A hearing for a proposed industrial solar farm had Mattapoisett residents hot under the collar as the Town Hall’s meeting room filled to overflowing on Thursday night. But protests were no match for a new state law that had the Zoning Board of Appeals approve the project 4-1.

Boston-based renewable energy developer BlueWave Capital looks to build the solar project on 87.5 acres of wooded land off Tinkham Hill Road, which is owned by Dennis Mahoney & Sons.

Engineer Richard Charon of Rochester’s Charon Associates said approximately 24 acres of land would be cleared for the ground-mounted panels and that, with landscaping, the project would be virtually invisible to abutters on Shady Oak Drive and North Street.

Since transformers will be at least 275 feet from any home, Charon said the sound of transformers would also be negligible.

“This will have less traffic than a cemetery, and it’s probably as quiet as a cemetery,” he said.

From the frequent comments throughout the presentation, it was clear that residents were not convinced.

“I’m having a hard time dealing with a large industrial facility behind my home,” said abutter Sylvia Ouimet. “How’s that going to affect the character of our neighborhood? What’s it going to do to diminish the value of my home?”

Other residents expressed concern over health issues related to the panels, fire hazards, and the impact of clearing the land.

“Solar farms sound friendly, but what it really is is a power plant. You’re clearing this land so now the sun’s coming in, it’s drying this land out,” said resident Jim Dias.

Charon tried to quell concerns.

“These projects are put into areas all across the country,” said Charon. “If there are safety issues they would have arisen at this point.”

Ultimately, the commercial development had Massachusetts General Law on its side with a provision that states solar energy systems cannot be denied despite zoning ordinances and bylaws “except where necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.”

“The project has a great deal going in its favor in terms of the way laws have been written in this state,” said Charon. “We’d like this to go forward on the merits [of the project], but the Massachusetts general laws have to be looked at.”

In the absence of any town bylaw providing perimeters for solar projects, the Zoning Board decided to approve the project, but did add several conditions.

Chair Mary Anne Brogan said, “If it’s denied and goes to the state, the state is going to be much more liberal without the conditions.”

Put to a vote, board member Colby Rottler was the only one in opposition. The Zoning Board detailed several conditions for the project—that the owner have a bond for any damage or decommissioning of the panels, that the developer provide a representative to contact during the estimated 60 to 90 days of construction, and that there be appropriate landscaping to conceal the development.

Residents asked BlueWave to begin construction after Labor Day.