Lyme Town Board:
We are writing to express our concerns with respect to the Town Board's ongoing zoning process for situating Industrial Wind Turbines in the Town of Lyme. At the outset of this process, we were willing to support the original zoning law enacted by the town. The subsequent challenge to that law, set aside by a few property owners that had a financial incentive to oppose its reasonable setbacks, has made it abundantly clear that they and their corporate sponsors, BP Wind and Acciona, will not accept reasonable limits or setbacks. Given this, and recent press reports and anecdotal evidence compiled by local real estate companies, it is clear to us now that Industrial Wind Turbines will drastically reduce real estate values for most, if not all, Lyme homeowners, particularly waterfront properties, and that it would be utterly irresponsible for the Town Board to allow Industrial Wind Turbines to be built anywhere in Lyme.
Some residents have threatened to sell, even at depressed prices that even the possibility of Industrial Wind Turbines is now causing, if Industrial Wind Turbines are permitted. We are not sure how to proceed, but at this point are certain about one thing. With the cloud of uncertainty hanging over our town, we will not make any capital improvements to our property and the adjoining 86 acres, or otherwise invest in Lyme, until the Lyme Town Board makes clear that our town is not an appropriate location for Industrial Wind Turbines. That is the only prudent course of action, as it makes no economic sense for our family to make capital improvements to property that will, overnight, depreciate by as much as 40 to 60 percent if BP Wind and Acciona are permitted to destroy our town and erect wind turbines in the town footprint.
Some in the town and on the Town Board seem driven to build wind turbines in Lyme, no matter what the cost to the town at large, simply to enrich a few large landholders, at the expense of a majority of residents. The Town Board's evident plans to enact lesser setbacks than contained in the previous zoning law, however, has already had the chilling effect of causing us - and no doubt others - not to go forward with these projects, until and unless we are certain that the Town Board enacts a wind turbine zoning law that protects the essential scenic beauty and recreational nature of Lyme and ensures that our property values will not be diminished by irresponsible zoning decisions. That means essentially banning industrial wind turbines.
We built our home in 1999, with plans to gradually make improvements to our home and property over the ensuing years before our retirement to Lyme. Those capital improvements will NOT be made until we are certain that our investment in Lyme is safe. The Town Board should consider the immediate economic impact that this discussion has on its construction and other businesses, as we are certain others are proceeding with equal caution. We urge these local businesses to write the Town Board and express their opposition to any wind development in Lyme.
Finally, we concur with the May 24, 2010 letter written by Mr. Albert H. Bowers, III and believe that it is prudent and proper for Mr. Bourquin to recuse himself from any discussions, meetings or votes regarding industrial wind turbines proposals for Lyme.
Please feel free call us at 315-649-5375 or 703-527-5375 if you have any questions.
Sincerely
David C. Smith
Meryl P. Corshen
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