Wind Turbine Rules for "Victor"

From the Industrial Wind Action Group

Victor OKs rules on wind turbines
The Victor Town Board adopted a new law Monday regulating wind turbines and settled a lawsuit over a fence erected by residents in a conservation area. There are no wind turbines in the town currently, but the new law was established to address potential future problems.
December 15, 2009 by Bennett Loudon in Democrat and Chronicle
The Victor Town Board adopted a new law Monday regulating wind turbines and settled a lawsuit over a fence erected by residents in a conservation area.

There are no wind turbines in the town currently, but the new law was established to address potential future problems such as aesthetic impacts, noise, interference with communication devices, lighting and danger to birds. The new law:

* Requires a permit to erect a wind turbine on a tower or the roof of a building.

* Prohibits utility-scale turbines but allows them for private homes and commercial sites.

* Sets a limit of 200 feet on towers.

* Establishes setback requirements that vary depending on how the neighboring property is used.

The new law will go into effect as soon as it is filed with state officials. A six-month moratorium on construction of wind turbines that was adopted by the board in July will expire in mid-January.

At the meeting Monday, the board also voted to settle a lawsuit against Nicholas and Kara Vassello, who erected a six-foot wooden fence on land near their home that was supposed to remain in its natural state under a conservation easement.

The town sued the Vassellos to have the fence removed and the Vassellos countersued.

Under the settlement, the town will remove the portion of the fence in the conservation area at the town's expense and the town will pay the Vassellos $9,478.08 for the 432-foot section of fence to be removed.

The fence will be removed at a mutually agreed on time after March 15.

Under the settlement, reimbursement to the Vassellos will be made within seven days of the fence removal.

The town also must fill in the fence post holes and reseed the area.

"We felt there was probably some accountability issues, that maybe our employees had acted prematurely without seeking advice of a legal counsel," said Victor Supervisor Jack Marren.

Web link: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/200912...