filed: September 2, 2010 • Massachusetts

Dennis Old King’s Highway Committee approves ARC turbine, with conditions

Credit: By Nicole Muller, The Register, www.wickedlocal.com 1 September 2010 ~~

DENNIS — The Old King’s Highway Historic District Committee approved on a 3-2 vote Aquacultural Research Corporation’s application to build a 243-foot, 600-kilowatt wind turbine on its property at 99 Chapin Beach Road.

Committee member Frank Ciambriello and Chairman Peter Lomenzo cast the negative votes Aug. 25 at Dennis Town Hall. Ciambriello maintained that the applicants had failed to file an application to demolish three quanset huts, which he insisted must be done before a certificate of appropriateness could be issued. Other committee members said the order of application is not stated in the Old King’s Highway Historic District Act, which dictates their responsibilities.

“If we issue a certificate to build on the location, they can’t build until what’s there is removed,” committee member Gary Barber said. Ciambriello voiced “grave concerns” about not following the procedure the committee has used over the past six years.

Lomenzo said he would approve a smaller turbine. ARC attorney John Kenney of Centerville explained that it would require three 250 kW turbines to supply the amount of energy that the 600 kW turbine is expected to generate.

On a motion by Bill Bohlin, conditions were placed on the committee’s approval:

* Provide a formal application to demolish the three quanset huts.

* Issue a bond covering the cost of removing the turbine, should that be necessary

* Maintain the turbine in proper working condition.

* Supply a sheet detailing the size of the blades and the width of the hub in feet and inches. They are presently listed in meters.

* Substitute a less obtrusive (smaller) turbine that would generate the same amount of electricity should one become available within the construction time frame.

Kenney filed an application to demolish the quanset huts, which sit where the turbine will be built, on Aug. 30. The committee will consider that application on Sept. 22.

Any Dennis resident may appeal this decision within 10 calendar days of the filing of the certificate of appropriateness. That document was filed with Dennis Town Clerk Terri Bunce on Aug. 27, giving citizens until Sept. 3 to file an appeal. The 10-day period ends Sunday, Sept. 5, so anyone wishing to appeal the decision should be sure that appeal is postmarked by Friday.

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