Wind law being redone

HAMMOND — It's back to the basics for the Hammond Town Council as it tries to craft a wind power law for the second time.

The board met Wednesday to discuss several language changes to a new proposed law governing how wind turbines can be set up within the town. Faced with a legal challenge from a citizens' group, the town rescinded its earlier wind law Dec. 29.

The changes to the new proposed law recommended by the town attorney, Joseph W. Russell of Menter, Rudin & Trivelpiece, Syracuse, are the beginning of a process to rework a wind law, town officials said.

"We've got our homework to do, to see where we're going from here," Councilman James Langtry said.

Mr. Russell suggested the law establish an overlay district where turbines will be permitted. An overlay district adds a set of additional zoning requirements, while leaving the underlying zoning in place.

The suggested overlay stretches along Route 12 from the St. Lawrence County line to the boundary with the town of Morristown, along the town boundary to Route 6 (referred to in the proposed law as Black Lake Road), from Route 6 to the village border, and along the railroad bed from the village border to Route 12. The district will essentially cover the town, leaving out the village and the river community along Black Lake, town officials said.

Most of the suggested changes were based on recommendations from the St. Lawrence County Planning Board, Mr. Russell said. Other recommendations included changes to the decommissioning and application review processes.

"It mainly clarifies," Mr. Russell said about the revisions being considered as the new proposal takes shape. "I think the biggest change is that we're establishing wind overlays in this law."

The board did not deal with issues such as setbacks or noise standards at the meeting. Setbacks in the rescinded law were at 500 feet from the nearest property line, public road, overlay district edge, wetland or body of water, and 1,500 feet from the nearest home. Acceptable noise levels were at 45 decibels.

The meeting was the first to discuss the proposed new wind law since the original law was rescindedafter the Concerned Residents of Hammond, a grass-roots organization opposed to the law, filed a lawsuit against the town. The lawsuit claimed the board did not follow the state environmental review process.

About 40 people came to the meeting Wednesday, many from the Concerned Residents group. Although some audience members were glad the board was beginning to discuss a wind power law again, some felt the board did not address their concerns.

"I'm concerned about setbacks and health issues, but the Planning Board is more concerned with procedural issues," Erica C. Demick said.