DAMASCUS, PA — A conditional use permit application was submitted by Solar Renewable Energy LLC for a new Solar Panel Project off of Route 371 in Damascus Township during the September 15 meeting of the Damascus Township Board of Supervisors. 

This project is for a 2.25 MegaWatt facility, which is, according to Damascus Township Zoning Officer/ Emergency Management Coordinator Ed Lagarenne, “a smaller footprint” than those previously discussed for this area. 

The two projects discussed previously comprise of Tyler Hill Solar 1, a five-megawatt project proposed on a 21.6-acre property off Cochecton Turnpike, and the Coast Energy project (also known as Funaro/Honesdale Solar), a joint township project with a part of the parcel in Damascus Township and a part in Lebanon Township.

Lagarenne told the River Reporter that the project, if completed, will not be visible from the road. Trees will obscure the view from Route 371 and the panels will not be visible. 

The conditional use application is complete. The application will now go to the Damascus Planning Commission for review. Upon completion of the review, the project will be referred to the Damascus Supervisors, who will then schedule a public hearing. 

The River Reporter will follow this process in the coming months, if there is reportable progress. 

In other business

The L.S.A. grant of $215,000 was expected to arrive in September. This is to help with expenses related to the completion and installation of the compost bathroom for the township park.

In the report on the Upper Delaware Council (UDC), Jeff Dexter, Damascus’ delegate to the UDC, reported that the UDC will likely need to reduce some of its grants in the near future unless its budget can be brought under control. 

Regarding the former Skinners’ Falls Bridge, for those interested, a new “Information Only” link is posted on the Damascus website at damascustwp.org/announce12.htm. This is a link to the recent PennDot publication called the “Revised Planning and Environmental Linkages Study.” The public comment period ends October 9, 2025.