February 11, 2011
Massachusetts

Deliberations continue on turbine application

By Nancy White, Wicked Local Cohasset, www.wickedlocal.com 10 February 2011

Cohasset – The Planning Board made three previous attempts to deliberate on the Trustees of Reservation’s Turkey Hill wind turbine application, but each one was thwarted by a snowstorm. At last, on Wednesday night, the planning board began its discussions on the application.

While no official vote was taken on the application, which proposes the installation of an 80-meter (262-foot, 410-feet, including the height of the blades), 1.8-megawatt turbine, indications from the deliberation are the board is moving toward an approval with significant conditions, according to planning board administrator Jo-Ann Pilczak.

For nearly two hours the planning board discussed the merits and concerns of the project, the deliberation determines whether the application meets the requirements of the town’s bylaws.

Near the end of the discussion, planning board chair Al Moore called for an informal poll of the board to see where each of the members – and therefore, the board – stood on the application.

All but one planning board member said they were leaning toward an approval with conditions, said Pilczak. The planning board discussed what kind of conditions would be placed on the project to ensure it met the requirements of the bylaw.

The planning board has continued its deliberation to Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 7:30p.m. They are expected to take a vote on the project that night.

The potential turbine site is surrounded by open space and would be sited south of the existing cell towers. During the public hearing process issues of noise, visual impact, ice throw/drop and shadow/flicker were discussed.

The proposed site for the turbine, including setbacks, is entirely in Cohasset, but Hingham residents could potentially be more impacted by the turbine than Cohasset residents. The closest Cohasset residence is the Golden Living Center off Route 3A.

During the course of the public hearing process many Hingham residents spoke of their concerns regarding the project. In addition to concerns of noise, shadow/flicker, the delivery of the very large machine and the impacts of the turbine on a piece of open space.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/02/11/deliberations-continue-on-turbine-application/