January 16, 2013
Massachusetts

Witness says ARC turbine would devalue property

By Cynthia Mccormick | Cape Cod Times | January 16, 2013 | www.capecodonline.com

ORLEANS – A co-defendant in a lawsuit brought by a Dennis shellfish hatchery said Tuesday that wind turbines belong in an industrial zone, not near the beach.

The 242-foot wind turbine proposed by the Aquaculture Research Corp. near Chapin Memorial Beach “is going to devaluate my property,” Rosemarie Austin of Dennis told Judge Brian Merrick in Orleans District Court.

Austin was one of several people testifying during the second day of a hearing in the lawsuit brought by ARC against her and the Old King’s Highway Historic District Commission.

ARC says the regional historic board had no grounds on which to overturn an August 2010 decision by the Dennis Historical Commission to allow construction of the turbine to meet the shellfish hatchery’s energy needs.

The regional board made its decision after Austin filed an appeal.

“Where I live, I have a beautiful view,” Austin told the court. She said the regional board of the historic district that includes parts of several towns on the Cape’s north side had every right to overturn the earlier decision.

“Old King’s Highway is about views and vistas as well as paint chips and shingle colors,” she said. “I felt ARC had other options where to put the turbines.”

Austin said as the appellant she represents 92 people from Dennis and Yarmouth who formed an organization called Save Our Beaches in opposition to the proposed turbine.

A misunderstanding led her to be the only name on the appeal, which is how she ended up in court as co-defendant, said Austin, who is representing herself.

“Aren’t you lucky,” Judge Brian Merrick said.

“Alphabetical order,” Austin joked.

During Monday’s proceedings, ARC vice president and co-owner Gail Hart testified about how the turbine would eliminate energy costs and allow the shellfish hatchery to reinvest in its infrastructure, which supports the shellfish industry on Cape Cod.

Merrick said he would confer with attorneys this morning to see if the trial would go on today or be postponed until Thursday based on the availability of an expert witness.

[rest of article available at source]

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/01/16/witness-says-arc-turbine-would-devalue-property/