SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING - June 27, 2007 - Minutes
A meeting of the Site Plan Review Committee was called to order at 10:00 a.m. in Skaket Meeting Room at the Orleans Town Hall. Departments Present: Erika Woods (Health); Deputy Bill Quinn and Fire Chief Steve Edwards (Fire); Brian Harrison (Building); Todd Bunzick (Water); George Meservey (Planning). Board of Water Commissioners members: Kevin Galligan and Kenneth McKusick. Absent: Mark Budnick (Highway); and Jennifer Wood (Conservation).
INFORMAL: Town Of Orleans - Wind Turbine Project, 350 South Orleans Road
Using maps and diagrams, David Lyttle (Ryder & Wilcox) explained the proposal to construct two wind turbines within the Orleans watershed area off Route 28 (a/k/a 350 South Orleans Road) in South Orleans. Lyttle noted that many sites were studied and Sites 1 and 5 were chosen as the most advantageous of the seven proposed sites partially due to the fact that the land is flat. Lyttle stated that an existing conditions survey was done and an access route was determined which would provide the least disturbance to the area and require the least amount of relocation of the existing utilities. A temporary access and a utility corridor will be required in order to transport the turbines into the proposed sites. It was noted that two new water connections will be required and care must be taken to
avoid major disruption to the town water supply. Existing utilities will have to be removed and replaced for the turbine sites and a 50’ square fence will be required at each site. The turbines will be more than adequately set back from all property lines, noting that the height of the turbines is 398’ (hub height was noted to be 260’). It was noted that there is a wetland on the southwest side of Site 1, but the closest disturbance will be 200’ away from the wetland. The gravel surface access route will be elevated on one side and will drain toward Route 28 with catchbasins and leach pits to prevent discharge onto Route 28. It was noted that in order to transport the turbines into the watershed area, the existing curb cut on Route 28 will need to be widened significantly on a temporary basis. Kenneth McKusick noted that the turbines were bought by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and they are responsible for the
delivery of the three section monopole turbines to the two sites in Orleans.
Comments and Discussion:
Fire: Based on information gained from a wildfire conference (Cape Cod & Islands Conservation Commission Network – Barnstable County Wildfire Mitigation Demonstration) attended by Bunzick and Quinn, it was stressed that the watershed area need to be bisected by a fire road and it was noted that Orleans does not have a brush breaker, although they are available with the mutual aid system on Cape Cod. A question was raised regarding maintenance of the tower and how a rescue could be performed if necessary, and it was noted that there is an inside staircase for access to the turbines, eliminating the need for any outside scaling of the structures. Emergency services training should be required since electromagnetic energy is hazardous and it is
important to know how to deactivate the charging capacity in the lower levels of the structures. Galligan noted that maintenance of the turbines will be required under the contract. A question was asked whether sprinkler would be required and it was determined that the need for sprinklers would have to be determined after the building specifications have been submitted and an application for building permits has been received by the town. Lock boxes could be provided by the Fire Department in order to maintain adequate security and access at the turbine sites.
Building: Building specifications and building permit applications will need to be submitted to the Building Department for further review and determination on requirements such as the need for fire sprinklers in the turbines.
Health: There will be no septic issues since no one will be living on the site. It must be noted that the watershed area must be protected at all times.
Water: There are concerns with the Route 28 interconnection and it is important that there is no reduction in flow on the new water main. Time line specifications regarding proposed down time for the water and utilities to the watershed area must be provided in advance of the project to the Orleans Water Department. The Orleans Water Department must be consulted regarding the time of year anticipated for this project in order to avoid disruption to the normal seasonal town-wide water demands. It must be noted that it will take time for the utilities to be moved and it is important to maintain a 5’ separation between the required 12” water main and all utilities. The town will oversee the new water main to be installed according to
town specifications and with a pre-approved town contractor and inspector. A new gate valve, hydrant, telephone, cable and gas service will have to be installed. Specifications will have to be provided to the Water Department regarding the new temporary access road, particularly on the proposed road surface and materials and it must be adequate for emergency vehicle access and tanker truck deliveries. Security and fencing must be provided in order to prevent unauthorized access on off hours. It is important to note that the “down time” for the watershed equipment must be very limited (no more than 6 hours) no more than 24 hours for the treatment plant. The plant must not be off-line any more than absolutely necessary. After construction is completed, the watershed area must be returned to its natural vegetation with loam and seed specifications provided and maintained. It is important that accountability be provided for the
maintenance of the landscaping and/or vegetation long after the work is done, not just for the immediate future. There must be clear accountability for the road maintenance in all seasons, including snow plowing and mowing and pruning and maintenance of roadside vegetation. Chief Edwards noted it is important to coordinate the project with the Wildfire Plan. It was noted that the electrical interconnects must be clearly shown on the site plan. Legal concerns were raised regarding the use of the town’s telephone poles and wires for the power feed out to the NSTAR poles. Chief Edwards suggested having a second electrical line in case of an unanticipated power outage. It was noted that small adjustments would be needed in the utility corridor to Site 1. It is important to maintain adequate water pressure from the wells to the water treatment plant. To this end, the 12” main relocation around Site #1 will require a protocol
for said relocation requiring the use of a 45º bends (no 90º) or less only. Bunzick gave Lyttle a short protocol to incorporate into the site plan. During construction, all trees, brush, stumps, etc. must be removed from the watershed. A plan must be clearly defined for restoring Route 28 to the original site design. In order to expand the existing curb cut, permits will have to be obtained from Massachusetts State Highway. There is a known problem with the interface and standby generator; this problem will have to be addressed by the developer, at their cost. McKusick requested that all entrances and gates be clearly shown on the site plan. Meservey noted the need to put all Site Plan Review Committee concerns in the Request for Proposal and then will need to be forwarded to the Zoning Board of Appeals for their review.
Planning: All of the requirements noted by other departments indicate that this application will have to be revised and clearly shown on the Site Plan and come back for a Formal review.
There was a consensus of the Site Plan Review Committee that this application will have to come back for a Formal Site Plan Review.
The meeting adjourned at 11: 15 a.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Karen C. Sharpless,
Recording Secretary
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