Town of Niagara to review 'green building' standards; approves solar project special use permit

By Benjamin Joe

The Town of Niagara may look a little more environmentally friendly after its next board Town Board meeting when a public hearing will be opened to discuss the issue of incentives for developers using “green building” standards.

The resolution to hold the hearing was unanimously approved by attending board members at the Town of Niagara Town Board regular business meeting on Tuesday. Councilman Charles Teixeira was excused.

According to Town of Niagara Supervisor Sylvia Virtuoso, the decision to move forward on these incentives – at least to open it up for public comment – is the same for any other resolution that seeks to allow builders to benefit from any state funding. No town taxes will be used, she said.

“Say you want to build senior housing, all electric,” Virtuoso said. “If we’re not a pro-green community, it’s harder for them to get grants … and there’s big grants depending on how efficient they make it. There’s different levels. Gold, platinum, silver. … It’s the same with the pro-housing community. We are all pro-housing, and they are applying for grants for all kinds of things.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes, “Green building is the practice of creating structures that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life cycle.”

In other news

•The solar project on Military Road was awarded a special use permit, and declaration of no environmental impact from the solar array. It is expected to be built by the summer of 2026.

The town also received $35,000 from the applicant for hosting the array and, according to Virtuoso, will receive over $75,000 in 10 years’ time for continuing the arrangement.

“The town is getting paid $35,000 in a lump sum. They can use it for any general municipal use. It doesn’t come out of the tax payments from taxpayers, so I imagine they can find it very useful,” said Eric Anderson, of Carson Power, after the meeting.

Virtuoso said this was a good deal.

“The biggest benefit for this particular solar plant is it is supporting the LaSalle Sportsmen’s Club by leasing their property,” she said. “That’s helping out by keeping the club open and more viable. And it’s also helping because there was an owl situation with the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation). They’re helping out the Town of Niagara Land Conservancy by maintaining their property so that the owls can go there. That’s how I understand it.”

•Dawn Jelen was announced as the new deputy town clerk. Her employment will start July 21, and picks up just as former Deputy Town Clerk Janet Edwards resignation goes into effect on July 18.

Jelen said she was grateful for the opportunity.

All three present councilmen and Supervisor Virtuoso congratulated Jelen and wished her well in coming aboard.

Virtuoso said Edwards would be missed, but had received a very good opportunity from a former employer.

“Nobody would turn it down,” Virtuoso said.