Stop new ‘windstacks’ until zoning is in place
Cape Cod Times, www.capecodonline.com 3 November 2010
Cape Cod Times, www.capecodonline.com 3 November 2010
Ugly buildings and belching smokestacks are problems that we believe we have put behind us, through community control of zoning, and with planning ordinances developed through public debate and scrutiny.
Yet, here we are, debating the impact of a new stack on our neighborhoods, with the sound of turbines substituting smoke, yet no less obvious to the eye.
Why are we debating the intrusion of a single new “windstack” on our residential and recreational landscapes? If we allow one “windstack,” why shouldn’t other property owners feel entitled? New technologies will undoubtedly offer opportunities that we cannot now envision, but right now we need our town governments to take a leadership role, not a reactionary position on every new proposal placed on the table.
Our selectmen, town planners and zoning officials need to address these issues. We need public discussion and public hearings, attention to zoning regulations that deal with acceptable wind turbine locations and other new energy technologies to address the acceptable tradeoffs.
A fragmented, one-application-at-a time approach is not in anyone’s interest. We should place all applications for such development on hold until complete zoning regulations are developed and public debate has been completed.
Norman Holcomb
Yarmouthport
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/11/03/stop-new-windstacks-until-zoning-is-in-place/