Hadley Conservation Commission Approves Solar, Senior Housing Orders of Conditions

HADLEY -- January 13, 2026, Hadley Conservation Commission issues orders of conditions for two major projects at January 13 meeting. The commission unanimously approved an order of conditions for the Parsons Farm dual-use agrivoltaic solar array at 143 Mill Valley Road, finding that the commission's alternatives analysis could be limited to the applicant's own parcels under 310 CMR 10.58(4)(c), based on a peer review by Rich Kirby of LEC Environmental. The commission also unanimously approved an order of conditions for a proposed 41-unit, 55-plus senior housing building at 41 Russell Street, accepting a 3D flood storage model by Chris Chamberlain of Berkshire Design Group that shows a net increase in compensatory flood storage at every one-foot elevation increment, and including a finding of approximately 20,000 cubic feet of excess compensatory storage subject to final as-built confirmation. The Rocky Hill Road solar project, file 170-311, was continued to the February 10 meeting after peer reviewer Dave Cameron questioned why the electrical interconnection must cross two bordering vegetated wetland areas rather than connecting to Rocky Hill Road, which would involve no wetland impacts. The commission voted by a majority, with at least one member, Tony, opposed, to send a letter of support for a Friends of Lake Warner Community Preservation Act application seeking $11,000 for a phase-one phosphorus remediation planning study of Lake Warner, with a CPA deadline of February 1.