Two town boards failed to reach a compromise, and voters will once again have to weigh competing opinions on a proposed solar bylaw.

At the Monday, Oct. 7 Marion Planning Board meeting, members voted 5-2 to recommend eliminating language regarding commercial solar farms in residential areas.

A similar solar bylaw was shot down at Annual Town Meeting in May; however, the Marion Planning Board and the Energy Management Committee have worked for months to draft a bylaw both groups could endorse. The boards found common ground on regulations that would govern solar panels installed for private use.

Energy committee members said the board’s recommendation is frustrating. In a show of good faith, the committee withdrew a competing solar bylaw proposal this summer to foster cooperation between the boards.

“Our position is the bylaw has been developed over almost two years now. It’s been very thoroughly thought out and we believe it provides abundant oversight,” said Jennifer Francis, of the energy committee. “The whole process has been pretty frustrating on how [the planning board] basically thwarted our involvement every step of the way.”

As the bylaw stands, a solar farm must be limited to a residential zone on a three-acre parcel, have a 100-foot setback from a residential lot, obtain a major site plan review, get a special permit, and other measures.

Planning board members contend allowing solar farms in any residential area would hurt residents.

Should voters side with the planning board, and erase the commercial solar farm clause, board members will create an overlay district that would restrict where the farms may operate.

Francis said developing an overlay would be a “monumental waste of time.”

The town’s geography, and the bylaw as written, gives planning members broad powers to deny a solar farm from opening already.

Planning board member Ted North has fought hard against allowing commercial solar farms in residential areas.

North argued allowing commercial operations in a residential zone sets a bad precedent.

“These are commercial, industrial electrical generating facilities,” he said, adding the planning board needs time to develop an overlay district.

“This would protect Marion residential neighborhoods from commercial and industrial intrusion. That’s what zoning is supposed to accomplish and is consistent with good public policy,” North wrote in an email sent to Sippican Week.

An overlay district would delineate where a solar farm may open, providing certainty for developers and residents, North said.

Board of Selectmen Chair Jody Dickerson said the impasse is disappointing. Board members created the energy committee to foster green energy in town. He said after Annual Town Meeting it appeared residents wanted a collaborative effort from the boards.

“The townspeople gave an ultimatum to the planning board and the energy management committee to work together, and that’s what the people wanted.” Dickerson said. “Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case.”

Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28 and will be held at 6:45 p.m. in Sippican School auditorium.