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meeting, there would not be anything to deliberate as the articles will not be placed on the <br /> warrant for town meeting consideration. Mr. Lehrer suggested that if there were any calls from <br /> the public, the Board may want to elaborate why they may or may not want to take any action at <br /> tonight's meeting. Mr. Lehrer stated that the public hearing could be continued but if it is the <br /> Board's consensus to take no action or recommendation, then the public hearing should be <br /> closed. <br /> Mr. Phelan asked if the Board had any questions relative to the process. Ms. Waygan asked if <br /> the petition article was resubmitted to the Board of Selectmen in a format that was acceptable, <br /> could another public hearing be held in the future. The response was affirmative. <br /> Mr. Phelan opened comment from the public. Attorney Robert Mills introduced himself as the <br /> representative for the petitioner with respect to the warrant articles. He asked the Board to <br /> consider sponsoring these warrant articles. He indicated that he took already existing articles <br /> and improvised to make this area into an Overlay District as opposed to a straight zoning bylaw <br /> and added some other warrant articles that make the entire zoning bylaws make sense with <br /> respect to the overlay district. He referenced a map of the area under consideration. <br /> He stated this is a 40 acre parcel and will be developed whether it be for solar or another use. He <br /> and the petitioner feel the best use of this land would be for solar usage. He was advised by a <br /> prospective interested party called Nexgrid that of the 40 acres, only approximately 25 acres <br /> would be usable. Seven to ten of the 40 acre lot is a gravel pit. <br /> Mr. Mills indicated that he considered the primary article to be article 174-45.7 which was fully <br /> vetted by the Board. It contemplates the process by which the applicant would have to appear <br /> before the Planning Board to seek a special permit. He stated that within the article, it has all of <br /> the safe guards that one would expect so that the PB could carefully consider these proposals and <br /> take into consideration areas such as neighborhood and aesthetics. <br /> Mr. Mills expressed that he would like to see the Planning Board sponsor the articles as being in <br /> the best interest of the town. He indicated that there are significant benefits to the Town. He <br /> stated one of the benefits is the projection of income for the Town which was in the range of <br /> $3.5 - $4 million of revenue over a period of 20 years. He indicated that additional benefits <br /> would include credits to low and moderate income residents in addition to less of a burden of <br /> town services and infrastructure. He further indicated that if this parcel of land is not used for <br /> solar, he felt the alternative uses would not be as favorable. <br /> Mr. Phelan said while he appreciated the report, he explained that the Board of Selectmen did not <br /> have an issue with the articles but only the process. They had a problem with setting a precedent <br /> for this process and asked Mr. Lehrer if there have been previous situations where the Selectmen <br /> have not approved articles but the Board moved forward. <br /> Mr. Lehrer elaborated on the Selectmen's meeting. It was stated that it was an unprecedented <br /> petition article situation and the Board of Selectmen forwarded the issue to Town Counsel. The <br /> petitioners request at this point is to have the Planning Board sponsor the articles. Mr. Lehrer <br /> stated that the deadline has passed for the Planning Board to submit articles to the Selectmen. <br /> 3 <br />