To the Editor:
(Madison, NY – March 2013) The Town of Madison Planning Board has accepted the Wind Advisory Committee’s proposed Wind Power Facilities Law for review.
The law is intended to permit wind development while requiring setbacks that are adequate to protect people who do not want to live in the shadows, or with the sounds, of wind turbines.
After much discussion of setbacks, the Wind Committee agreed to propose a law that allows anyone who DOES NOT object to having wind turbines close to their property to become a “participating” property owner simply by signing an agreement with the developer. In effect this allows people to waive their rights to a large setback in order for wind development to take place on neighboring land.
Considering this provision, it is not relevant for discussion of the proposed law to focus on pro-wind and anti-wind.
The Wind Committee’s report and the proposed law are available on the town’s website at www.townofmadisonny.org, on Madison Matters website at www.madisonmatters.org, and at the town office at 7358 Route 20, Madison, NY 13402. Office hours are 9:00–noon and 1:00–4:00 on Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri. Closed Wednesdays.
Katheryne Gall, Hamilton