Pictured are members of the Chautauqua Town Board. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon

With two more solar projects proposed for the town of Chautauqua, officials have put in place new legislation regarding setbacks as well as a six-month moratorium on any new solar projects.

Sol Source Power is proposing a solar collection facility at 6049 Wright Road, Dewittville and Arcadis/Forefront Power is proposing a solar collection facility at 6455 Cadenza Passage, which is off of Chautauqua-Stedman Road.

Both solar projects are under 10 megawatts.

Last year the town board issued a special use permit for a 5 megawatt solar project to be constructed at 6036 Hartfield-Stockton Road, across the street from an Amish family. Construction has yet to begin.

That project took nine months to approve and officials say they want to improve the process. “We want to brush up our zoning laws. We think it’s appropriate with the current load of solar projects were seeing,” said Town Supervisor Don Emhardt.

Because the two companies had applied for a special use permit before the moratorium was put in place, Emhardt said they will be exempt from the now-enacted moratorium.

The town board has also adopted new setback regulations for solar projects. Town Attorney Joel Seachrist thinks the solar projects should be able to adapt to the new setback requirements without creating too many problems.

The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency has given tax breaks for 21 solar projects in the county, including the one on Hartfield-Stockton Road. IDA officials said they want to hold off on giving anymore tax breaks on new development, although they said ones that were already in progress would still be eligible for a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement.

Emhardt said he wasn’t sure if the two new projects would be eligible for a PILOT agreement or not.

The Chautauqua Town Zoning Board of Appeals will be discussing both solar projects at their next meeting March 21.