Clayton dispels rumors of Grindstone turbines

GRINDSTONE ISLAND — The Grindstone Island militia can stand down.

A group of startled Clayton residents who mistakenly believed the Town Council was trying to create a new Wind Energy Facility Overlay District on Grindstone Island planned to oppose the rumored wind district at an annual council meeting on Grindstone.

However, the town isn't creating a new wind overlay district, and some people simply misinterpreted a public notice on the proposed zoning amendments, Planning Board Chairman Roland A. "Bud" Baril said.

"There's no consideration of putting industrial wind turbines on Grindstone," Mr. Baril said.

The town's notice, regarding a public hearing on Grindstone Island, states that the town plans to establish several zoning amendments including "adding districts: Wind Energy Facility Overlay District (WEFOD) and Agricultural and Island Development District."

Henry R. LaClair, code enforcement officer for the town of Clayton, said that particular zoning amendment would merely correct an "omission in the zoning ordinance."

The town should have added the category "Wind Energy Facility Overlay District" in a section of the town's zoning ordinance that defines the types of districts in the town, but never did, he said.

"It doesn't change a thing," Mr. LaClair said.

Patricia A. Booras-Miller, vice president of Environmentally Concerned Citizens Organization of Jefferson County, said she thought the town was trying to create a wind overlay district on Grindstone Island and was organizing a group to attend the Grindstone meeting.

"We're still asking members to go to the meeting," she said.

Cindy L. Grant, a town resident, said even if the town is not creating another wind overlay district immediately, people should be keeping an eye on the issue.

"We should be looking ahead. If they can do it in one place, they can do it in another," she said.

The town created a wind overlay district between Depauville and Gunns Corners in January 2007.

Grindstone resident Kenneth R. Deedy said industrial wind turbines are not welcome on the island.

"Industrial wind turbines don't belong in the Thousand Islands," Mr. Deedy said. "People come to see the natural beauty of the region. They don't come to see ugly wind turbines."

The town plans to hold a public hearing on several zoning amendments, including a law that would allow commercial docking and agricultural operations on Grindstone Island, at its annual meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Dodge Hall Community Center, North Shore Road of Grindstone Island.

A boat will leave for the island from the village docks on Riverside Drive at 4 p.m. that day.