Solar plan outlined for board

By ANDREW MARTINS
Staff Writer

JACKSON – A hearing regarding the proposed construction of a solar energy project on property owned by Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson will continue in November when opponents of the project expect to present their case to the Planning Board.

During an Oct. 19 Planning Board meeting, representatives of Maser Consulting, KDC Solar and Six Flags outlined changes that have been made to the solar energy project since it was unveiled earlier this year.

Engineer C. Richard Roseberry and landscape architect Gustave DeBlasio, both of Maser Consulting, said Six Flags executives want to construct a solar energy facility on 66 acres off Reed Road, Jackson.

Six Flags owns the 130-acre tract on which the project is proposed. The property is adjacent to the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area.

“We have scaled back the proposal from the original proposal so less land will be cleared,” said attorney Ray Shea, who represents the applicant.

Six Flags representatives said KDC Solar will own, maintain and operate the solar arrays.

According to Roseberry, the remainder of the 130-acre property has been designated as wetlands and will remain untouched.

Initially, Six Flags officials said the solar energy project would require the deforestation of more than 90 acres at the Reed Road property. The electricity generated by the solar array would be used by the theme park, according to park executives.

The planned deforestation quickly drew the ire of environmental groups.

Opponents of the project as it was initially presented said barred owls and the northern pine snake, which are protected native species, live on the property.

The opponents also said the tract includes environmentally sensitive areas, the headwaters for two environmentally significant streams, and steep slopes, the alteration of which could have a negative impact on the surrounding area.

In response to those claims, Maser Consulting Director of Ecological Services Ray Walker testified that multiple studies conducted on the property revealed there was no Category 1 (most protected) waterway near the proposed site.

Walker also testified that other studies that were conducted concluded that any work undertaken on the 66 acres proposed for construction would not disturb the bald eagle, pine snake or barred owl populations living nearby. He said there was no evidence of northern long-eared bats living in the vicinity.

The applicant’s representatives said the project also calls for the construction of solar energy panel arrays at a 4.5-acre parking lot that is used by Six Flags employees.

DeBlasio reiterated testimony he previously gave to the Environmental Commission when he said the plan is to replace the trees that are cut down off Reed Road to make room for the solar panels by planting trees throughout the 2,200 acres that are owned by Six Flags.

Over seven years, DeBlasio said, the theme park will plant 2,975 trees annually while monitoring the efficacy of each year’s replacement.

Several environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against Six Flags in state Superior Court. The plaintiffs claim the solar energy project will be detrimental to the environment as a result of the planned deforestation.

Attorney Michelle Donato represents the Crosswicks Creek Doctors Creek Watershed Association, Clean Water Action, Environment New Jersey, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Save Barnegat Bay and the Sierra Club.

Donato said she will cross-examine the applicant’s witnesses and present her own witnesses to the Planning Board.

The public hearing concerning the Six Flags solar energy proposal is tentatively scheduled to resume at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Jackson town hall.

— Contact Andrew Martins at amartins@gmnews.com