No wind turbines in my back yard, town says
WAYNE — Residents won’t be seeing wind turbines going up close to their homes under new zoning rules adopted this week.
The Township Council unanimously adopted the measure after a heated debate Wednesday night: Are turbines unsightly intruders with potentially damaging health effects? Or should they be accepted as just part of the skyline of an energy-independent future?
“When you look out your back door, you don’t want to look at a nuclear power plant, you don’t want to look at a wind turbine,’’ Mayor Christopher Vergano said today. “We are protecting the values of residential properties by keeping them [at] a certain setback.’’
The new rules ban turbines within 1,640 feet — 500 meters — of residential neighborhoods, schools or day care centers. Council members approved the measure after defending their green credentials and saying they would not be intimated by threats of litigation.
Opponents of the ordinance fired harsh words at officials. They said the township was ill-motivated and called the measure an embarrassment when the trend is moving toward acceptance of renewable energy projects. Among them was Robert Burke, owner of Wayne Auto Spa, who is seeking planning board approval for a turbine at his business.
Katie Scheidt, a resident who volunteers giving presentations on climate change, argued that “To deny any citizen to generate their own electricity, whether it be wind or solar or otherwise, is anti-American — it perpetuates our dependence on foreign oil and it’s dangerous.
“I think it’s foolish,” she said, “and it makes the town look backwards, which we are not.”
The turbines come in diverse forms ranging from the iconic propeller-like tower to cone-shaped models.The township based the restriction on a study that suggested separating turbines from housing because of noise and other potential health side effects, according to officials.
Councilman Joseph Scuralli said officials are not against wind power, but want to keep it in the proper place.
“It’s dangerous to put industrial activity in residential zones where it can threaten to destroy property values,” Scuralli said. “People’s homes are probably the biggest investment they will ever make.”
The township isn’t the first in the state to adopt rules to keep wind turbines away from homes. Brick in Ocean County adopted an ordinance in April that allows turbines only in business and industrial zones. At least five towns in the state have adopted ordinances to set guidelines for the location of wind turbines. The regulations generally require setbacks to keep the renewable energy source away from neighbors.
Hillsborough in Somerset County allows residents, farmers and business owners to put up turbines on lots that are greater than 10 acres. Galloway Township in Atlantic County restricts turbines to one-acre residential lots, with a setback from the property line equal to the height of the structure.
Under Wayne’s ordinance, Mayor Christopher Vergano said, turbines could be permitted along sections of Routes 23 and 46 and in the industrial areas off the West Belt Parkway.
Vergano listed the council’s green accomplishments, including supporting open space acquisition and a landmark renewable energy project with plans for a co-generation plant near town hall.
“For people to stand up and say we are anti-American, that Rob Burke is going to save the world by installing one wind turbine, I say that is disingenuous,’’ Vergano said.
“This council, this administration has a responsibility to protect the residents of our township and we will continue to do that,’’ he added. “We will not be embarrassed about it, and if someone wants to come before us and threaten that they will take us to court, I say ‘bring it on.’ We will continue to do what is right for the people of Wayne.’’
Burke is scheduled to appear before the Planning Board Sept. 22 for a hearing on his application to install a 50-foot-high turbine at his carwash and quick lube, about 120 feet from a preschool.
He accused officials of unfairly targeting his plans and has said he would take the town to court to resolve the dispute. He said he will insist that the Planning board vote on his application during the September hearing, which would be a few days before the new zoning ordinance takes affect.
“This notion of ‘not in my backyard’ cannot dictate our future from an energy-independence perspective, from a national-security perspective, from a climate-change perspective,’’ Burke said. “It’s not acceptable. There are wind turbines going up all over the country. Wayne is behind the times.’’
By Andrea Alexander
Staff Writer
4 September 2008
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