Solar lawsuit complaint was too long, so judge tosses it

[SS & FA]

This Comment was posted in the Stop Solar Farms Facebook Group
3/29/20·

In Washington County Rhode Island Superior Court, Justice Sarah Taft-Carter dealt a blow to opponents of a proposed commercial solar project in Hopkinton by granting two motions to dismiss a complaint brought by 97 Hopkinton residents against members of the Town Council, town Finance Director Brian Rosso and developers Hopkinton Land I LLC, Skunk Hill Solar Road LLC, Donald G. Gordon and Gordon Building and Excavating Inc.

Filed on Aug. 16 in Washington County Superior Court by James Donnelly, the attorney for the plaintiffs, the 162-page complaint sought to reverse the council's approval on June 10 of comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance amendments to permit the construction of a commercial solar energy facility consisting of 45 acres of solar panels on a 75-acre residential property at 145 Skunk Hill Road.

The complaint argued that the town did not follow required legal procedures in approving the zoning and comprehensive plan amendments.