ENFIELD - The Enfield Town Board passed a wind law Wednesday night by a vote of 4-0 after two years of work.

The passage of the law, which maintains setbacks of approximately 450 feet from occupied structures and 100 feet from property lines, will allow wind farm developer John Rancich to proceed with development plans.

The town board did not adjust its local law to Tompkins County Planning Department or state Department of Transportation recommendations that suggested wind turbines be a minimum of 600 feet from property lines. Those recommendations were based on New York State Energy Research and Development Authority guidelines, which vary greatly.

Supervisor Frank Podufalski acknowledged that the town's local law is at the low end of NYSERDA guidelines, but said the guidelines in the law will fit for Enfield.

Enfield resident Dave Dimmick criticized the town board for not accepting the county's recommendations, and called the town board's qualifications to make the decision into question.

Planning board member Debbie Teeter said it's the county's job to make recommendations based on what's best for the county, not specific towns. She said county planning made its comments based on the fact that Enfield's law will likely be used as a model for other Tompkins County towns.

Krogh echoed Teeter adding that the county was vague in its reasons for suggesting greater setbacks and noise restrictions.

"I think the angst people have is unfounded," Podufalski said. "The safety on (the turbines) is impeccable."

Before the wind-law vote, board members showed photographs of wind turbines next to buildings such as athletic stadiums and schools.

Ken Donley, a longtime opponent of the wind law that passed Wednesday, was not at the meeting. He previously said he felt the town board was not taking the public's concern about the low setbacks seriously, which was why many residents that shared his sentiments had stopped attending public meetings.

A group of concerned residents in Hamlin, N.Y., recently pooled their resources to bring a lawsuit against the Town of Hamlin for not doing enough to address environmental impacts of the law. A judge upheld the residents' claim.

The Enfield town board passed the State Environmental Quality Review Act guidelines Wednesday night as well, which said the law would not have a significant negative impact on the environment.

Town attorney Guy Krogh pointed out that the Department of Environment Conservation, which he said is the expert state agency on energy, did not comment on the proposed law.

Rancich said bringing engineers in to place the turbines will be the next step in bringing a wind farm to Enfield.

"This is the beginning of the work," he said after the law was passed. "It was a long haul to get these guidelines, so I had something to base a plan on. Now that I have them confirmed, I can make those plans."

Councilman Rob Harvey was absent from Wednesday's meeting.