CLAY — The Planning Board has thrown its support behind a plan to bring a new financial institution to West Taft Road, while navigating potential conflicts of interest regarding energy storage projects in town. During a regular meeting on Feb. 11, the board voted unanimously to forward positive recommendations to the Town Board for The Summit Federal Credit Union. The project involves rezoning a 1.02-acre parcel at 4955 West Taft Road and constructing a new 3,100-square-foot building with a drive-thru. The proposed site is located across from Wegmans within the Merrill Farms subdivision. According to the minutes, the property currently contains a building housing a dentist and podiatrist, which will be demolished to make way for the credit union. Tim Coyer, representing the applicant, explained that the site requires a zone change from an O-1 (Neighborhood Office) district to an O-2 (Office) district. Dave Harnish, representing The Summit FCU, told the board the financial cooperative has been a part of the community for decades but needs a new home. He explained that their lease at 5201 W. Taft Road expires in June 2027, and the current owner is not willing to extend it. The board members expressed strong support for the project during the public hearing portion of the meeting. "I think it's a great job," said Hal Henty, a board member. Other members, including Karen Guinup, Paul Graves, Al McMahon, and Jim Palumbo, described the project as a "good use" or "fine" for the neighborhood. Deputy Chair Russ Mitchell noted it was a "good fit," and Chairwoman Michelle Borton agreed, specifically adding that the drive-thru layout was reasonable for the location. The board passed three separate motions related to the project—recommending the zone change, the special permit for the drive-thru, and the special permit for the bank/credit union use—each by a 7-0 vote. ### Energy Storage Review Leads to Recusals Later in the meeting, the board turned its attention to new business regarding battery energy storage systems (BESS), prompting two members to step down. Chairwoman Borton disclosed that she owns Borton Engineering, P.C., a civil engineering firm that does business with Nexamp, a company proposing several energy storage projects in town. She stated she has prepared stormwater designs for the company, including a solar array project north of Utica. "Due to this business relationship, I cannot ethically be involved in the reviews," Borton said, turning the meeting over to Mitchell. Jim Palumbo also recused himself, citing similar business relationships with Nexamp. With Borton and Palumbo absent from the room, the board heard a presentation on Case #2026-001, a proposal for a 5,000 kWh system at 4664 Wetzel Road. Olivia Sproviero, representing Nexamp, said the project would be located in an Industrial I-1 zone on a 0.99-acre parcel. The system would utilize six Tesla Megapack 2XL units installed on a concrete pad. She noted the nearest residential property is about 200 feet away. Sproviero provided the board with details on the technology, explaining the units are containerized battery units roughly 20 feet by 9 feet tall. She addressed safety concerns, highlighting the system’s certifications and compliance with new fire codes that took effect in New York in January. The presentation included information on fire suppression systems, including a "Sparker System" and rooftop degradation vents integrated into the units. According to the minutes, the board asked clarifying questions about the battery storage and how it connects to the National Grid substation on Henry Clay Blvd. No votes were cast on the Nexamp proposal during this meeting, as the board is expected to issue a referral at a future date to be sent to the Town Board for final approval.