STOP, The regional wind energy industrialization of one of New York State's most beautiful and environmentally sensitive areas, the 1000 Islands of the St. Lawrence River and the Golden Crescent of Eastern Lake Ontario. If you don't think you are seeing the most recent posts click on the current month in the archives to the right.
Friday, January 24, 2014
The New Cape Vincent Zoning Law Review Committee 2014
Mike Bourcy - Jeff. County Planning
Bob Brown - Chair CV Planning Board
Paul Docteur - CV Planning Board
Dennis Faulknham - Chair CV ZBA
Ed Hludenzski - CV ZBA
Jim Millington - CV ZEO
Paul Aubertine - CV Town Board - Replaces Urban Hirschey
Kathy Pierce - Recording Sec.
Steve Hall - CV Citizen
Paul Mason - CV Citizen
Corky Martusewicz - CV Citizen
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Apparently Councilman John Byrne is also on the zoning review committee.
ReplyDeleteThere’s been considerable conversation on the local blogs about the visual survey administered by Marion Trieste on behalf of BP regarding their project in Cape Vincent. The town, and many blog commentors, made much ado over whether this survey was legitimate, or in any way vetted by the PSC or the DEC. ART .X judge Paul Agresta laid their concerns to rest, claiming no contribution , or influence from the State.
ReplyDeleteThe curious thing about the whole affair is, why if so many felt the survey was not legit, did they feel compelled to fill it out. The town board even encouraged residents to respond to it. This completely baffled me.
Since the transcript of Agresta’s procedural conference has been published, there have been numerous condemnations of the survey, and BP’s refusal to produce visual simulations. After some reflection, it occurs to me there is a reason for the concern.
It is obvious BP’s wind project will seriously impact the scenic value of the 1000 Islands in a negative way. Even BP acknowledges this in their previous SEQR review. Most anti-wind comments to the PSC deal with the impact to the scenic quality, and even the Town of Clayton has voiced concern over the potential view from the river in the town of Clayton. However, there is one crucial document, which likely will carry the most weight in any consideration (if there is any) of local criteria, which falls miserably short in providing protection for the scenic element. That is the Cape Vincent zoning law.
Isn’t it ironic that with all of the clamor regarding serious negative effects on the scenic quality of Cape Vincent, the only specific criteria for preserving scenic value in the zoning law refers to protecting the Seaway Trail which has been designated as a National Scenic Highway. And even then, the restrictive setback for turbines( which is 1.25 miles) is so woefully inadequate , as to be laughable. The remainder of restrictive setbacks are in relation to property values, and health and safety.
Can it be the community is apprehensive that the zoning law is inadequate but are afraid to say so, for fear of condemning the efforts of the revision process? Instead, it appears more legitimate to fault BP for not providing visual simulations.
Maybe the recently formed committee selected to review and revise the zoning law will take into account this deficit in the existing law and modify it to include ample setbacks to protect the scenic value.
As a guide to aide them, I would suggest the following for consideration,based on the degree of concern expressed by many. No industrial scale turbines should be allowed to impact the rural viewscapes, or the views from, or of, the waterfront areas of the Town. This would necessarily preclude turbines from being sited in the township. This would be totally in compliance with the revised Comprehensive Plan, and likely satisfy all the neighboring townships as well.