The planning board approved the permit, which was submitted by California-based Ecoplexus Incorporated. The matter now goes on to city council for consideration.

While the planning and development department already recommended three stipulations, board members Jim Miller and Lawrence White expressed concerns about decommission plans.

“My concern is if it shut downs what is your responsibility other than walking away?” Miller asked Nathan Rogers, project development manager of the San Francisco-based company.

The same question was registered by John Pittman, who spoke from the audience on the matter.

Nathan said he was in favor of a decommission plan.

“A decommission bond is important,” said White.

The decommission plan is added to the list of other stipulations recommended by the department that include the project be developed in accordance with guidelines the city adopted on solar and wind farms; additional detailed drawings and building plans be submitted and required screening between land uses be installed before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

Nathan explained the facility, which will be built on around 70 acres of a 124-acre plot of land, will provide electricity directly into the grid. “It will be distributed by the power company to where the various demands are.”

He could not say whether Ecoplexus will eventual sell the farm. He did confirm the farm would contain around 100,000 solar panels.

The project, he said, represents an additional $32.76 million to the local tax base.