A proposed solar farm sparked a contentious public hearing Thursday night in Westhampton Beach, with local residents voicing their concerns about the environmental and quality of life impacts.

The project, which would cover 11 acres of land along South Country Road, is generating significant opposition due to its proximity to nearby homes and potential long-term consequences.

The solar farm is slated to be built just 100 feet away from 21 residences, a factor that has raised alarm among homeowners.

Many fear the noise generated by the solar panels, which would operate throughout the day, could disturb the tranquility of the neighborhood.

“All the neighbors would be hearing that buzzing noise in their yards every day,” said Kara Bak, a nearby resident. “Definitely, property values in the neighborhood would go down.”

The land in question is owned by the Village of Westhampton Beach but lies outside the village's borders.

The solar farm project would involve a lease with CVE North America, an energy company. The Southampton Town Planning Board still needs to approve the project before it can proceed.

Steven Engelmann, a representative from CVE North America, attempted to address the concerns at the meeting.

“It is our full intent to work with the community, to work with the village here and of course to work with the planning department at the town of Southampton to build this project,” Engelmann said.

However, opponents are also worried about the future of the site. Some fear that, after the solar panels are installed, the property could later be used as a battery energy storage facility — a change that might not require additional public approval. Opponents of the project have filed a lawsuit against the village.

“The village did this with no public process,” said Kara Bak. “There was no public hearing notice. There was no public hearing. There was no environmental review prior to signing this lease.”

Westhampton Beach Village attorney Stephen Engel clarified that the lease had been approved after several public work sessions and a formal vote by the village board.

“The lease was approved by the village after several not public hearings but several work sessions that were conducted in public and it was voted on in public,” Engel explained.

The Westhampton Beach Village Board now faces the decision of whether to ratify the lease for the solar farm project. The earliest this could happen would be at next month's village board meeting. Additionally, the lawsuit against the village is scheduled for a court hearing on June 15.