After six years of effort, a Novato family business narrowly won approval Monday to build one of the largest solar energy farms in the county — and a representative of the Marin Audubon Society vowed to appeal.
On a 4-3 vote, the Marin County Planning Commission approved the solar farm development proposed by Jim Balestreri, owner of Green Point Nursery, a 20-acre nursery at the corner of Atherton and Olive avenues just outside Novato. The 1-acre farm would produce 664 kilowatts of energy, making it one of the largest providers of renewable energy in Marin County, second only to Marin Clean Energy’s 972-kilowatt solar installation at the San Rafael Airport.
The $1.6 million project would have 16 rows of 25- by 100-foot nonreflective photovoltaic panels up to 6 feet high screened in part by a 5-foot fence, trees and nursery stock.
“This is an appropriate step in the right direction toward providing alternative energy for Marin County,” said Commissioner John Eller, who voted in favor of the project.
“I wish there had been more study done on wetlands impact,” said Commissioner Margot Biehle. “I don’t want to see CEQA watered down.” She was referring to the California Environmental Quality Act, which requires state and local agencies to identify significant environmental impacts of projects and to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible.
Though she added, “it’s hard to ignore 600 kilowatts of solar generation,” she voted against approval of the solar farm.
Because the project would provide a 100-foot buffer zone from the edge of a nearby wetlands area, and because Balestreri submitted a biological assessment concluding that the project wouldn’t cause significant impacts to biological resources, the county planning staff exempted the project from CEQA requirements.
“Much of what would be required in an initial study has been done. The major issues have been addressed,” said Commissioner Katherine Crecelius, who voted in favor of the project.
“I don’t like the mowing of the grass in the buffer. It’s an environmental impact. I can’t get past that,” said Commissioner Peter Theran. The commissioner, who voted against approval, added, “We’ve had a lot of comment with neighbors who are concerned with whether it’s compatible with the neighborhood.”
Theran was referring to a Novato Fire District requirement that Balestreri mow the grass in a 30-foot zone around the panels.
“I can’t get my head around the concern around mowing in the Baylands Corridor,” said the commission’s chairman, Wade Holland, who supported the project. “We have thousands of families in the Baylands Corridor that get to mow and weed-whack.” The chairman said of the project, “It’s not wildlife habitat where most of the solar panels will be.”
Barbara Salzman, president of the Marin Audubon Society, which opposed the project, said after the vote her group believes the project deserves more environmental scrutiny.
“I think it was a shallow evaluation of the impacts and certainly not in the public interest to bypass CEQA,” said Salzman, who has cited concerns about the potential impact on bird life in the area.
The society owns two properties adjacent to the nursery. Salzman also spoke against the project at the May 28 Planning Commission meeting, as did a number of residents who expressed concerns about the visual impact of such a large installation in their neighborhood.
Salzman said her group would appeal the commission’s decision to the Marin Board of Supervisors.
The solar project “will help Marin to reach its goal of using more renewable energy,” said Lisa Balestreri, who is Jim Balestreri’s daughter and works at the nursery.
Contact Janis Mara via email at jmara@marinij.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/jmara.
