SPENCER — The Spencer Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a conditional use permit for a solar farm in the town.

The board held a public meeting on Thursday to discuss granting the permit for Shine Solar I, LLC to build a solar farm along Hackett Street.

The farm will take up 100 acres of land. There is a house on the property the company wants to build on, but the house is vacant and boarded up. There is no historical or other significant value on the house.

The company will also cut down the trees that immediately surround the house.

“As we well know, solar panels work best when they’re not blocked by trees,” Land Management Director Kathryn Clifton said.

The solar panels on the farm will be on a fixed-mounted rack system and will be 8 to 12 feet in height.

Representatives from Shine Solar spoke in support of their desire to build the farm.

The company assured the board that the farm would be a benign use of the property.

“In terms of traffic, it’s going to be minimal. It will probably be no more than what’s there now in terms of noticeable traffic. Obviously there’s no odor, there’s no noise, there’s no dust, there’s no huge parking lots, there’s no overhead lighting that stays on all night,” William Siler, an employee of Shine Solar, said.

Richard Kirkland, from Kirkland Appraisals, said the solar farm would have no impact on the property value of surrounding properties in the area.

Jack Fisher, a local resident, said the residents who live where the company wants to build the farm are not bothered by it.

“We were very tickled to see the company come in that has come in and is interested in our property because it’s environmental, safe, great and everything else,” he said.

Fisher said the home on the property belongs to his wife’s grandparents. He said there is no foundation under the house, no wiring or plumbing and no ceilings.

No one spoke against the solar farm.

The company said the solar farm will probably last 40 or 50 years. When the farm is no longer operational, the parts of the panels can be taken apart and donated for other uses.

After approving the findings of fact and suggested conditions, the board approved the permit with a unanimous vote.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.