Springwater Preservation Committee

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Note: Click here to view the official complete minutes of recent Town Board Meetings

Here is a list of important meetings regarding the Bishop Wind Farm Proposal:

- - none currently scheduled - -

March 20th, 2006 – Vote on Proposed WECS Ordinance

A vote was held on the proposed WECS ordinance and it was passed without consideration of its numerous shortcomings. 

>> To view the official March 20 town board meeting notes, click here

>> To view the WECS ordinance that was passed, click here. 

For many in attendance though the vote was just the latest in a series of appalling actions by our town supervisor and two board members leaving absolutely no doubt that they overwhelming support the interests of the wind farm developers while seriously ignoring the citizens and taxpayers of the town that elected them.  (Click here for additional commentary on the vote).

December 12th, 2005 – Public Hearing

A Public Hearing was held on December 12, 2005 at the Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. on the proposed wind turbine ordinance.  A copy of a recent draft of the ordinance is available on this website (click here to view the proposed ordinance). A copy is also available for your inspection at the Springwater Town Hall. The town board will consider citizen input and update the ordinance as they feel appropriate. Stay tuned to this website for any updates to the draft ordinance.

June 20th, 2005  - Springwater Town Board Meeting

The Springwater Town Board did not vote on the tax exemption or the local law draft that the town attorney drew up.  They have tabled the two until the July 18th meeting.  At that meeting, they will probably vote on both.  

June 6th, 2005 - Springwater Town Board Meeting
The Springwater Town Board voted 3 to 2 against declaring a moratorium on wind farms Monday night. However, Supervisor Mark Walker, who opposed a moratorium, said before the vote that he would rather have the town attorney draft a local law to govern the construction of wind farms.

That draft will be ready for the Town Board's review at its next meeting, June 20.

Joining Walker in opposition to a moratorium were Florence Perkins and Larry Gnau. Those favoring it were Erin Moore, who suggested a moratorium of six months or nine months for more investigation, and Peter Faith.

May 15th, 2005 – Public Hearing Meeting

A large number of citizens turned out for the Public Hearing sponsored by the Springwater Town Board on Sunday, May 15, 2005 at the Springwater Fire Hall. At this meeting, residents and landowners of the Town of Springwater were able to register their approval or disapproval of the proposed Bishop Wind Farm project. Although an official tally is not yet available, according to a reporter from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle “An overwhelming majority of those who officially registered their position opposed the wind farm, which PPM Atlantic Renewable wants to build.” Click here to view the full D&C article.

Monday, May 2nd, 2005 – Springwater Town Board Meeting

The following is an excerpt from the Springwater Town Board meeting held on May 2, 2005 pertaining to the format for the public meeting:

A public meeting will be held at the Fire Hall on May 15, 2005 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.  The single issue is whether people SUPPORT or OPPOSE the development of the Bishop Wind Farm.  The Springwater Town Board will determine whether or not to issue a building permit to PPM Atlantic Renewable based on the results of the public hearing.

At the meeting, there will be no displays and everyone present will be permitted to speak. However, it will only be residents and property owners of the Town of Springwater whose position will be included in an official count to be taken by the Town Clerk and Deputy Clerk.

At the meeting, people will be asked to go to a podium, state their name and address or the street on which their Springwater property is located and indicate whether they are in support of or opposed to the Bishop Wind Farm.

The doors will be closed at 5:00 p.m. and everyone who is inside the Fire Hall by that time will be permitted to speak no matter how long it takes.

People are discouraged from making long speeches.  However, they may be entitled to give a very brief statement as to their position. Supervisor Walker made it clear that he, personally, would disregard anyone who took the opportunity to go into a long speech.  The Board agreed that there had already been sufficient discussion on the issue.

The Town Board requested that people car pool in order to prevent congestion in the parking lot.

NOTE:  Residents and/or property owners who cannot be at the hearing can write to the Town Clerk with the necessary information.  Such letters must be received by the Town clerk no later than May 14, 2005.

Anyone who wrote a letter to the Town Board prior to this time must still either appear at the public meeting or write an additional letter to the Town Clerk specific to this public hearing.   Earlier letters were important, but will not be included in the official counting.

Saturday, April 23rd, 2005 1:00p.m.  – “Public Information Meeting” at the Springwater Fire Hall

The information meeting at the Springwater Fire Hall was attended by nearly 225 local citizens, and visitors from as far away as Ithaca and Rochester. The two principal presenters, PPM Atlantic Renewable Energy, and The Springwater Preservation Committee, both showed slide documentation to support their respective positions. The highly controversial question of responsible and appropriate siting of wind energy conversion systems - commonly called, "wind farms" - is a burgeoning problem for residents (non-participating land owners) as well as those who would benefit from such an industrial-level development.

Prior to the formal presentations, there was time for all visitors to review photographs, models and charts assembled by both groups. The Springwater Preservation Committee (SPC) had put together a number of maps depicting the impact of the wind turbines on the surrounding residential properties in East Springwater as well as large, aerial photos with digitized images of the turbines placed in approximate locations. Springwater Preservation also had a scale model of a turbine with a "boarded up house" and a fleeing couple trying to escape the intrusiveness of the massive tower above their trees and the house.

PPM showed several topographic maps with graphic overlays depicting tower locations, noise propagation, and potential "flicker" problems. They did not, however, show the numerous residential properties which surround the several hundred acres designated as the Bishop Wind Farm.

Bill Moore, representing PPM Atlantic, led off the presentation with a talk and slide show. He presented his and his company's views why these turbines are beneficial to an area where they are located. John Servo, an energy consultant and a Prattsburg land owner, responded with another presentation and took issue with most of PPM's assertions, and made the point that while SPC agrees to the viability of such wind farms in industrial or uninhabited areas, the Springwater hills are neither appropriate nor suitable for such a major project.

During a Q&A session, both parties as well as the attendees had an opportunity to ask additional questions and, at times, refute claims or statements made by the opposing side.

A demonstration by engineer/scientist, Tom Dey, allowed the people in the Fire Hall to hear a simulation of what the rotor blades sound like in motion.

A tentative date for the Public Hearing was set for May 15th at 3:00 PM in the Springwater Fire Hall. The Springwater land owners will have an opportunity to express their support or disagreement to the Town Board with a simple yea or nay. We are hoping to get a firm date and time for publication in the next few days.

Note: Mr. Moore discounted or minimized several known issues with wind farms raised by Springwater residents and landowners.  ….read more….
  

Monday, April 18th, 2005 – Springwater Town Board Meeting

Although the 15 people present at the regular Town Board meeting Monday, April 18 expected an interesting and informative evening, there was obvious disappointment on many faces when Town Supervisor Mark Walker rescinded the offer of a possible May 7 Public Hearing date. He did not yield to stern pressure from disgruntled SPC members; nor would he clarify beyond expressing he felt it was "too soon." Future hearing dates under consideration are May 13, 15, 20, & 22 and Supervisor Walker is in the process of finalizing with the Fire Dept.

Special notice will be posted as required by law designating the April 23rd informational meeting an official Town Board meeting, thus enabling Mr. Walker to divulge the hearing date at that meeting. A 2-hour slot will be slated for the hearing but the policy is that anyone in the building before the 2-hour cutoff will be able to voice their choice.

The question was posed,” Are people going to be able to speak at the hearing?" "That's the reason you have one," Mr. Walker answered with a smile. He stated that a moderator has not yet been named although 2 parties had declined the request, quelling the rumor that the Town Justice may fill the spot. Mr. Walker reiterated that he himself would not be doing it and that the search was ongoing.

PPM Atlantic Renewable did take out an ad in the Valley News this week and, according to Mark Walker, were conducting a mass mailing to non-resident landowners.

Monday, March 21st, 2005 – Springwater Town Board Meeting

Representatives from PPM Atlantic Renewable (the wind farm developers) were scheduled to present their proposal to the Town Board. Several days before, the company unexpectedly cancelled the presentation due to scheduling conflicts. However, the SPC (Springwater Preservation Committee) did present a memorandum asking that the town board schedule a town hearing as soon as possible to "introduce and consider a local law establishing a temporary moratorium on the installation and development of wind towers a/k/a wind energy conversion systems in the Town of Springwater.  The purpose of this local law would be to protect the public health, safety and welfare and the tranquility for all Town of Springwater residents, while considering land use regulations for the Town of Springwater to address new circumstances not addressed by its current laws with regard to the placement, construction and erection of wind towers a/k/a wind energy conversion systems."

Also attached to this memorandum, and submitted to the board, was a proposed draft of such a local law which SPC is requesting be submitted to a public hearing and adopted by the Springwater Town Board.

Following some discussion, the Springwater Town Board agreed to sponsor an information meeting to provide both the developers and those opposed to the wind farms an opportunity to make presentations.  The date for this important meeting is expected to be scheduled soon and will provide everyone with an opportunity to hear both sides of the issue and to ask questions.

A public meeting at which people will register their position will be scheduled at a date following the information meeting.

Please watch the Valley News and this website for date, time and place of these important meetings and make plans to attend.  We believe that an informed public will see that Springwater is not an appropriate site for these industrial machines and that such development must be stopped now.

Be informed and get involved.  Please continue to write letters to the town board expressing your concerns and attend the town board meetings which are held at 7:00 p.m. every first and third Monday of the month. If the Monday is a holiday, the meetings are moved to Tuesday.  

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