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Shocked at impact of solar project

 Editor, Index-Tribune:

The solar panels that are popping up at various school districts sites are hideous and unsightly, especially the solar field near the district office on Railroad Avenue. I own a home that faces this field and I am shocked at the impact that this project has had on our residential neighborhood.

The only notification that I received from the district was a letter telling us that the solar project would be beginning. According to the district's website, under the "SVUSD Solar and Master Planning Update," it states the planning would include "Community Participation" and the design committee for each school would include neighbors. During a meeting that I had with (assistant superintendent) Justin Frese on July 1, I asked him if the district consulted the neighbors during the planning stage of the solar field and he told me "no," and that only the solar consulting firm was included. That concerned me very much in that, as homeowners with our property values at stake, the neighborhood was not part of the initial planning.

The Index-Tribune article, ("Solar panels popping up at schools, I-T, July 19), notes that, "some of the neighbors have complained about the reflection from the panels, (but) Frese said that panels are meant to absorb, not reflect." I've attached at picture that my husband took of the panels from our driveway one evening. (Warning: You might want to put on your sunglasses before viewing these pictures because the reflection is blinding.)

The school district has been very cordial in answering my questions concerning this project. Mr. Frese has assured me that the district will landscape around this field to make it more appealing. He also said that the neighbors would be involved in the landscape planning. I hope that this happens. In the meantime, I would like our community to know the negative impact of these solar projects. Over the last few months, our neighborhood has had to endure horrific dirt, noise and traffic with the only result in being a negative change in a residential area.

Anne Phillips

Sonoma