Planning Board Considers Bullard's Trees

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Planning Board Considers Bullard's Trees

by Bill Tobin 1/6/12

The Planning Board held a public hearing to consider the removal of trees...

... on Bullard Street, a designated scenic road, to accomodate a proposed solar project.

On January 5 the Planning Board was presented plans and descriptions of the proposed solar panels on old pasture fields owned by the Bullard Association on Bullard Street, a designated scenic road.

Brian Kopperl of Renewable Energy Massachusetts explained the benefits of solar energy. It is not a new idea but has been tested and successful at many sites. The Bullard property has good exposure to the sun. The project, if approved, would be good for the town providing tax revenue without any cost to the town. The Bullard Farm Association would gain revenue for 30 years to help with its operating budget to maintain the property.

Lawrence Beals of Beals Associates, the engineers of the project, reiterated that there would be no change in contours and remain a flat site with hayfield. No removal of top soil or vegetation is anticipated. The panels are on stanchions, not directly on land. The transformers do produce a sound at about 65 decibles that translate to six decibles at property lines, and there are no moving parts. The existing stone wall will not be altered and the historic entrance will be preserved. Seven existing trees need to be removed and screening trees will be planted along the roadway with white pines, white fir and rhododendrums.

The Planning Board governed by town by-laws must approve any tree removal on a scenic road in Holliston, such as Bullard Street.

Tree Wardon Mark Ahronian has reviewed the seven trees that are under consideration for removal and noted that five are mature 100 year old trees. One has been hit by a vehicle but they are all disease-free. The problem is that nature has taken a toll on some mature trees on Bullard Street recently due to Tropical Storm Irene. The scenic streets would be compromised. Mark objected to white pines as they grow too fast, stating that evergreens are a better choice.

The meeting room at Town Hall was packed with over 40 residents concerned about the effect on the town and neighborhood if this project is approved. Concerns of residents were expressed such as the effect on wildlife, the establishment of a manicured road rather the cherished natural state. The community will be altered and the neighborhood character will change with it. And what if the solar company goes belly up in a few years? What is the rationale to remove 100 year old oak trees? What is the value to the community? Why did Bullard refuse an offer a few years ago for an organic farm on this site?

A commenter reminded all that the Bullards denied a plan by the gas company to run a line through the property about 10 years ago, and now want a full field of solar panels. Why the change in philosophy? Another commenter stated that this is an historic site that may contain artifacts of the Indian era and should not be disturbed. Concerns about health issues should a panel break were expressed. And where will be gallons of storm water go that the old trees absorb daily? So many unanswered questions.

The hearing goes on. The January 19th meeting of the Planning Board will continue with the public hearing. The board will not make a decision on the removal of the trees until this controversial project has been approved by the town. Stay tuned.

Posted in Neighborhood.

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Comments (13)

As for clear-cutting, the seven trees in question are on the town take, there are 30-40 that border the town take and dozens more that are clearly on the landowners property that would need to be removed. I would not object, nor would I have a basis for objection, should the farm ever decide to be a farm again. The residents here moved next to a agricultural/residential area. Any residential/agricultural use should be expected, and an industrial one - should not! While comparatively this may be considered a "greener" and nicer industrial use, it is still an industrial use, and the land is zoned residential/agricultural. This is exactly why we have zoning. If land owners were allowed to put any use on any lot, why do we even have zoning laws and planning boards?

- sandra | 1/13/12 11:16 AM

There is clearly an abundance of emotion surrounding this issue. Perhaps some more rational thought should be employed. I'm not sure how the removal of 7 trees constitutes a "clear cut."

- Puzzled | 1/11/12 8:14 AM

I understand the concerns regarding the site lines into the property and this should be addressed. I support the Bullard Memorial Farm board in their effort to make choices about how to ensure the financial viability of their own property. If a solar farm is an "industrial use" of the property as alleged by the opposition, it is the cleanest, quietest industrial use you will ever find.

- B Green | 1/10/12 4:39 PM

The only uninformed people in this whole mess are the BMFA board members who don't know their own history.

- Martha | 1/8/12 11:18 AM

The developers ought to take a look at the Crossroads parcel on the east side of Milford. Now, that site would be ideal for a solar panel array, and few of us in Holliston would object. Two birds with one stone.

- David Bastille | 1/8/12 9:57 AM

http://bullardfarmpowerplant.blogspot.com/ search stop bullard power plant and visit face book sight for all the information on this issue

- Pete MacDonald | 1/8/12 8:44 AM

The Bullard farm has been approched by several local organic farming organizations to enter into a lease agreement to farm these "historic planting fields" as it has not been farmed in a 100 years or so. The soil has never has fertilizer or had modern chemicals of any kind applied to it. The soil is considered pristine for organic farming. The Bullard Farm board of directors have rejected these proposal sighting they can make more money with the "solar profiteers" from NYC and would rather attempt to industrialze these fields and clear cut Bullard street. This area of town is residential-agriculture, NOT INDUSTRIAl. Creating a facility to procuse 2MW of power is an industrial use for industrial zones location in the town. Many, many other communities (Sherborn, Ashland,Dover, Millis to name a few) have adopted town by-laws to address these large scale solar facilities and created "overlay district" where they allowed to be built. These district are in industrial zoned areas or over landfills, not historic properties on sceninc roads. The town of Holliston should enact a by-laws addressing large scale solar plants.

- Pete MacDonald | 1/8/12 8:34 AM

Scenic roads are designated scenic for a reason, WAKE UP PEOPLE! If you clear cut the trees and install a 2MW industrial sized power plant with 7500 solar panels that are 10ft off the ground and them surround it by a chain link fence and then put shading if front of it you have the feel of an industrial park, not a scenic road! See photo above. Holliston is very pro buisness already. I have run a buisness in town for over ten years and the Town of Holliston has been great, but i try to be a good neighbor and I operate within the rules of the zoning of the location, this project seeks to change the use from residential-agriculture to industrial claiming that they now would like to be a "public utility" after being a non-profit oganization who has been in charge of protecting this land from development for the past 300 years. The fact that they threatened to build houses on these "historic planting fields" is a disgrace and not even an option as this land has a perpetual restriction on it. Power generation is not farming. The only public education to be derived is how we need to protect ourselfs, the towns historic and scenic resorces from an organization who has lost its way and a group of private equity "solar profiteers" from New York who are concerned about money, not the town of Holliston. Any tax revenue to the town is very small and if you let them destroy Bullard street the residents health, wealfare and property values will suffer big time. How much is a scenic road worth to you? How about 7 100 year old oak trees that have weathered the storm and how about the residents who moved to this street and area because it was a scenic road? This is not the Bird property and this is a horrible idea. You need to drive down Bullard street and see for yourself if you dont fequent it. Thank you have a nice day. The town would also set a dangerous precedent as

- Pete MacDonald | 1/8/12 8:21 AM

Space aliens might be interested in using that property to launch future trade ports.

- NIMBY | 1/8/12 7:09 AM

As with any consideration for other people's property, what are the different options that the farm has if not doing the solar farm? Could there be a 40B developer buying up the land eventually for condos or homes? The Bird property was fought for several years to keep it from development but ended up losing. Tricky to stop changes on land that doesn't belong to us. Great to see passionate Holliston residents raising their voices.

- Ed Daniels | 1/7/12 8:34 PM

You start to wonder what would be the reaction of neighbors to reverting the land to farm use. Would the cattle/pigs/chickens make too much noise or stink? Would growing and harvesting a crop impede on their property? It just seems like at this point very little can be done with property without a million people making uninformed suggestions on how you can do your business to THEIR satisfaction.

- Another Taxpayer | 1/7/12 8:06 PM

One hardly has to look very far to see why Holliston is considered ANTI-BUSINESS. Funny how some of the liberal progressive greeny types are against this project.

- taxpayer 101 | 1/7/12 5:04 PM

JUST SAY NO !!!!!!!!

- Brett Morrison | 1/7/12 11:57 AM

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Planning Board Considers Bullard's Trees

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