Planning Board Endorses Reynolds Avenue Land Swap, Eyes Solar Permitting Deadline

REHOBOTH -- May 6, 2026, Rehoboth Planning Board unanimously endorsed a minor land swap at 98 Reynolds Avenue and opened a lengthy discussion on a new state solar permitting law with an October 1 compliance deadline. The board approved a Form A plan swapping equal slivers of land between 98 and 96 Reynolds Avenue to correct a foundation that was built one foot inside the required side yard setback, after a variance was denied in February. Art Krebs, developer for the continued Anawan Solar project, appeared briefly to confirm a peer-review retainer would be delivered the following morning and that Pro Consult is the anticipated installation company with Code Red handling fire department training. Chair Landry warned that the state's new consolidated solar permitting regulation, which imposes a 12-month decision clock or triggers constructive approval, "ain't going to be easy to administer," and the board is pursuing a tutorial from Connor Rocket of the Department of Energy Resources before the October deadline. The board noted it has no current mechanism to verify that installed battery storage equipment matches permitted specifications.