Marion’s solar bylaw discussion seems to be taking a cue from the film “The NeverEnding Story.” On Tuesday, the Planning Board held a public hearing to discuss the article being brought to Fall Town Meeting, and by the end the board had continued the hearing to a later date.

The discussion followed a marathon four-hour meeting held last month to hash out the issue. Lately, both boards have met regularly to prepare a bylaw ahead of Town Meeting.

The board has worked with the Energy Management Committee to draft a bylaw that both groups can agree on; however, language regarding solar farms is still an unresolved matter.

“Everything up to the solar farm is something we agree on,” said Planning Board Chair Patricia McArdle of the cooperation with the Emergency Management Committee. “It’s the last portion, the solar farms that is still going.”

Two options under consideration deal with either allowing solar farms in a residential area or restricting them to an overlay district.

As the bylaw stands, a solar farm must be limited to a residential district 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 cannot be higher than eight feet above ground level.

“By our definition [solar farms] are essentially commercial installations of solar panels on land where there is no house or business,” said Vice-Chair Steve Kokkins.

Due to municipal deadlines, proposed changes to the solar farm aspect of the bylaw would require a vote at the regular Town Meeting in the spring.

Resident Kathleen Reed said she preferred the Planning Board to wait until then.

“I would be in favor of taking more time and looking at that and thinking very seriously about any kind of solar farm in residential areas in Marion,” said Reed.

John Rockwell said he saw an overlay district as the only option for a solar farm since so many areas were already zoned for conservation areas, flood areas, and other districts.

“I think when you look at all the issues that are involved and you look at a map of the town…you’re going to end up with an overlay district because that’s the only area left that’s appropriate,” said Rockwell.

Dr. Jennifer Francis, an management committee member, was in favor of keeping the solar bylaw as is.

“I think the bylaw, the way it’s written now, provides a huge amount of protection for both the property owners and the abutters,” she said.

Planning Board and energy committee member Norm Hills said all the cranberry bogs in town are on residential property.

“There’s plenty of precedent there. It’s not like this has never happened,” said Hills.

Bill Saltonstall, of the management committee, said the bylaw restrictions gives the Planning Board the right to deny a solar farm.

Margie Baldwin was in favor of leaving the bylaw as it stood and let the townspeople discuss it at Fall Town Meeting.

“I think you do a great disservice to the people if you withdraw this before it gets to the Town Meeting floor,” said Baldwin. “Let the chips fall.”

The Planning Board continued to be split on the issue as four members voted in favor of sending the bylaw to town meeting and three opposed.

The board decided to continue the public hearing to Monday, Sept. 16 at 7:15 p.m.