Town of New Castle Planning Board Meeting 10/6/26

The Town of New Castle Planning Board met on October 6, 2026. The board adopted a resolution approving the site development plan and related permits for a garage and gravel driveway at 307 Millwood Road. It reviewed a proposed pool and patio at 45 Hammond Ridge Road but did not approve it at this meeting: the board requested revised coverage calculations, mitigation for activity beyond the established clearing and grading limit, consideration of reducing the deck/patio area, and additional watershed, septic, and retaining-wall documentation. The applicant may coordinate revisions and mitigation together. For a deck expansion at 29 Kiscoco Park Drive, the board scheduled a public hearing for November 17 and directed staff to prepare a resolution; the submission deadline is October 26.

The board also reviewed proposed amendments to the town’s rules for large-scale, grid-connected solar installations, following a moratorium and consultation with emergency services and town staff. Proposed changes include reducing maximum height from 20 to 15 feet, increasing setbacks from 100 to 500 feet, requiring a 25-foot landscape buffer, and adding pre- and post-construction noise analysis; members discussed the proposed 45 dB threshold. The legislation was referred to the board for a report and recommendation within 45 days; no final adoption was recorded. No procurement activity, contract awards, or spending decisions were identified.