Carver Planning Board Approves Tremont Street Solar Over Chair's BESS Bylaw Objection

CARVER -- March 24, 2026, Carver Planning Board approves Tremont Street solar project over chair's battery storage bylaw objection, continues two others. The board voted 3-1 Tuesday to approve the Tremont Street Solar One LLC special permit, a large-scale ground-mounted solar array paired with a five-megawatt battery energy storage system at 73 Tremont Street, after an extended dispute over whether the town's 2023-2024 BESS bylaw requires a separate special permit for Tier 3 battery systems regardless of whether they are solar-coupled. Chair Connie Shea, who said she helped draft the bylaw, cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the plain text prohibits Tier 3 systems in Residential Agricultural zones without a special permit and that Town Counsel Amy Questell's contrary opinion does not override the board's interpretive authority. "I can't vote in favor of it if we don't do the process appropriately," Shea said. The decision will include a finding that this was a matter of first impression, acted upon in reliance on the zoning enforcement officer's determination, and not intended as precedent; Fuss and O'Neill will review Article 3-7 compliance prior to building permit issuance. The Fuller Street Solar and Wareham Street Solar II applications, each also carrying five-megawatt battery systems, were continued to April 28, leaving the BESS interpretive question unresolved for both. The board unanimously approved a 12-unit townhouse development at 7 and 9 Silver Street and granted a food truck special permit to John Gillis, doing business as Get in My Belly, at 92 North Main Street.