March 7th, 2008
March 7th,2009
Sedgwick
Nix Moratorium on cell, wind towers
by Bette Britt
Sedgwick
Nix Moratorium on cell, wind towers
by Bette Britt
The subject of warrant article 10 wasn’t about raising money to benefit the
town and its citizens, but was, instead, seeking a six-month moratorium on
construction of commercial towers, whether telecommunication towers and
antennas or wind turbines. As proposed, anything over 50 feet could not be
erected during the six-month period, during which time the planning board,
board of appeals and the local code enforcement officer would not accept or
approve applications for such construction but would, according to moratorium
wording, work “to develop and implement the necessary amendments to zoning
and land use ordinances and regulations to accommodate…development
pressures.”
Saying he owns “the top of Caterpillar Hill,” Gordon Gianninoni stood to make
his pitch for construction of a telecommunications tower there and filed an
application to that effect at the town office the previous Thursday. He indicated
it wasn’t an impulsive gesture, because he’d been considering such a project
since moving to Sedgwick in 1999. And after the recent storm, when all forms
of communication were knocked out for 24 hours, residents were inclined to
agree with Gianninoni’s reasoning that there’s need for a cell tower to provide
coverage for the area. Even those who don’t own cell phones spoke of the
helpless feeling experienced that day, knowing there was no way to reach 911
in an emergency.
Concern about having a wind farm spring up in the area, was also on voter’s
minds, and an effort was made to limit the moratorium to focus only on wind
turbines. Consensus favored an all-or-nothing approach, however, as wording
of the proposed ordinance linked both cell and wind towers as a sign “of
increased development pressure,” which “has not been adequately provided
for in the town’s current ordinances.” First selectman Nelson Grindal stated he
saw no problem in trying to protect the town by taking time to address a variety
of tower-related issues. Others agreed that 180 days isn’t too long to study the
local situation, which, said Grindal, includes application for a wind farm with a
$53 million bottom line. “We need to have a part in what’s going on here,” he
said. Given adequate time to air “pros” and “cons” of adopting the proposed
six-month moratorium, voters raised their hands and voted it down.
town and its citizens, but was, instead, seeking a six-month moratorium on
construction of commercial towers, whether telecommunication towers and
antennas or wind turbines. As proposed, anything over 50 feet could not be
erected during the six-month period, during which time the planning board,
board of appeals and the local code enforcement officer would not accept or
approve applications for such construction but would, according to moratorium
wording, work “to develop and implement the necessary amendments to zoning
and land use ordinances and regulations to accommodate…development
pressures.”
Saying he owns “the top of Caterpillar Hill,” Gordon Gianninoni stood to make
his pitch for construction of a telecommunications tower there and filed an
application to that effect at the town office the previous Thursday. He indicated
it wasn’t an impulsive gesture, because he’d been considering such a project
since moving to Sedgwick in 1999. And after the recent storm, when all forms
of communication were knocked out for 24 hours, residents were inclined to
agree with Gianninoni’s reasoning that there’s need for a cell tower to provide
coverage for the area. Even those who don’t own cell phones spoke of the
helpless feeling experienced that day, knowing there was no way to reach 911
in an emergency.
Concern about having a wind farm spring up in the area, was also on voter’s
minds, and an effort was made to limit the moratorium to focus only on wind
turbines. Consensus favored an all-or-nothing approach, however, as wording
of the proposed ordinance linked both cell and wind towers as a sign “of
increased development pressure,” which “has not been adequately provided
for in the town’s current ordinances.” First selectman Nelson Grindal stated he
saw no problem in trying to protect the town by taking time to address a variety
of tower-related issues. Others agreed that 180 days isn’t too long to study the
local situation, which, said Grindal, includes application for a wind farm with a
$53 million bottom line. “We need to have a part in what’s going on here,” he
said. Given adequate time to air “pros” and “cons” of adopting the proposed
six-month moratorium, voters raised their hands and voted it down.
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