Wellfleet Planning Board
Minutes of Meeting on Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Town Hall Hearing Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Barbara E. Gray, Chair; Olga Kahn, Alfred Pickard, Janet Reinhart, Ronald Harper, Griswold Draz, Rex Peterson, Assistant Town Administrator
Absent: Gerald Parent
Zoning By-law Revisions, Public Hearing
Ms. Gray called the meeting to order, and stated that the Planning Board is the Special Permit Granting Authority (SPGA) for wind turbines, but that the Board had not made a decision about supporting or not supporting the project proposed at Wellfleet-By-The –Sea. Selectman Jacqui Beebe discussed her written statement regarding the project and the unanimous vote by the Board of Selectmen to suspend the project. She cited concerns over financing and insurance, and said that it came down to the appropriateness of this particular project on this particular site. Mr. Pickard asked if alternative sites were considered. Ms. Beebe said the Marconi site was considered, but that the Board of Selectmen and Energy Committee dropped the ball on investigating that site. Geoff Karlson from the Energy Committee said that
the Marconi site had issues with access, the width of the parcel that would not be adequate for a Class B turbine and the proximity to the Marconi viewing area.
Ms. Reinhart read the text of Article 23. Mr. Karlson said that the height increase requested in the Article is based on a new model of Vestas turbine with a longer yet lighter blade that would produce an 18% increase in energy output. He distributed a comparison chart showing the difference between the Vestas 82 and Vestas 90 turbines. Ms. Karlson presented several photo simulations showing the turbine from various locations around Town. He said the Energy Committee decided to move forward with the request for height increase in order to meet a fall construction date and also to gauge the support in Town for the project.
Various members of the audience offered testimony in support of and in opposition to the Article. Mr. Pickard made a motion to discuss Article 23. Mr. Draz seconded the motion. The Board’s vote in favor of the motion was unanimous. Mr. Pickard made a motion to recommend Article 23. Ms. Kahn seconded. The Board’s vote was three in favor of the motion (Pickard, Kahn and Harper) and three opposed (Gray Reinhart and Draz). Mr. Draz made a motion to recommend indefinite postponement of Article 23. Ms. Reinhart seconded. The Board’s vote was four in favor of the motion (Gray, Harper, Draz and Reinhart) and two opposed (Kahn and Pickard).
Mr. Karlson explained that Article 24 was drafted by the Energy Committee in response to the petitioned Article 25. He said the major change was the test location. Mr. Harper made a motion to recommend Article 24. Mr. Draz seconded. Mr. Harper voted in favor of the motion with all other members opposed. Therefore, the motion did not carry. Mr. Draz made a motion to recommend indefinite postponement of Articles 24 and 25. Ms. Reinhart seconded the motion. The vote in favor was unanimous.
Mr. Harper made a motion to recommend Article 26. Mr. Draz seconded. The Board’s vote was five in favor with Mr. Pickard abstaining.
Haggerty-Parent ANR
Mr. Draz asked whether the lots on the ANR were part of the buffer zone between the development and Route 6. An examination of the original subdivision plan indicated that they were not included in the open space buffer. Mr. Harper made a motion to endorse the ANR. Mr. Pickard seconded. The vote in favor of the motion was unanimous.
Municipal Water System
Emily Beebe, co-chair of the Board of Water Commissioners gave an update on the expansion proposal for the water system. Mr. Pickard made a motion to recommend Article 27 in accordance with the new route as shown on the April 2010 map. Mr. Harper seconded the motion. The Board’s vote in favor of the motion was unanimous.
Other Town Meeting Article Recommendations
Mr. Pickard made a motion to recommend Article 15 regarding Wastewater planning. Ms. Reinhart seconded. The Board’s vote in favor of the motion was unanimous.
Ms. Gray made a motion to recommend Article 10 regarding Stormwater Remediation. Ms. Reinhart seconded the motion. The Board’s vote in favor was unanimous.
Mr. Pickard made a motion to recommend Article 29 regarding Disposition of Town-owned Parcels provided that the Town establishes a $20,000 minimum bid. Mr. Draz seconded the motion. The Board’s vote in favor of the motion was unanimous.
Ms. Reinhart made a motion to recommend Article 33 regarding A General By-law change regarding temporary signs on Town property. Mr. Draz seconded. The Board’s vote in favor of the motion was unanimous.
Minutes
The Board approved the minutes of March 17, 2010 and April 7, 2010.
Respectfully submitted,
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Rex Peterson
Assistant Town Administrator
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Date
Planning Board approved these minutes at the meeting held 5/5/10.
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