NORTHFIELD — The long-running public hearing process for a second proposed BlueWave Solar project on Pine Meadow Road will extend into at least December, as the Planning Board continued the hearing once more time to allow the applicants to read and respond to a report written by the town’s consultant.

BlueWave representatives went before the board for a fourth time, as the public hearing process continues for an agrivoltaic array, consisting of 4,316 solar panels within a 16-acre, fenced-in area on Pine Meadow Road that would also support hay production and the growing of organic vegetables.

The land is owned by residents Thomas and Patricia Shearer through an investment trust and BlueWave has a contract to purchase the land from them. Northfield-based Finicky Farm will handle the agricultural aspects of the project. BlueWave previously gained approval in 2021 to construct a three-array, 26,000-panel, 10.9-megawatt project on the same road.

Planning Board consultant Beth Greenblatt, principal of Beacon Integrated Solutions, compiled a report on BlueWave’s project with potential conditions and sent it to the Planning Board. The company requested time to look over the document and respond before the public hearing is closed.

“We haven’t seen the consultant’s report. That’s something we want to see,” said Tad Heuer, BlueWave’s counsel for the project. “We all want to be on the same page.”

Kicking off Thursday evening’s meeting, BlueWave provided updates on questions posed at the Oct. 8 meeting, as the board inquired about FirstLight Hydro Generating Co.’s approval of the project, contact with the Fire Department and the design of pad-mounted equipment.

Project Director Michael Zhe said FirstLight previously issued its general letter of filing consent and it will provide another notice to the town at a future date.

Zhe, as well as Field Engineering Co.’s Rich Riccio, said BlueWave has reached out to Fire Chief Floyd “Skip” Dunnell III on several occasions and are waiting to hear back. Zhe said they have also not heard back from the utility engineer and requested a condition for the project to use pad-mounted equipment, while otherwise approving the plan as submitted.

Questions from the board, at least initially, were limited, although member Joe Graveline said he asked Greenblatt to take a look at Northfield’s bylaws to see if BlueWave’s proposal would violate any regulations.

“I did not see any direct conflicts with the bylaw,” Greenblatt said, noting there are certainly some vague areas where interpretation is required. “Any ambiguities, I suggested some remedies in the form of conditions to get more clarity on those items.”

In the public comment portion of the meeting, several folks reiterated their opposition to the project, including abutter John Buxton, who said he was concerned about solar companies declaring “open season” on communities like Northfield if these projects continue to get approved.

“What you permit is what you promote. … They’ll all use this as precedent and say, ‘Look at what we are allowed to do in Northfield,’” Buxton said, encouraging the Planning Board to look at town bylaws, the master plan and other documents. “It doesn’t matter what I think about the project … you’re bound by what’s written down.”

Following public comment, the board considered closing the public hearing, but Heuer and BlueWave requested it remain open so the company could respond to Greenblatt’s report. Northfield Town Counsel Jeffrey Blake also recommended the hearing remain open, otherwise board members would only be able to deliberate among themselves and be unable to ask the applicant any questions.

“Pick a day and we continue the hearing one more time with the expectation we’re going to land the plane,” Blake said. “I think that’s probably the best bet.”

That day, however, is two months away. Due to scheduling conflicts between members and the availability of counsel, the Planning Board set a continuation date of Thursday, Dec. 19. BlueWave is expected to provide its response to Greenblatt’s report by mid-November.

Additionally, an executive session has been scheduled for Friday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m. as the Planning Board discusses cultural artifacts and resources of Indigenous tribes that may be in the area — BlueWave has not conducted any archaeological study yet, as it is awaiting approval on the project — which Graveline said requires confidentiality.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.