, to visit veterans in nursing homes, and to volunteer as drivers in the van service that takes vets to medical appointments.

“Working together with friends, neighbors, veteran groups and entire communities, we can ensure that the sacrifices made by our nation’s finest and bravest never go unappreciated and that their memories are never forgotten,” Johnson said.

Jim Steele, director of the Medina Marching Band, directs the group in playing, “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The Rev. Lambert Duncan, pastor of the Glad Tidings Baptist Church in Medina, gives the invocation.

Tom Walders plays Taps while local veterans stand at attention.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Dr. Eric Johnson speaks at the Orleans County Legislature meeting last week, sharing about his upcoming trip to Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, France. He will place a brass marker and flag at the graves of soldiers from Orleans County.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature last week recognized the upcoming 75^th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, a critical assault from the Allies in winning World War II.

County officials have counted 17 soldiers from Orleans County who were part of D-Day from June 6, 1944 through Aug. 21, 1944.

Six men from Orleans were killed at D-Day including PFC Clifford Williams, Pvt. John E. Rosenbeck, Pvt. James Campas, Sgt. George Quinn, Lt. William Barnum and Lt. John Butts.

Campas was killed on D-Day, while Rosenbeck, Williams, Quinn, Butts and Barnum were killed following the invasion. Rosenbeck, Quinn, Williams and Campas are at the Normandy cemetery.

The Allies landed more than 2 million soldiers in northern France for D-Day and suffered more than 226,386 casualties with 72,911 killed/missing and 153,475 wounded. The German losses totaled more than 240,000 casualties and 200,000 captured.

Dr. Eric Johnson, a local physician, is going to Normandy for the 75^th anniversary observance. He will place a brass marker and flag from New York State on the graves of the fallen soldiers from Orleans.

“We’re honored to be representatives from Orleans County,” Johnson told the County Legislature.

County Historian Matthew Ballard has compiled a list of soldiers from Orleans County who were part of D-Day. In addition to the six who died in the invasion, others who served included: Lt. Rance Cotton, Lt. Elwin Smith, Pvt. Donald Stirk, Capt. William Lattin, Capt. Angelo Leone, M.D., QM2c Calvin Warne, SSgt. Russel Wigley, SSgt. Haayo Vanderlaan, Cpl. Edward Pahura, Pvt. Kenneth R. Owen and Herbert Charles Schultz.

Men of the 16th Infantry Regiment, US 1st Infantry Division wade ashore on Omaha Beach on the morning of June 6, 1944.

County Historian Matthew Ballard visited Normandy in 2017 and took this photo of the beach where the Allies staged a critical invasion almost 75 years ago.

Here is the list for Memorial Day parades and events in Orleans County for today (with Kendall’s celebration on Thursday):

• Albion – Parade starts near the Orleans County Court House on Main Street at 10 a.m. and proceeds to the Albion Middle School front lawn where there will be a service near the Vietnam Memorial. Former State Assemblyman Charlie Nesbitt is the featured speaker. He was a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.

• Holley – A ceremony will start at the American Legion Post at 9 a.m. and proceed to the VFW Post and then to Holy Cross Cemetery.  Nesbitt is also speaking at that ceremony.

• Lyndonville – The parade will start at 9 a.m. at the Catholic Church and end near the library.  A ceremony will be held there and includes music by the Lyndonville school chorus and band. For the third year, the Yates Community Library arranged to have many flags in the school front yard.

• Medina – The parade will start at 11 a.m. at the Olde Pickle Factory building and proceed to the State Street Park where a ceremony will be held.

At noon, the World War I cannon and memorial will be rededicated at State Street Park.

• Kendall  – The town has its Memorial Day observance on Thursday, May 30. Kendall alternates the location among three cemeteries. This year Memorial Day will be observed at Morton Union Cemetery at 7 p.m.

GAINES – The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday voted in favor of proposed regulations from the Town of Gaines for solar energy systems and solar farms.

Gaines has proposed regulations for ground-mounted and roof-mounted solar projects. Large-scale projects which are greater than 4,000 square feet of lot coverage are allowed in Residential-Agricultural and Commercial districts, but are subject to site plan review.

The large-scale projects aren’t allowed in the Commercial Historic District, which includes the Cobblestone Museum.

The solar projects need setbacks of at least 100 feet from the front of a road (120 feet on Ridge Road), and 15 feet of side and rear setbacks.

Projects that are 40,000 square feet of lot coverage or more will require a special use permit from the town.

Those larger projects also have front setbacks of at least 100 feet (120 from Ridge Road). The side and rear setbacks are a minimum of 50 feet.

Solar farms (primarily for off-site use) will require the following:

• Minimum lot size of 3 acres for systems with 4,000 square feet or more of lot coverage;

• Site plan review required for systems with 4,000 square feet or more of lot coverage;

• Special use permit required for systems with 40,000 square feet or more of lot coverage;

• Minimum requirements for lot size, setbacks, lot coverage and height;

• Fencing for mechanical equipment;

• Vegetated buffer for screening;

• Signage identifying operator contact information and voltage warnings;

• Glare prevention;

• Operation and maintenance plan;

• Abandonment and decommissioning, which stipulates that large-scale solar energy systems or solar farms will be considered abandoned after six month without electrical energy generation, and must be removed from the property. Developers of the projects need to have  decommissioning plan for how they will remove infrastructure, and remediate soil and vegetation. The developer will be obligated to remove all ground-mounted solar collectors, structures, equipment, security barriers and transmission lines, and also needs to dispose of any solid or hazardous waste in accordance with all state and federal regulations.