The Town of Newburgh Planning Board on March 7 granted approval for the project known as Darrigo Solar. The site is at 86 Lakeside Road in the town, with Interstate 84 and other residential areas adjacent to the project.

Engineer Michael Morgante of Arden Consulting Engineers reported to the board Thursday night that the applicant has addressed the comments about phasing the construction for the overall project. In addition, a letter from the town’s landscape architect accepts the proposed landscaping, and updated cost estimates have been submitted.

The project is a five-megawatt solar farm project that would be phased into two parts, the first part building four megawatts and the second half building two 0.5 megawatts. Once the second phase is completed, it would be later connected to the first phase. The project site was previously reported to be a former hazardous waste site.

MHE Engineering commented in the memo that the project has several uses still depicted on the site that the board should be aware of; draining improvements are identified but timing of those improvements needs further discussion and variances for the project should be updated. Security and inspection fee approval would be required from the town board and the project has coverage under the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Stormwater State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit.