By TAYLOR HARTZSTAFF WRITER Earlier this week, Judge James Abrams of the New Britain Superior Court ruled that the Town of Southington violated their own zoning regulations by not applying for a special permit before approving the solar-panel project for Hatton Meadow. The decision came in reaction to the town’s Power Purchase Agreement with Greenskies LLC of Middletown to begin construction on the solar array last month. The Community Coalition to Save Hatton’s (CCSH) argued before the court that the referral was not fitting, but the judge found that the project did follow the rules of an 8-24 referral (which pertains to municipal improvements). On the other hand, Abrams ruled that the project still would have required a special permit under zoning regulation 3-01.2 (which pertains to improvements made in residential zones), but that process wasn’t done properly. Robert Phillips, Director of Planning and Community Development, was called as an expert witness for the trial. Phillips explained to the court that the Hatton Meadow Property, 50 Spring Lake Rd., was purchased over 50 years ago to host Hatton Elementary School and any future expansion. Phillips said that, since the property was purchased to accommodate future school expansion, the solar array would […]
By TAYLOR HARTZSTAFF WRITER Earlier this week, Judge James Abrams of the New Britain Superior Court ruled that the Town of Southington violated their own zoning regulations by not applying for a special permit before approving the solar-panel project for Hatton Meadow. The decision came in reaction to the town’s Power Purchase Agreement with Greenskies LLC of Middletown to begin construction on the solar array last month. The Community Coalition to Save Hatton’s (CCSH) argued before the court that the referral was not fitting, but the judge found that the project did follow the rules of an 8-24 referral (which pertains to municipal improvements). On the other hand, Abrams ruled that the project still would have required a special permit under zoning regulation 3-01.2 (which pertains to improvements made in residential zones), but that process wasn’t done properly. Robert Phillips, Director of Planning and Community Development, was called as an expert witness for the trial. Phillips explained to the court that the Hatton Meadow Property, 50 Spring Lake Rd., was purchased over 50 years ago to host Hatton Elementary School and any future expansion. Phillips said that, since the property was purchased to accommodate future school expansion, the solar array would […]