The Developer's Bull Does Stink

7/28/09

The Developer's Bull Does Stink

In May I wrote that my wife owns a 25-acre Naples, Ontario County property located across from a wind turbine site, and we had the tax assessment reduced by 60%. I stand by that statement, and I have the paper trail to prove it. To say I'm a bit displeased at being called a liar by the wind developer in "Today's Stinky Bull" is an understatement. Let me explain how this all went down.

First, the assessment on my wife's property was raised, as were the assessments on many properties in Naples. In response, I brought the tax assessor several documents which I felt indicated that the value of this property – and two other nearby properties – should be significantly lowered due to the proximity of a wind turbine site. As evidence, I submitted the letter the current Naples town supervisor wrote to the NY State attorney general, which, among other concerns, addresses the resulting inability to build on property in close proximity to turbines. I also provided the developer's turbine site map, and indicated their plan to build the project this year.

In response, the Naples assessor first granted a (quite modest) change in the assessment, based upon the percentage of the 25 acres which was field versus forest. While I didn't understand this rationale, this small reduction was appreciated. I then re-stated this didn't address the real problem. This property was severely devalued because of the close proximity of a site for a 415-foot-high, noise-making, ice-throwing, health-threatening industrial wind turbine. For this reason, no one in their right mind could build there, and even if we were crazy enough to do so, no sane banker would grant us a mortgage, and no sensible underwriter would sell us insurance. It seemed pretty straightforward to me.

The Naples assessor then stated that any further reduction in the assessment would need to be based upon an appraisal. We commissioned and submitted appraisals on this 25-acre parcel and two other adjacent properties. In response, the assessments on all three properties were reduced, and the reduction in assessment was progressively lower the closer the property was to the wind turbine site. And yes, the assessment on the property closest to the wind turbine site was reduced (to be precise) a whopping 59.5%!

Now let's think through the "stinky bull" these sweethearts have been slinging. The "Misinformation" newsletter claims that this property was "reclassified as to its current use at the request of the owner" and "she (the Naples assessor) did that and the land was reclassified from building lots to woodland and wasteland". What a whopper! I've never heard of these classifications.

First, none of these three unimproved properties was a "building lot". I'm not a housing developer, and they weren't cut up into one acre (or any other sized) sections. The problem is we WANTED to build a home for one of our sons on this 25-acre property – one house – and now we CAN'T.

Next, I didn't ASK to have this 25-acre property declared a "wasteland". The windfarm developer MADE it a "wasteland"! If that's what the assessor needed to call it in order to justifiably reduce the tax assessment, so be it. But don't tell us this is what we wanted! This 60% lower assessment is almost half what we originally paid for the property, and one-third what we were offered for the property several years ago – and turned down. Again, don't tell us this is what we wanted!

Calming down, this does open an interesting question. Is it really possible that I or anyone else can just go into the town tax assessor and say, "I don't feel like building on my property. So, uh, how about you just cut my tax bill in half? No, wait. Make that 60%." What!? Does anyone reading this claim in "The Stinky Bull" really believe this is how it works? Do you think the developers even believe it? Come now! Just thinking they believed they could get people to swallow this "stinky bull" takes my breath away.

And if (for whatever reason) your town board throws these pillaging Vikings the keys to the car and they site a 400-foot-high noise-making industrial wind turbine close to your home and land, prepare yourself for a drag-out fight if you seek a reassessment. Do you believe the town assessor wants to open "Pandora's Box" and start assessing a number of properties DOWN? Of course not!

Let's get this straight. At this point, the real issue is not the inevitable lower property assessments for those severely damaged, which will need to be balanced out by higher taxes paid by the rest of the town's property owners. The real issue is this – How much do you want the value and usefulness of your property to fall? How about not at all!

Forget about who's been "influenced", or even that your former town supervisor now works for the developer. Your future is still within your control. Stand up and tell your elected town board what you truly want. One choice is to give in to the "prophets of powerlessness", let the developer do with you what they will, and live with the consequences. Or, you can protect your homes, your property, and your way of life, and protect yourself and your neighbors from the higher taxes this havoc will cause. It's your choice.

John Servo
Prattsburgh, New York