Albert Bowers stated in a letter regarding Lyme zoning laws, "The residents of Lyme made it clear in the survey and the public hearings that their desire was to regulate the siting of the wind turbines in a manner that would not destroy Lyme's established position as a prime summer lake resort and the peace and tranquility enjoyed by both year-round and summer residents."
No one in the town of Lyme disagrees with the fact that we need zoning laws in place to regulate wind power. But well over 100 of those same Lyme residents presented a petition at the public hearing in January which stated that using a setback of 4,500 feet from the shore of Lake Ontario, Chaumont River and the towns of Chaumont and Three Mile Bay was excessive and that a lesser setback would be more reasonable.
Since most of those people will never have anything to do with getting a contract with one of the wind power companies, why do you think they signed the petition? Obviously they think the benefits of commercial wind power to the town will be well worth it. But the setback of 4,500 feet effectively destroys the chance of having wind power come to Lyme.
You don't have to be in line to get a check from the wind power company to be pro-wind power. I farm 450 acres on Point Peninsula, and the likelihood of large wind turbines being placed out here on the Point is small. But if other landowners in the town have the opportunity to have them sited on their land, it will bring tax dollars to the town, and every landowner in Lyme will benefit.
The reactionary zoning law now in place assures me that my property tax bill will continue upward with no respite. If the town board zones this opportunity out of existence, where do they expect to find another business willing to come into the town? So far the track record of the board is "keep everyone out, we don't want you."
This isn't a situation where a very few people win and the rest of the town loses. With wind power in the town, every landowner, every taxpayer, wins.
Jennifer Lance
Three Mile Bay
