At its first in-person meeting in over a year, the Town Board of Gardiner unanimously passed several environmentally-driven resolutions July 13.
The first on the agenda was an affirmative vote to grant Lumens Holdings a special use permit to build a 10.5 acre solar farm at 262 Libertyville Road. The project had been unanimously approved by Gardiner’s Planning Board three weeks prior.

In the last month, the applicants requested a payment in lieu of taxes, or a PILOT. According to Town Supervisor Marybeth Majestic, the solar facility would pay the town an amount of not less than $7,000 per megawatt for as long as 15 years rather than paying property taxes, which would rise in the next several years. The applicant plans to have 2 megawatts on the property.

“It’s a way for the town to get compensated instead of through property taxes. It’s an alternative to property taxes because this is a business rather than a resident,” said Councilman Warren Wiegand. “The whole concept, obviously, is to encourage solar farms.”

Councilman David Dukler added that the agreement is a legal incentivization to court clean energy programs in the town.

The board also agreed to participate in the NY Rural Water Association Source Water Protection Program, which would provide technical assistance to the Town of Gardiner for the development and implementation of local source water protection plans.

Source water is public drinking water derived from streams, rivers, lakes or underground aquifers, as well to supply private wells used for human consumption. A source water protection plan is a local initiative designed to prevent the deterioration of water resources used for drinking water, according to the NY Rural Water Association’s website. The plan would identify potential threats to the quality and quantity of drinking water resources; recommend and implement measures to reduce those threats to drinking water resources and planning for the future, including water supply emergency events.

“The important part of this is to protect the quality of water in Gardiner and the supply of water in Gardiner,” said Wiegand.

Following the yes vote, Micahel Hartner, chairperson of the Environmental Conservation Commission, noted that the NY Rural Water Association representative could jump into action the very next day.

Additionally, the Town Board of Gardiner unanimously voted in favor of accepting a donation of land on behalf of the town.

The 3,962 square foot parcel of Brodhead Avenue was gifted to the town by Richard and Laura Majestic as the result of a minor subdivision that was approved by the Planning Board. The property lies parallel to the firehouse, where there is “no chance” for future expansion or development, according to Majestic.
“Having the same last name as the persons donating the land to the town, I did my due diligence and checked the ethics law regarding the definition of family,” the Town Supervisor said, noting that it applies to spouse, children and stepchildren, parents, grandparents, grandchildren and household members of the officer. “Richard is my cousin-in-law.”

Richard Majestic’s father was the late George Majestic, former town supervisor of 18 years and namesake of Majestic Park. His brother, Frank Majestic, is Marybeth’s father-in-law.

The board accepted the donation, noting that there was no financial benefit for the donors or town, but that donated land is always a great thing for Gardiner.