Carver Planning Board Unanimously Approves Two Cranberry Farm Solar Projects

CARVER -- June 23, 2026, Carver Planning Board approves two cranberry farm solar projects and advances MBTA compliance application. The board voted unanimously at its June 23 meeting to grant special permits to Federal Furnace Road Solar 1 LLC and Dunham Pond Solar LLC, both on Rhodes family cranberry land, conditioning approval on decommissioning bonds recalculated at a 2.5 percent annual escalator, producing figures of $667,794.73 and $760,029 respectively in 2046 dollars. Town Planner Sean reported the Select Board had voted unanimously on June 16 to submit a 40R Smart Growth Zoning District preliminary application to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, with a special town meeting penciled in for October 6 to vote on the article requiring only a simple majority. Town Assessor Olivia presented hypothetical projections showing the 40R scenario generating roughly $775,000 annually in property taxes, up from the parcel's current $2.3 million assessed value, plus an estimated $1.2 million in one-time state incentives unavailable under a 40B alternative. The board also retained $75,000 of a $221,000 Whistleberry Glen subdivision bond pending as-built completion, voted 4-0-1 to release a King Richard's Faire performance bond, and approved three Approval Not Required land plans including a Union Society Church land swap endorsed at town meeting.