After a public hearing and discussion, Chestnuthill Township supervisors adopted an ordinance for commercial solar power generation.

“This takes the possibilities of large-scale commercial solar projects out of residential zones and limits them to the light industrial commercial zone,” said supervisors Chairman Chuck Gould.

Before the ordinance, there were 11,000 acres in the township where a commercial solar project would have been allowed. Now, it is limited to approximately 278 acres.

Although no plans have been submitted to Chestnuthill officials yet, a plan in Polk Township calls for a commercial solar farm at the corner of Bear Road and Long Mountain Road and its substation would be in Chestnuthill Township. The Baumgartner farmland is the site of the Polk project.

Polk has held two conditional use hearings and a third one is Oct. 24. Effort Solar LLC is the applicant and representatives from Samsung, the manufacturer, have attended the hearings. Two representatives from Samsung were at Chestnuthill on Tuesday evening.

Yongsing Son and Joon Ahn asked the supervisors to reconsider their decision to minimize how much land could be used for commercial solar projects.

“I respect all the residents’ concerns. There are misconceptions about solar farms that they are noisy, bring down property values and are unsafe,” Ahn said. “I would also like to share the positives and provide you with more knowledge before you make a decision.”

Gould thanked Ahn for his comments, but no one asked the representatives to provide more statistical research or further explain the benefits of commercial solar projects.

Instead, they listened to their constituents and those from neighboring townships.

“You all know how we feel. Please keep it light industrial commercial,” said Sarah Martini.

Ann Gravell, a Polk resident, said commercial solar projects make more sense in a commercial zone, not in residential zones.

“We as residents are not benefiting from these,” said Gravell.

She said the negative consequences include decreasing property values, displaced wildlife, cutting down of trees, noise from substations and glare from the panels.

“We have to support the environment. We lose an acre of farmland a minute. You all did well to protect the environment,” said Linda Snyder, a Polk resident and advocate for preserving farmland.

The ordinance will be enacted in five days. All proposed projects going forward will have to adhere to the ordinance.

There is a proposed 15-acre commercial solar farm in a residential area on Merwinsburg Road. Effort Energy Initiative LLC and Connie Merwine, the resident, have submitted a conditional use application. Their conditional use hearing is at 7 p.m. Oct. 24.

The plan was submitted before the supervisors approved Tuesday’s ordinance, so that particular commercial solar project might be allowed in a residential area.

Other business

The new date for Halloween Movie in the Park is this Friday, when Casper will be shown at 7 p.m. However, the weather forecast may result in its cancellation sometime Thursday. There will be a text alert and it will be posted on the township Facebook page. The Halloween Spooktacular event will occur at Chestnuthill Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28.

• Trick or treat is from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31 in the township.

• The Nov. 7 supervisors meeting is canceled because of Election Day. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 21.