I finally understand the size of the transmission lines. The guy from UPC says they are 65 feet high, with 20 foot arms on either side of the center pole, which means that a 40 foot right of way is required to run overhead lines.
Typically, NYSEG owns 30 foot right of ways along the road in
front of people's homes (and sometimes across property). This means that in order to put up the transmission lines, NYSEG and/or UPC will have to get additional easements from property owners. This is a lot of easements -- if people don't sign the papers, then UPC is stuck. Now here's what people should know -- if you sign an easement for a 40 foot right of way, the guy wires may be attached and go on your land outside of the 40 foot right of way. But that is not all.
This next part is hard for me to explain, so I'm simplifying things. I looked at my abstract and there is an easement for NYSEG. It says in the easement that NYSEG has the right to get rid of trees that are in the way of the lines. Sure enough,if one looks at the plans for transmission lines in the EIS one sees that NYSEG and/or UPC reserves the right to cut tall trees located within 50 feet of either side of the pole so that tall trees don't interfere with the transmission lines.
This amounts in reality to a 100 foot right of way for NYSEG and UPC.
For example: a landowner has a house set back 60 feet from the road, with tall trees on the front of his land providing privacy. UPC puts up poles for transmission. The poles are typically 29 feet from the center of the road, which puts them 10 or fifteen feet onto the land. The arms extend another 20 feet onto the land. Then UPC cuts down tall trees that are located 50 feet on either side of the pole. Gone are beautiful trees. Gone is privacy. Gone is life as you know it.
People need to know this. Please send out e-mails to your groups and let as many people know verbally as possible. Please encourage people NOT to sign additional easements.
(Permission to post provided by Ruth M)
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