August 5, 2015
Letters, Maryland

Don’t compromise Code Home Rule to help wind farm

Cumberland Times-News | August 5, 2015 | www.times-news.com

Once again, the rights of taxpayers and residents of Allegany County are being put to the test by a proposed wind farm on Dan’s Mountain adjacent to the Harwood Subdivision.

This wind farm has been planned in a manner that does not comply with the existing Code Home Rule 2-09, necessitating a zoning appeal by Dan’s Mountain Wind Force, LLC.

As you are aware, Code Home Rule 2-09 was enacted on June 4, 2009, in response to the threat of unregulated industrial wind farm development in Allegany County and provides property value and quality of life protections that previously did not exist.

At that time, homeowners in the county were on the verge of being exploited by wind farm companies that showed little or no concern for residents impacted by their installations.

As taxpayers and residents of Allegany County, Maryland, we request that you uphold the provisions of Code Home Rule 2-09, since these requirements are the only line of defense against inconsiderate placement of wind turbines with respect to established homes in the county.

Failure to do so will adversely impact the residents of Allegany County in a manner that cannot be reversed in our lifetime.

The communities of Bel Air, Cresaptown, Harwood Subdivision, Midland, and Vale Summit will be the first to be impacted, but once Code Home Rule 2-09 is compromised, all areas within the county will be susceptible to the same set of problems as the residents of the Dan’s Mountain region are currently being forced to face.

We respectfully request that the Allegany County Board of Zoning Appeals gives careful consideration to this request and maintains focus on the rights of citizens that live and pay taxes in Allegany County.

Randall C. and Elaine L. Ridenour

Frostburg

Editor’s note: This letter to the Allegany County Board of Zoning Appeals was released to the Times-News for publication.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/08/05/dont-compromise-code-home-rule-to-help-wind-farm/