The Town of Cheshire Building Committee voted unanimously to approve a revised solar installation plan for the two new elementary schools, with a modification requested by committee members to move several rows of panels back from the roof edge to reduce visual contrast and glare.

Presenters described two arrays — one on a lower roof and a larger array on a sloping hillside area — and showed site photos and overlays of wetlands and walkways. Construction and design staff said the team evaluated placement to maintain emergency access, avoid wetlands and preserve sight lines for students and neighbors. Fencing proposed for the ground-mounted components was described as standard chain-link with privacy slats and a typical 6-foot minimum height.

Committee members raised aesthetic concerns about visibility of dark solar ballast against the existing black roof membrane and suggested shifting the panels a few feet back toward the plumbing vent and roof centerlines. "I do think Dennis makes a good point that the contrast is there; it will be more noticeable," one member said; another said moving the array "would make them invisible from any point of access." The design team recommended removing a few rows where needed to meet the committee’s visual preference while preserving sufficient capacity for the project’s energy goals.

The motion that passed directed the design team to incorporate Dennis’s suggestion to move the panels back on the specified roof section, attach the updated drawing to the project record, and return any final notes to the committee. The presenter also said the team would provide an educational dashboard option for lobby display to allow live monitoring of generation for classroom learning.

The committee did not adopt any additional restrictions on mounting type beyond standard ballast mounting on lower roofs, and asked the team to include the updated, red-lined plan with the meeting minutes so members and the public can review exact panel setbacks.