October 22, 2010
Massachusetts

Norwell: ZBA rejects wind tower proposal

By John Penny, 95.9 WATD, www.959watd.com 21 October 2010

The Norwell zoning board of appeals has said no to the installation of a 200-foot wind tower at 342 Mount Blue Street.

The board unanimously voted against Mount Blue Farm owner Bruce Meacham’s proposal for a special permit in a residential zone to build the temporary wind tower, to see if there’s enough wind for the construction of one or maybe two full blown wind turbines.

ZBA chair Lois Barbour summarized the reasons for the board’s decision, saying, “This would be detrimental to the neighborhood and is not currently an allowed use. It would significantly alter the character of the zoning district, which does not allow commercial enterprises, accept permitted accessory uses. It would be offensive to the neighborhood by reason of increased noise and visual disruption of the natural landscape.There may be other potential causes, not determined at this time.”

Meacham claims the tower should be permitted under the zoning by–law as an accessory scientific use, since it will determine the viability of building a wind turbine. But ZBA member Philip Brown disagrees.

“My opinion is that this is not an accessory scientific use, under the terms of our by-law. It’s not something that’s permitted as a matter of right. I’m not sure the proposed tower falls within scientific research or scientific development of related production, so I don’t think we could grant it,” said Brown.

Meacham says he hasn’t decided if he will appeal. An employee of WATD also lives in the neighborhood of the proposed wind tower.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/10/22/norwell-zba-rejects-wind-tower-proposal/