Suffern planning board approves JPMorgan Chase solar carport at Lafayette Avenue

The Village of Suffern Planning Board on Wednesday approved a final site plan for a solar carport at JPMorgan Chase’s parking lot at 67 Lafayette Avenue, allowing the bank to move ahead with building-permit applications.

The board approved the plan after the applicant said the proposal had been reduced to a single carport because of an electric-utility clearance issue; the zoning variance that allowed the project was granted previously by the zoning board of appeals. "Originally, it was 2 solar carports... the utility came back and said no," Brian Powers, a project representative with Black & Veatch, told the board.

The approval came after the board confirmed the variance had been granted by the ZBA and that the board previously issued a negative declaration under environmental review when the matter first came before it. The board made a motion to approve the final site plan; the motion passed with all members present voting in the affirmative.

Powers said the revised plans submitted to the board show one carport. He added the project team had been instructed by the electric utility to account for both vertical and horizontal clearances near overhead wires, which made the two-carport design infeasible for the site layout. The applicant may now proceed with building-permit applications, the board noted.

No public objections or additional conditions were recorded during the board’s discussion. The board’s decision was procedural approval of the final site plan; any building work remains subject to permits and inspections.