News
Gamesa granted tower variance
Because of the temporary nature of the wind assessment tower, and because it will be installed within an 8,000 acre tract of land and hundreds of feet from any property line, planning commissioners granted the international manufacturer of wind turbines a conditional variance Thursday night.
December 23, 2005
by Judy D.J. Ellich
in Daily American
Gamesa Energy, a Spanish wind energy company, will not have to submit a development plan to the Somerset County Planning Commission to erect a meteorological tower in Shade Township.
Because of the temporary nature of the wind assessment tower, and because it will be installed within an 8,000 acre tract of land and hundreds of feet from any property line, planning commissioners granted the international manufacturer of wind turbines a conditional variance Thursday night.
Removal is not a problem, indicated Tim Vought, project developer for Gamesa. A meteorological tower only assesses wind energy and is temporary by nature.
It takes a day or two to install the tower. It is basically a 10-foot tubular structure, about 6 inches in diameter that rests on a 3-foot-wide square steel plate. The plate is then hooked into place by four guide wires, he explained.
When asked how the tower's readings will be used in the future, Vought said he is not authorized to discuss Gamesa's projects.
However, Gamesa representatives confirmed plans to build a wind farm on the Swallow Farm north of route 30 near Reels Corner in Shade Township. The wind farm will be a joint venture with St. Francis University, Loretto, and is expected to be constructed within in the next two years.
Moreover, Gamesa is considering putting up a number of turbines on the east side of the Quemahoning reservoir, according to Cambria-Somerset Authority chairman Dr. James Greco last month.
In other business, Tuck Subdivisions officials got the go ahead by the planners to submit a minor four subdivisions development plan.
The subdivisions are located within Jennerstown Borough on approximately 60 acres of land along the north side of state Route 30.
Jennerstown Borough Council members approved rezoning the land from a conservation district to residential for the purpose of developing a single-family residential project in September.
The land is owned by James Tuck and partner Mike Wolf.
The development will consist of 12 residences built on approximately 1-acre lots, with the remainder of the land being used for forestry maintenance.
There was a question about whether the lot owners could tap into the borough's sewer line because of the distance between the property service line and the main line.
However, Jenner Area Joint Sewer Authority issued a letter indicating sewer was available. The commissioners agreed that the authority has the final say in these matters.
“We plan to submit a plan with the proper papers within the month,” Wolf said
Because of the temporary nature of the wind assessment tower, and because it will be installed within an 8,000 acre tract of land and hundreds of feet from any property line, planning commissioners granted the international manufacturer of wind turbines a conditional variance Thursday night.
The company must remove the tower within three years from the day it is erected.
Removal is not a problem, indicated Tim Vought, project developer for Gamesa. A meteorological tower only assesses wind energy and is temporary by nature.
It takes a day or two to install the tower. It is basically a 10-foot tubular structure, about 6 inches in diameter that rests on a 3-foot-wide square steel plate. The plate is then hooked into place by four guide wires, he explained.
When asked how the tower's readings will be used in the future, Vought said he is not authorized to discuss Gamesa's projects.
However, Gamesa representatives confirmed plans to build a wind farm on the Swallow Farm north of route 30 near Reels Corner in Shade Township. The wind farm will be a joint venture with St. Francis University, Loretto, and is expected to be constructed within in the next two years.
Moreover, Gamesa is considering putting up a number of turbines on the east side of the Quemahoning reservoir, according to Cambria-Somerset Authority chairman Dr. James Greco last month.
In other business, Tuck Subdivisions officials got the go ahead by the planners to submit a minor four subdivisions development plan.
The subdivisions are located within Jennerstown Borough on approximately 60 acres of land along the north side of state Route 30.
Jennerstown Borough Council members approved rezoning the land from a conservation district to residential for the purpose of developing a single-family residential project in September.
The land is owned by James Tuck and partner Mike Wolf.
The development will consist of 12 residences built on approximately 1-acre lots, with the remainder of the land being used for forestry maintenance.
There was a question about whether the lot owners could tap into the borough's sewer line because of the distance between the property service line and the main line.
However, Jenner Area Joint Sewer Authority issued a letter indicating sewer was available. The commissioners agreed that the authority has the final say in these matters.
“We plan to submit a plan with the proper papers within the month,” Wolf said
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Pennsylvania
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Zoning/Planning
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