TOWN OF WETHERSFIELD

A PROPOSED LOCAL LAW ENTITLED, "TOWN OF WETHERSFIELD
WIND ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICE/FARM LICENSING, SITING AND DESIGN REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS LAW"

Please note: This is an unofficial copy of the draft local law to establish a permissive and discretionary framework for the establishment of Wind Energy Conversion Devices/Farms in the Town of Wethersfield, NY. This is an unapproved copy of the text of the draft law only and may print with different spacing than a photo copy.

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A public meeting was held on November 30, 2006 for comments on the draft law. The Town Board received more letters and comments opposing the project than in favor of it. Of the letters and comments in favor, 2 of the authors were Noble employees and all but one of the others is reported to have an easement with Noble.

When combined with the letters entered into the record at previous meetings, it should be obvious to the board that the people who are opposed to the project are not the "vocal minority", the ones in favor of it are. Interestingly, the most stated reasons for approval of the project were improvement of the environment and/or reducing our foreign oil dependence, the same unproven claims made by the developer. Not a single letter said "I want the money."

The board unanimously voted on December 27 to approve the law.

01-11-07: The text of the law has now been updated to reflect the changes made by the Town Board on December 11, 2006. The following has been changed:

Under SECTION IV (H), the definition of a residence has been changed to "A house, apartment or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family or household that has county approved water, sewer and electric, or a combination thereof, at the adoption of this local law. A place where one actually lives as distinguished from a domicile or place of temporary sojourn, such as, but not limited to, a camper body on cinder blocks, a mobile home in the woods used as a hunting camp or camping site."

Under SECTION V (B) (1) (b) (ii), [set backs], the language still says "from any permanent livable residence and/or building for public congregation that is on any parcel by a minimum distance of 1/4 mile, unless waived in writing, in the form of an easement that is recorded in the Wyoming County Clerk's Office, by the owners of such residence or building of public congregation."

The following was deleted from this section: "A permanent livable residence shall not include seasonal residences within the Town."

 

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