A hearing before the Penn Forest Township Zoning Hearing Board about a proposed solar farm in Albrightsville resumed Thursday with more testimony.

The earlier hearing had included hours of testimony.

Plainfield Solar LLC and Lynx Associates Ltd. presented a substantive validity challenge to the zoning ordinance regarding the solar farm plan.

The challenge alleges that the township’s “zoning ordinance and map do not provide for its fair share of this use, the zoning ordinance is unconstitutionally exclusionary and that the applicant is entitled to site specific relief.”

The applicant will be required to prove those claims at the hearing.

Representing Plainfield Solar at the hearing was attorney Shawn N. Gallagher.

The hearing was held before the zoning hearing board, whose solicitor is Greg L. Mousseau.

The property, located at 0 North Meckesville Road, Albrightsville, was noted as owned by Queen of Peace Missionary Associates.

Township solicitor Tom Nanovic began by questioning Nancy Sercinello, a professional land use planner with Sercinello Planning Associates who has 28 years of experience.

Sercinello was questioned about the 2011 zoning map when solar was a permitted use throughout the township. Beginning in September 2025 the zoning ordinance was updated, allowing solar as an accessory use in I and C1A zones. The property being discussed is in an R-2 zone.

Sercinello testified that 13 public meetings were held beginning in 2023 before the zoning ordinance was adopted. Nanovich asked, “There are over 200 acres available for solar farms?” “Yes,” Sercinello replied, highlighting that there are provisions for such use as required by law.

There were questions about solar as an accessory use versus principal use. When Gallagher asked about this property, Sercinello testified that “this is not an accessory use.”

The township’s next witness was Josh Fry, department head of Municipal Engineering. Fry testified about wetlands and mitigation with the state Department of Environmental Protection, and minimizing impact when looking at wetlands on a property.

Gallagher questioned if there are any high-voltage lines near the farm. “Not that I’m aware of,” Fry responded. The lines are needed to run a solar farm, and it’s less costly if they are close to the property.

Greg Loftus, township zoning/code enforcement, was asked if there were any applications for solar farms. “There are no applications as a principal use,” he responded.

After reviewing a transcript of the hearing both attorneys will complete their proposed findings and conclusions of law as required.

At the next zoning hearing board hearing on Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. a continuance will be issued, with a decision to be rendered at the township meeting on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.

Attending the hearing was resident, Karen Lane, who said: “Without saying what is legal and what’s not, this area was built on the environment — for hunting, fishing, camping, kayaking and hiking, etc. Industry has no place in this environment. We want to preserve it. Once we lose it, it’s gone.”