Enfield Town Board discusses wind law revisions, but doesn't vote
Ithaca Journal|Tim Ashmore|November 13, 2008
No action was taken on the proposed Enfield wind law Wednesday, but town officials did discuss revisions to the law. Town Supervisor Frank Podufalski read recommendations from the Tompkins County Planning Department to about 25 people in attendance that suggest a decrease in the allowance for noise, permit fees and increased setbacks from property lines and easements.
No action was taken on the proposed Enfield wind law Wednesday, but town officials did discuss revisions to the law. Town Supervisor Frank Podufalski read recommendations from the Tompkins County Planning Department to about 25 people in attendance that suggest a decrease in the allowance for noise, permit fees and increased setbacks from property lines and easements.
No action was taken on the proposed Enfield wind law Wednesday, but town officials did discuss revisions to the law.
Town Supervisor Frank Podufalski read recommendations from the Tompkins County Planning Department to about 25 people in attendance that suggest a decrease in the allowance for noise, permit fees and increased setbacks from property lines and easements.
The law, which was submitted to the town board in early October, still calls for towers to be set back 450 feet from property lines. County planning recommended setbacks that would exceed 600 feet.
During the discussion on setbacks, Podufalski opened the meeting up for public comment. Many residents voiced support for the county standards and many supported the …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]No action was taken on the proposed Enfield wind law Wednesday, but town officials did discuss revisions to the law.
Town Supervisor Frank Podufalski read recommendations from the Tompkins County Planning Department to about 25 people in attendance that suggest a decrease in the allowance for noise, permit fees and increased setbacks from property lines and easements.
The law, which was submitted to the town board in early October, still calls for towers to be set back 450 feet from property lines. County planning recommended setbacks that would exceed 600 feet.
During the discussion on setbacks, Podufalski opened the meeting up for public comment. Many residents voiced support for the county standards and many supported the current setbacks.
Michael Miles, the Enfield representative on the county Environmental Management Council, and Debbie Teeter, an Enfield planning board member, said municipal laws in New York have a broad range of setback requirements.
The county planning department acknowledged the variety of setback standards as well when it noted Enfield's are on the low end of the spectrum.
"We need to take a look at what is feasible for this town," Podufalski said.
Increased setbacks could kill the project. Podufalski said if the setbacks are increased to the county-recommended standards, Enfield would not have any viable locations for wind energy.
The county also addressed the maximum requirement noise, which in proposed law are set at 60 decibels. The county recommended it be reduced to 55 decibels, which councilman Rob Harvey said he would support.
Harvey said the Town of Ithaca scheduled a demonstration he was present for that provided examples of varying decibel levels.
Councilman Herb Masser asked if the board could have a similar demonstration.
Eventually discussion at the meeting wandered away from specifics on the law and toward wind farm developer John Rancich's plan. Questions were raised as to what the cost of the project would be, what company Rancich is getting his turbines from and what Rancich has done to negotiate with landowners near his proposed project on Black Oak Road.
If the law undergoes any changes, there will likely be a second public hearing, since the reason to repeal a 2007 wind law was because a second public hearing was not held after the law was revised.
What's next: The board's next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10.