At a meeting this week of the Adirondack Park Agency, a staff proposal was presented that would allow for a streamlined and expedited process for the siting of small-scale residential and commercial wind turbines up to a height of 125-feet within the six-million acre park. The proposal, now out for public comment, will likely be considered for action at the Agency’s April meeting.
Among the requirements in the proposal are that the turbines blend in with the surroundings so as to be “substantially invisible” consistent with the Agency’s policy on the siting of telecommunications towers. This blending is to be accomplished with consideration to design, size, location, and color of the turbine(s). The proposal also limits blade diameter to no more than 25 feet, and the tower(s) must be setback at least 150 feet from property line boundaries.
The review criteria requires that permit applications: be consistent with the information contained in the application; be in conformance with the Agency’s “Policy on Agency Review of Proposals for New Telecommunications Towers and Other Tall Structures in the Adirondack Park”; not require additional significant detailed engineering or environmental studies to more fully demonstrate no undue adverse impacts on important visual resources of the Park; not have an undue adverse impact upon the natural, scenic, aesthetic, ecological, wildlife, historic, recreational or open space resources of the Park or upon the ability of the public to provide supporting facilities and services made necessary by the project, taking into account the economic and social benefits that might be derived therefrom; not adversely affect historic or archeological resources or rare, threatened or endangered species; and, be capable of meeting the conditions contained within this General Permit and as stated in “Permit Conditions” of the Certification form.
The proposed staff recommendation can be accessed here .
