Plympton Planning Board Presses Solar Developer on Clearing Rule, Stormwater Flaws

PLYMPTON -- November 4, 2025, Plympton Planning Board continues Zero Brook Street solar hearing over unmet clearing and stormwater requirements. The board, meeting November 4, kept open a site plan application for a proposed solar installation after a board member identified three unresolved issues: the applicant has not demonstrated that the site meets the town's 2019 five-year vegetation-clearing rule, the stormwater analysis uses the degraded performance of a failing adjacent solar field's drainage system rather than its originally permitted design specifications, and site plans do not clearly distinguish the lease parcel from surrounding assessor's parcels. "The tree clearing thing, I think it's a slap in our face if we say this is okay when it's only been two years," one member said. Attorney Greg Sampson of Sullivan and Worcester, appearing as the sole representative of the applicant, acknowledged the concerns and said resolution before year's end is achievable. The board voted unanimously to continue the hearing to November 18, with December 2 as the target date for a final vote.