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Thursday, May 23, 2013
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Lyme to consider moratorium on personal turbines Nov. 14

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CHAUMONT — Residents seeking a permit for personal wind turbines have only a few weeks until a six-month ban on such structures is expected to be enacted.

Lyme Supervisor Scott G. Aubertine said the town expects the Jefferson County Planning Board to review its proposal at a board meeting Tuesday. Once it receives some feedback, Lyme plans to pass a moratorium on personal wind turbines at a Nov. 14 Town Council meeting.

“In the meantime, if anybody wants to put up a wind turbine, there are no laws preventing them from doing that,” Mr. Aubertine said.

While the town zoning officer may deny a permit, applications must be processed within 30 days unless there are “extenuating circumstances,” such as weather, requirement for information on a project or other necessary permits related to the proposed work, according to the town’s zoning law.

After the moratorium is in place, the town Planning Board will start developing new zoning laws for personal wind turbines, solar and biomass energy development.

Lyme does not have a set timeline, Mr. Aubertine said, but should have a set of laws in place before the ban on personal turbines expires May 14.

Mr. Aubertine said that he does not wish the process to be unnecessarily long and that he is developing his own set of “common-sense” laws — that will be based on regulations of other municipalities — for the Planning Board’s consideration.

A public hearing on the proposed moratorium was held Oct. 10, but nobody spoke during the session.

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