LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — "I'm not willing to gamble my family's health on the word of a solar company telling me, Don't worry, you'll be fine," said Eric Strenfel, resident.
Comments like this echoed throughout tonight's zoning hearing held at Misericordia University.
More than 100 people showed up to fight against the development of a 46-acre solar farm in Lehman Township.
The zoning board voted in their favor.
It was nearly five hours of comments as residents voiced their concerns.
"This is the nightmare scenario happening in small towns all across America right now. We have the chance to keep our small town integrity and stop this all from happening."
The proposed development by Susquehanna Solar Company would be at the intersection of Roaring Brook Road and Sorbertown Hill Road.
"Agricultural use that it's in today," said John Wadsworth, Susquehanna Solar Director of Operations.
Residents argued the project would demolish close to a quarter of the trees on all 46 acres and may even lower the value of nearby homes.
"It will, however, provide negative impacts to property values, reduction in adjoining property's, privacy and recreational uses, negative impact on local wildlife and massive forest removal," said John Culp, Lehman Township resident.
Susquehanna Solar says the proposal falls in line with Lehman Township's existing zoning laws.
However, the township's zoning board did not agree.
Residents say the vote was a hard-fought victory for those who live in Lehman Township.
It was a unanimous 3 - 0 vote by the zoning board as the solar farm proposal will no longer move forward.