April 25, 2011
Massachusetts

Turbine article review is on tap in Wednesday night workshop

The Bourne Planning Board will conduct a Wesnesday night workshop to consider how members will again review the controversial wind-turbine zoning bylaw amendment now headed to a May 9 Special Town Meeting.

The board on April 14 tabled discussion of the citizen-petition request, but selectmen have called the special session to accommodate residents of Bournedale and Buzzards Bay opposed to New Generation Wind turbine plans off Scenic Highway and Route 25.

The 16-page zoning revision article does not include amendments, which have been flowing into the Planning Department and Town Clerk Barry Johnson’s office. The amendments are necessary for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the need to make sure revised article does not serve as a de facto moratorium on turbines in Bourne.

Planners will conduct a second formal hearing into the zoning change at 1 p.m. on May 6 in the Town Hall basement. The board could table the request again, citing inadequate time to digest the bylaw revision, the amendments to it and the impacts to the current bylaw on the books, which was approved last year.

Selectmen Chairman John Ford told Concerned Citizens for Responsible Energy that if their article does not make it to town meeting floor on May 9, another separate special town meeting could be called after the group resubmits its proposed zoning change.

Planners say it is nearly impossible to write, review and approve a clean energy bylaw these days that is not immediately outstripped by turbine technology.

Tonight’s workshop will start at 6 in the Community Center.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/04/25/turbine-article-review-is-on-tap-in-wednesday-night-workshop/