May 21, 2008
New York
New York
Dunkirk town officials are taking time to develop legislation to regulate the establishment of wind towers within town limits.
Following a recent public hearing, Dunkirk Town Board members adopted a local law establishing a 12-month moratorium on the installation of wind towers in order to develop appropriate codes and regulations for wind energy conversion systems.
According to the local law, the town currently has no effective legislation to regulate the establishment, construction, erection and maintenance of wind energy conversion systems. The town board set the moratorium in order to seek recommendations from the town zoning and planning boards, and to research the matter more thoroughly before enacting legislation.
“We have nothing set up for a fee schedule, how to plan for (wind towers), what the height has to be, what the restrictions have to be,” town Supervisor Richard Purol explained later. “We’re pretty much in the dark on all that stuff.”
At this time, he said there is no commercial interest within the town for wind energy conversion systems. However, town officials have received several inquiries from residential sources.
During the 12-month moratorium, no permits will be issued from any town office granting approval for the establishment, placement, construction or erection of new wind energy conversions systems, or addition, enlargement or modification to existing systems. The town board also reserves the right to rescind any permits issued during this period of time, the local law states. In addition, all permits issued prior to the moratorium but which have not been acted upon are no longer valid. There were no public comments. Following the public hearing, the proposed local law establishing a 12-month moratorium was sent to the New York Secretary of State and, upon approval, will become effective. In other business, during the Dunkirk Town Board meeting which followed the public hearing, board members authorized Purol to sign a contract with Tolman Engineering to prepare water permits for seven water districts within the town that do not have permits.
Joel Cuthbert
21 May 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/05/21/dunkirk-town-to-develop-legislation-for-wind-towers/