October 16, 2012
New York

Town of Richfield rejects moratorium on industrial land use

By AMANDA FRIES | Observer-Dispatch | Oct 15, 2012 | www.uticaod.com

RICHFIELD SPRINGS – Many were far from pleased after the Town Board Monday rejected a proposed industrial land-use moratorium.

The Richfield Town Board voted 3-2 opposing the 10-month moratorium on all applications, or proceedings for applications, and issuance of approvals or permits for industrial use of land.

The moratorium specifically pointed to hydraulic fracturing, electric transmission lines, landfills and electric power generation facilities from any source, including wind energy.

Some people at the meeting at Richfield Springs Central School stormed out of the cafeteria upset with the decision. State troopers were called in as a precaution.

“It’d be nice to try democracy every once in awhile,” resident Dan Sullivan said. “The citizens of the town would actually have input.”

The moratorium also would’ve stipulated that a seven-person committee be formed, consisting of town residents who “… have knowledge relevant to the purpose stated in this local law,”

Several residents took issue with this phrase as well as other wording in the moratorium, which is one of the reasons behind Town Board member Mary Margaret Snyder’s vote.

“I’m not opposed to the whole moratorium” she said. “We have to be careful of what we put in place.”

Snyder said the language was ambiguous and opposed another committee to be formed to make decisions.

“I just felt that it was another layer of government,” she said.

Meanwhile, residents didn’t see the harm in putting into a place a 10-month moratorium that would offer a breather for the board as well as the town.

“We don’t know where our elected officials are coming from,” resident Carol Frigault told the board. “Don’t throw this out and just not consider doing this.”

Town Supervisor Francis Enjem said they will go back and try to reword the moratorium to satisfy some of the concerns that the board members had.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/10/16/town-of-richfield-rejects-moratorium-on-industrial-land-use/