Chaos in Exeter

On July 16, 2018, the Exeter Town Council, by a vote of 3-2, Dan Patterson, Frank Maher, & Ray Morrissey in favor and Cal Ellis & Kevin McGovern against, passed an amendment to the Exeter Zoning Ordinance proposed by Green Development, LLC that changed the zoning of fifteen (15) lots to permitted by-right development of large scale “utility solar facilities”, including other significant amendments to the Zoning Ordinance such as removal of the requirement that solar installations conform to lot coverage maximums.

It became apparent that Dan Patterson, Frank Maher, & Ray Morrissey were determinedly biased in favor of Green Development, LLC’s amendment and dismissive of the testimony of its adversaries and of the negative recommendation of the Exeter Planning Board.

Being an abutter to one of the 15 properties and a member of the Planning Board I recused myself from participating and voting on the Green Development, LLC amendment. Subsequently I obtained the services of an experienced Land Use Attorney and filed an Appeal to Superior Court on July 30, 2018 challenging the approval of Green Development, LLC’s amendment to the Exeter Solar Zoning ordinance. Furthermore, I decided that Exeter needed a council that is dedicated to ethical and accountable governance dedicated to preserving Exeter’s rural character such that I declared my candidacy for the town council along with Calvin Ellis, Manuel Andrews and Michael Conn.

Surprisingly, after just passing Green Development, LLC’s amendment the council held a Public Hearing for the Exeter Planning Board’s proposed solar ordinance amendment Draft #8 held on September 4, 2018. Why, they had just passed the ordinance they wanted? More surprisingly the Exeter Planning Board’s proposed solar ordinance amendment Draft #8 was approved by a vote of 3 to 2. The deciding vote passing the Draft #8 ordinance was cast by Ray Morrissey. Unfortunately Ray Morrissey has reversed course and subsequently requested that his vote be rescinded and that it be considered at a council meeting scheduled for September 20, 2018.

These ordinance amendments together with multiple applications for utility scale solar facilities filed under different ordinances have left the Exeter Planning Board in a state of confusion as it relates to which ordinance is applicable to which application. This unfortunate dilemma has only compounded the Exeter Planning Board’s ability to defend Exeter’s Comprehensive Plan and Exeter as a rural community.

Councilors Patterson, Maher and Morrissey have failed miserably in protecting Exeter from the developer’s assault of utility scale solar facilities. Exeter desperately needs new leadership!