January 21, 2020
Pennsylvania

Hegins Township Planning Commission defers on curative amendment

Vicki Terwilliger | Republican Herald | January 21, 2020 | www.republicanherald.com

The Hegins Township Planning Commission chose not to make a recommendation to the supervisors on the curative amendment for the township’s zoning ordinance.

That amendment addresses where wind turbines are permitted within the township.

The commission, including Guy Julian, Ashley Miller, Bernard Spece and Justin Edling, held a continuation of its public meeting from Jan. 9 on Thursday, but decided to send the draft forward to the supervisors without comment.

Meanwhile, the township supervisors are scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, to consider the curative amendment that was drafted by John R. “Jack” Varaly, a Wilkes-Barre special consultant hired by the township.

Some details of the curative amendment include a Renewable Energy Overlay District in the S-3 Special Purpose mining district where commercial wind turbines would be allowed; a maximum height of 400 feet from the base to blade tip; noise level of 45 decibels; required studies on shadow flicker, property value and road conditions; and a decommissioning process for the turbines to be removed once they are no longer usable.

A Waverly energy developer, Clean Air Generation LLC, has proposed building a wind energy project, with a maximum of 75 to 80 wind turbines total; up to 40 possible in Hegins Township and the remaining in Porter, Tremont and Frailey townships.

Proposed turbines would be erected on approximately 12,672 acres that CAG acquired through a land lease and wind easement agreement with Rausch Creek Land LP, Valley View.

Those turbines would be built on the ridge tops of Bear Mountain and Good Spring Mountain, near Hegins, and Big Lick Mountain in Porter Township.

In December, the township’s zoning hearing board unanimously denied the use variance CAG sought for the project.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2020/01/21/hegins-township-planning-commission-defers-on-curative-amendment/