The planning commission discussed the proposal at a well attended public
hearing last month. At that meeting the commission discussed its option
of sending a letter to the PSB regarding town concerns with the
trackers or requesting a public hearing. The commission opted for the
letter.
Signed by planning commission chair Steve Shea, the letter notes that
the Lareau Farm is in the town's ag/res district, on a designated scenic
highway where preservation of the rural character is a long term goal
of the town.
"The size of the project facility is materially larger than any
structure currently on the property and is out of character and not
harmonious with the historic barn and farmhouse on the land. It will
occupy a significant portion of the open land. There is no existing
screening between Route 100 and the proposed project," Shea wrote in his
letter.
AESTHETIC IMPACT
"Due to the size of the project and its inharmonious appearance in this
particular location, it seems that the aesthetic impact could be
materially reduced by appropriate sized trees and we request due
consideration be given to such screening. Since there are hundreds of
feet of open land between Route 100, which is on the eastern side of the
project, and the woods on the western side, there appears to be
adequate space to locate a solar installation as well as appropriate
screening," he continued.
The PSB accepts testimony, written or in person, or from the public on
projects such as this solar tracker proposal. It has the final say,
however, in siting such projects. At the June meeting, many members of
the public were present to voice concerns about the visual impacts of
solar trackers on scenic highways and in agricultural fields.
In other planning commission news, a working session to continue work on
the revision of the Town Plan attracted a roomful of people on July 6
who wanted to again voice strident opposition to the prospect of any
commercial wind farming on the Northfield Ridge. After two hours of
heated and emotional and sometimes contentious commenting and
interrupting, the planning commission reiterated its intention to keep
the Town Plan as it is, rather than amend it to permit commercial wind
farming on the ridge.
In May, the town was approached by Citizens Wind with a preliminary
proposal to develop up to 24 wind towers along the top of the Northfield
Ridge from Moretown to Warren. Waitsfield's Town Plan currently
prohibits wind farming on the ridge and to allow such a project would
require amending the Town Plan --- at a time when the planning
commission is rewriting the Town Plan per state statute.
OPPOSITION
Opposition to that project packed a June 15 meeting of the planning
commission and led to the commission announcing it would not amend the
Town Plan at this time. At this week's meeting, Shea noted that the
Citizens' Wind energy proposal was the first of what might be several
wind energy proposals. At some point, he said, the town may want to
reconsider that decision as projects and technology changed.
While there were no vocal supporters of wind farming on the ridge at
last month's meeting, at least one person who spoke in favor of wind on
the ridge, was present this week.
"It's not off the table forever, but the planning commission is not
ready to change what the Town Plan says at this point because there are
fairly serious impacts for the ridge," Shea said.
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