Community Engagement Log
A regulatory-compliant, public archive documenting every meeting, question asked, and concrete design change made in response to Charlton community feedback.
The Public Record: Engagement Timeline
Every meeting, pop-up, workshop, and consultation documented. Read summaries of what the community asked and the actions we took to respond.
OEJE / DPP Pre-Filing Engagement Consultation
Official kick-off meeting with the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity (OEJE) and Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to review compliance under 980 CMR 16.00 and gather feedback on the community engagement strategy.
What We Heard
- •Linguistic accessibility: outreach documents and website must support English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
- •Zoning overlay and developer business model transparency: explain the project transfer/sale expectations upfront.
- •Tree clearing and forest buffer: clarify the upper limit of clearing (expected ~10 acres) and protect heritage trees.
- •Site map detail: provide a comprehensive site map showing component boundaries and landmarks within a 1-mile radius.
What We Did
- •Launched a multilingual website language switcher (English, Spanish, Portuguese) and fixed accessibility/accordion bugs.
- •Drafted explicit disclosures about the developer transition plan (reassuring that all permit conditions and CBA commitments run with the land).
- •Committed to a strict 10-acre clearing cap and a permanent conservation restriction on the remaining 32 acres.
- •Published a detailed interactive site boundary map and compiled a complete local/state permitting agency checklist.
Charlton Select Board Meeting
Initial project introduction and discussion of municipal agreements and property taxation with the Select Board.
What We Heard
- •Concern that the town would be stuck with battery clean-up costs.
- •Desire for direct municipal revenue instead of standard taxation.
What We Did
- •Proposed a binding decommissioning bond held in trust, legally protecting the town from end-of-life cleanup costs.
- •Agreed to negotiate a structured Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Host Community Agreement.
Attached Media & Documents:
Charlton Planning Board Meeting
Technical review of site boundaries, setback compliance, and zoning overlay paths with the Planning Board.
What We Heard
- •Planning Board members requested a wait-and-see approach on zoning until new state Climate Act details were clarified.
- •Abutters requested increased physical and visual setbacks from residential structures.
What We Did
- •Withdrew the petition for the local zoning overlay district to align with the Planning Board's timeline.
- •Redesigned the equipment layout to enforce a strict 200-foot setback minimum from any residential structure.
Attached Media & Documents:
Annual Town Meeting Outreach Pop-up
Informal public outreach pop-up booth at Charlton's Annual Town Meeting to share project details, handouts, and take resident feedback.
What We Heard
- •Concerns about safety and fire risks of battery units.
- •Questions about visual screening from Route 20 corridor.
What We Did
- •Added the 'Safety First' and 'What We're Still Studying' interactive tracker on the website.
- •Commissioned an independent viewshed analysis from the Route 20 corridor.
Attached Media & Documents:
Inaugural Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting
Inaugural meeting of the diverse group of Charlton residents to establish expectations, operational rules, and review the project's physical details.
What We Heard
- •Committee requested early, direct communication on potential fire safety hazards.
- •Desire for independent verification of developer commitments.
What We Did
- •Committed to publishing all official documents, permits, and correspondence in a public Document Library on the website.
- •Planned a joint Fire Safety webinar with Chief Rob Barton.
Attached Media & Documents:
Public Community Meeting #1 — Project Introduction
First open public community meeting. Project introduction presentation followed by an open Q&A session.
What We Heard
- •Questions regarding cybersecurity and remote system control.
- •Concerns about private well protection from runoff.
What We Did
- •Committed to publishing a comprehensive written response page on July 17 covering remote access and cyber standards.
- •Enforced erosion barriers and sediment traps in the construction stormwater design.
Attached Media & Documents:
Fire Safety Webinar
Upcoming safety webinar hosted by Project Lead Wes Shaffer and Charlton Fire Chief Rob Barton.
What We Heard
- •Webinar is upcoming. Registration links are active.
What We Did
- •Added registration links for morning (12:00 PM) and evening (7:00 PM) sessions to the website.
Attached Media & Documents:
The Question Archive
Every question submitted through this site, asked at public hearings, or logged during workshops is published here with our official, binding response.