Planning Board Hears Arguments For and Against Temple's Solar Project

Several residents who live near do not want the Planning Board to approve the installation of several solar panel arrays in the facility's parking lot. 

Temple members and residents spoke for and against the project at a Planning Board Monday night.

The Temple is applying to install a 10,000 square-foot, elevated solar panel system in its parking lot. Plants and shrubs would also be installed in and around the area to improve the area’s aesthetics.

The Temple would enter into a power purchase agreement for the energy generated from the panels. The Temple would own the panels after 20 years.

According to Rodney Black, a Temple member who was involved in acquiring funding for the project and setting it up, said the Temple could save between $15,000 and $20,000 in the first year the panels are operational and between $600,000 and $800,000 throughout their first 20 years of existence.

“This could also determine the long-term viability of the Temple,” Black said. “We’re not just doing this because we want to have extra money so we can go on trips. This could be the difference between being a viable, functioning temple and not being a viable, functioning temple.”

The Temple is located in a residential zone. Residents of Teak Road and other nearby streets strenuously objected to the project.

They said their property values will decrease because no one will want to live next to the temple once the panels, which will be black in color, are built. They said the panels would essentially create a new building in the parking lot that was not there when the Temple was first constructed and when some of them purchased houses in the area.

“This is going to be an eyesore,” said Robert Gordon, who has lived on Teak Road for 33 years.

Past Temple President Richard Moskow testified that the congregation and leaders examined installing the panels on the building’s roof. That option was abandoned when they realized the roof would leak.

Ruth Elk said that snow will sit atop the panels and not be removed. This will create water and sediment runoff that will drain onto nearby properties.

“No one is going to get up on top of those panels and clean the snow off,” Gordon said.

Residents also said that the project sets a dangerous precedent. If it is approved, they said, then anyone who owns a place of worship, or other structure located in a residential zone, will be able to apply for a similar project, creating “eye sores” throughout Wayne.

Solar panels have already been throughout the township on utility poles. 

A raised solar panel system already exists at William Paterson University. That system acts as a large canopy that covers several parking lots, but that system is not easily seen from nearby roads. Several thousand panels are being installed at seven this summer.

The township is also installing solar panels at the municipal complex.

Town Planner John Szabo said that more analysis should to be done regarding the location of the plants that would surround the units. Some members of the board were concerned that not enough of a buffer zone would exist between the panels and the surrounding properties.

The application was extended to the board’s Sept. 12 meeting. Testimony will continue at that meeting.

“This project is three years in the making. It makes so much sense,” Moskow said.