Flooding Fears Spark Outcry Over Chenango Solar Farm Plan

If you live in Morningside Heights or Chenango Shores, you probably already know there’s a big issue stirring in the community. The special Town of Chenango Planning Board meeting that was originally scheduled earlier this month had to be canceled on site because so many residents showed up.

Now, the rescheduled meeting is set for Monday, September 29 at 7 p.m. at the Chenango Forks High School Auditorium, a much larger space to hold what’s expected to be another packed turnout.

Proposed Solar Farm Would Clear 22 Acres Behind Chenango Neighborhood

The proposal comes from Yellow 20 LLC/Cipriani Energy, who want to build a solar farm on the hillside directly behind Hider Park and running north to Smith Hill Road. While renewable energy sounds like a positive step forward, the plan includes clear cutting 22 acres of trees along a sloped ridge that overlooks the neighborhood. That detail is fueling frustration and fear among the people who call this area home.

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Flooding Fears Rise as Neighbors Brace for Potential Impact

Residents say they already deal with serious flooding and flash flooding during heavy rains. Smith Hill Creek and its tributary are known to overflow, pushing water through culverts and storm drains and sending it downhill into streets and backyards. Homeowners have seen their basements, landscaping, and even foundations damaged over the years. Many believe removing more trees and reshaping the ridge could make those flooding issues much worse.

Neighbors Worry About Damage and Disruption Beyond Flooding

Flooding isn’t the only worry. Neighbors are pointing to broader environmental damage that could result from clear cutting the wooded ridge, as well as concerns about how construction crews would even access the site. Current plans would bring heavy equipment through residential neighborhoods, which could be disruptive and potentially unsafe.

Neighbors Band Together to Make Their Voices Heard

With around 400 homes in the Morningside Heights and Chenango Shores area, opposition to the project is strong and organized. The canceled meeting earlier this month proved just how deeply residents care about the issue, and the high school auditorium is expected to be filled with voices ready to make their concerns heard.

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Have Your Voice Heard in Chenango’s Solar Farm Debate

If this project impacts your neighborhood or you want to learn more, the meeting on September 29 is your chance to listen, ask questions, and share your perspective.