WATERVILLE — The Planning Board voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve a final plan for a solar farm on about 10 acres at 244 County Road.

The 1.99-megawatt solar farm, to be developed by BD Solar Holmes Farm LLC, will be on land leased to the business by property owner Kevin Violette. One megawatt can serve power to roughly 1,000 homes, according to ISO-New England, the region’s grid operator.

Engineer Sean Thies, of the firm Haley Ward Inc. of Bangor, represented the developer. Thies said the Waterville Fire Department requested changes to the plan for better access, so roads will be built on both sides of the perimeter of the solar array and one will be built down the middle of the array.

City Planner Ann Beverage said earlier Tuesday that the City Council voted Oct. 6, 2020, to change the zone at the property from rural residential to solar farm district to allow for the array.

Conditions include that fencing be built around the solar farm, landscaping done, ground cover installed to prevent dust from blowing around the area and native plants planted.

The project must allow for a way for wild animals to get out of the array, so the fence must be 7 inches off the ground and raised mounds of soil called berms must be such that if deer get into the area, they can jump out, according to Beverage.

The fire department requires that a Knox lock be on the gate to the entrance of the solar farm, she said.

There are currently five other solar farms in Waterville, including one on 4.75 acres at 401 Water St., developed by Kennebec Sanitary Treatment District; another on 18 acres at 101 Webb Road, owned by NextGrid Renewable Energy/McWain Holdings LLC; a solar farm on about 28 acres at 41 Webb Road, developed by HEP Broadhead SPV LLC; another on 21 acres at 2 LaFleur Road, developed by MEVS Waterville LLC/Cenergy Power; and another on 15 acres at 200 Eight Rod Road, developed by C2/energy Capital/Invaleon Technologies.

The Planning Board on Tuesday also welcomed new members Scott Beale, Tom Nale Sr. and Heath Dunn. They hold seats vacated by Matt Boulerice, April Chiriboga and Hilary Koch.