No decision on Clayton test towers; laser beam equipment comes to light

Clayton – The Clayton Joint Planning Board tabled a decision on whether to grant a permit for two meteorlogical test towers at its Apr. 7 meeting. An application for a third tower was also considered.

Iberdrola Renewables had submitted an application for two test towers during the February meeting of the planning board, and the public hearing was opened in March. Measurements on the application had been found to be inaccurate by a planning board member, however, and a decision to grant a permit was not made by the board and the hearing remained open through the April meeting.

The applicant is requesting permission to build three 197 foot high towers that measure wind and climate data prior to a proposed industrial wind project being developed. The towers would be erected on the properties of Gary Parker, Fred Matthews and the Parker Henry Group. The parcels are located approximately two miles south of Depauville.

The planning board reserved its decision based on several factors. The newly appointed planning Board Chairman, Doug Rogers, was absent. Two board members had missed prior meetings, and, also, the board members wished to discuss the application between themselves before granting permits for the towers.

Iberdrola attorney James Muscato requested that the board schedule a special meeting this week, rather than wait until the May planning board meeting to approve the towers. Board members did not agree to the request, and member David Crandall explained his view.

He said there doesn't seem to be accurate information on the application, which states the footprint of each tower base will be one acre. But Mr. Crandall had calculated that with ancillary parts included, each base area could take up to two acres.

Attorney Muscato said it will affect only one acre.

Mr. Crandall also noticed that the application states the towers would not change the "character" of the surrounding area.

"It's hard to believe a tower’s the same as farmland. This board is concerned with character, and whether the tower is going to affect the town’s."

The wind attorney responded that towers will not affect the character of the area. He reasoned that since towers are allowed by Clayton law, it can be assumed that components within the law are considered to fit the character of the town. He contended that, with the type of environmental assessment required, character should not be considered.

Planning Board Co-chair Fred Bach stated that he wishes to review the criteria and the application in more detail before making a determination as to whether the three towers comply with the local law.

Planning board member Paul Heckmann said he wants time to drive to the properties in question and view the parcels in person.

A revelation of the presence of equipment on Fred Matthews’ property that measures wind by sending several laser beams into the sky surfaced, due to a citizen's question. Cindy Grant asked why she has observed equipment on the property.

While Iberdrola's representatives initially indicated that questions should be solely about the proposed towers, a planning board member said that property is being reviewed and the question of what is currently staged on the property should be answered.

After conferring with each other, the representatives explained that the equipment is also located on a Brownville property, and they are propane- powered, portable wind measurement units called lidars.

The planning board closed the hearing without a decision on any of the three towers. Zoning Enforcement Officer Richard Ingerson said the planning board has up to 60 days to make decisions.