May 11, 2011
Massachusetts

Will amended zoning bylaw affect Bourne turbines proposal?

Bourne Courier, www.wickedlocal.com 10 May 2011

Community debate continued Tuesday concerning New Generation Wind’s strategic move to protect its property and zoning interests north of the canal where seven industrial-grade turbines are planned.

Jim Potter of Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy says New Generation’s turbine proposal, now under scrutiny at the Cape Cod Commission, would still fall under the dictates of the amended wind-energy conversions systems bylaw amended by voters at the Monday night Special Town Meeting.

Attorney Christopher Senie, representing the citizen group, said Tuesday that as long as the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office approves the bylaw revisions passed by voters, they will be “applicable” to the New Generation application for a special permit.

Town Planner Coreen Moore and Town Counsel Robert Troy see it differently. Moore says “New Generation Wind is now protected under the former zoning, but I also don’t think their plan will be a slam-dunk with the planning board” given turbine sensibilities in town.

Troy early on Monday ruled the New Generation submittal of a preliminary subdivision plan with the town locks in zoning that would allow for turbines on the so-called Ingersoll/Lorusso property north of the canal.

Some citizen group members on Tuesday criticized the planning board’s role Monday night at the special session, saying chairman Chris Farrell was allowed “to misinform the public and obstruct the voters’ rights every chance they got.”

Members said all planning board members should be recalled, short of Peter Meier; who backed the amendment and is a selectman candidate.

James Potter of Buzzards Bay, citizens-group spokesman, said the issue of whether zoning would allow New Generation turbines in time is still “evolving.”

New Generation supporters, meanwhile, castigated Selectman Jamie Sloniecki; who moved quickly at town meeting to move the question and terminate debate before any discussion of the bylaw revisions could begin. They said it was a “low point” for selectmen to call a special town meeting that costs over $3,000 and then move to shut off debate before it could begin.

Voters amended the town’s turbine-siting bylaw by a 359-131 vote Monday night. The revised bylaw now heads to attorney general review. New Generation has seven months to file a turbine plan for its tracts off Scenic Highway and Route 25, a proposal which represents the first land-based wind farm plan in Massachusetts.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/11/will-amended-zoning-bylaw-affect-bourne-turbines-proposal/