Chestnut cites viewshed issues, environment concerns to council

A member of Blue Mountain Alliance, a citizen group looking for more regulations on wind power development in the region, came to the Athena City Council asking for support.

Ed Chesnut, who is also at Milton-Freewater City Council but was acting as a member of BMA Thursday, gave an 20 minute presentation to the council at its meeting Thursday night. He brought with him two panoramic views looking from Athena to the Blue Mountains with windmills Chesnut had superimposed onto the photo.

He also showed a photo with a border at 3,520 feet from the developed area of the city. He said according to county regulations, wind turbines can be put up 3,520 from city limits.

Chesnut went over the history of some Oregon land use laws applicable to the region. He also told them how wind farms generating greater than 105 megawatts are permitted by the state, those producing less are permitted by the county.

He also told them about BMA's work to try and put through a Goal Five ammendment at the county level to preserve the area between highway 11 and the forest land in the Blue Mountains as a viewshed. The Goal Five proposal request was officially submitted by Richard Jolley, another member of BMA, who attended the Athena meeting but didn't address the council.

"Most of the concern is coming out of the Milton-Freewater area, frankly," Chesnut said. "And I'm from there, surprise, I'm here."

In addition to the viewshed, Chesnut said Lincton Mountain and Basket Mountain are a wintering area for elk. He thought that may have an affect on the permitting process. He believed the area may be two or three times as large because the county closes many of the roads in that area in the winter.

"The Goal Five proposal is a way to address this situation where land use law in the state changed, but protection of natural resources didn't in the county comprehensive plan."

Chesnut ended his presentation asking for Athena's help.

"My purpose for being here is to request that you consider all that's coming at you. We are all, all of the communities - Adams, Athena, Weston and Milton-Freewater - have a potential of being surrounded by wind farms. That may be OK, that may not be OK depending on your views of wind power, property rights use or property rights, how they should be controlled or not controlled. But I'm here to ask you for your support as a council for opening the Goal Five review process at the county level.

Mayor Chuck Vickery said the council would take it under advisement.