ALLEGANY - Allegany town residents heard new proposals for a wind-turbine farm that would effectively reduce the number of turbines built by three, and shift their locations to more remote areas in the community.
During Monday’s meeting for the Town of Allegany Planning Board, a gathering of 15 to 20 residents at the Allegany Senior Center heard a short presentation by Kevin Sheen, senior director of development for EverPower Renewables. The New York City-based company has been interested in constructing a wind-turbine farm in the Chipmonk area for the past couple of years and had initially proposed the construction of 32 wind turbines in the community. The new plan calls for the construction of 29 wind turbines.
Mr. Sheen told the board that the new layout of wind turbines would place the towers 2,500 feet from non-contracted landowners’ properties.
“We think this layout addresses some of the concerns” of the landowners along the eastern ridge of the proposed project, Mr. Sheen said. He said several wind turbines initially proposed for the Chipmonk Road area in the northern and southern ridges of the community were taken out of the plans and shifted to the western ridges of the project near Nichols Run.
Mr. Sheen said this area is on property owned by Nichols Run Oil Co.
“What we tried to do is shift some of the northern turfs and southern turfs that might have been closer to homes, and move them into areas that are less populated,” Mr. Sheen said.
He said additional studies, regarding the sound and visual impact the turbines will have on the community, will be conducted and included in the draft environmental-impact study that is expected to be presented to the planning board in January.
Planning board vice chairman Bob Phillips, who moderated the meeting as he will be appointed chairman in 2010, asked Mr. Sheen if a topographical map could be provided to show the turbines’ proximity to the Olean area. Mr. Sheen said maps will be made available. Mr. Sheen also noted, in response to a question, that the turbines would be constructed only in the town of Allegany and aren’t being considered for other towns or communities in the area.
Later in the meeting, John Hare, chairman of the planning board, said a public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the senior center for the town board to consider a proposed wind-energy overlay zone for the Chipmonk area. Carol Horowitz, town planner, said the wind-energy overlay zone would be set on top of an existing zoning district and would effectively give the town board governing power for final approval of the project.
The public hearing also will include a second session for the planning board to consider the proposed elimination of a required 2,500-foot distance of the wind turbines from homes, businesses, schools and hospitals. That proposal has been requested by Gary Abraham of the Concerned Citizens of Cattaraugus County.
Mr. Abraham explained why he and others with the Concerned Citizens group would like to see the 2,500-foot distance requirement for the turbines be removed from the plans.
“If that distance is good enough for those inside (the perimeter of 2,500 feet) than it should be good enough for those (living) outside” the required distance, Mr. Abraham said. “Why would you not want to extend that protection to people who are just outside” the required distance?
“All these Chipmonk residences are just outside that distance,” he said. “We want the town board to change that law.”
(Contact reporter Kate Day Sager at kates_th@yahoo.com)
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