Town of Mt. Pleasant, Green County, Wisconsin : Meeting Minutes

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March 8, 2010 Town of Mt. Pleasant Plan Commission Minutes

TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT
PLAN COMMISSION
Minutes of meeting of March 8, 2010
American Legion Hall, Monticello, Wisconsin

The meeting of the Town of Mount Pleasant Plan Commission held March 8, 2010, was called to order by Chairman DuWayne Fenner at 7:35 p.m. Plan Commission members Scott Dilley, DuWayne Fenner, Michael Gengler, Greg Schwartzlow and Hans Sulzer were present.

At the request of the chairman, the commission members first considered the agenda for the meeting. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the agenda was unanimously approved.

As the next item of business, the Chairman asked the members to consider the minutes of the meeting of the commission held December 7, 2009. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the minutes were unanimously approved as written.

Mr. Fenner then asked Mr. Gengler to report concerning the status of the wind energy system regulations being considered by the state Public Service Commission. Mr. Gengler called the attention of the commission members to an email response that he had received from Deborah Erwin of the Public Service Commission staff, in which Ms. Erwin stated that the PSC has opened a rule making docket for the adoption of wind energy system siting regulations described in Wis. 2009 Act 40. The docket number is 1-AC-231, which can be checked on the PSC home page. She also stated that the Wind Siting Council, established by Wis. 2009 Act 40, has not been appointed, but is expected to be appointed soon. She stated that the PSC staff will draft the proposed wind siting regulations, and that the Wind Siting Council will advise the PSC with respect to the proposed regulations. Mr. Gengler stated that the town would be able to present its position on the proposed regulations during the adoption process. He also stated that he would check with the Wisconsin Towns Association to determine whether the association was going to take a position in the rule making proceeding.

Mr. Gengler also distributed some additional materials regarding wind energy systems to the commission. These materials included a press release from WisBusiness reporting that the American Wind Energy Association, an advocacy group for developers of wind farms, had ranked Wisconsin 18th in the country for wind energy potential. He referred the members of the commission to the AWEA website for additional information from the developer side of the issue.

Mr. Gengler distributed materials from Better Plan, Wisconsin, an advocacy group for more stringent regulation of wind energy systems. Those materials included an article from the Wall Street Journal on health problems related to wind farms, including information about complaints related to various setback distances from large wind turbines, and a report that legislation has been introduced in Vermont to require setbacks of 1.25 miles from any residence. The materials also included a report from WBAY Channel Two News in Green Bay related to the proposed Ledge Wind Energy Farm in southern Brown County, and a report from the Daily Reporter related to the proposed Glacier Hills Wind Park in Columbia County. According to this report, the Columbia County project was approved by the PSC with residential setbacks of 1,250 feet, although the developer had proposed 1,000 foot setbacks. The developer is now attempting to purchase waivers of that requirement and a 45 dB noise requirement at residences near the wind farm. The materials also included a report that a judge dismissed an action brought be residents of Trempealeau County challenging a county ordinance that required 1,000 foot minimum distances between turbines and residences, and a 500 foot setback from adjacent property lines. The action was dismissed after the legislature enacted 2009 Act 40. Mr. Gengler also distributed an article on the wind energy controversy from the February, 2010, American Bar Association Journal.

Mr. Sulzer stated that he had contacted his sister and brother-in-law, who live near the Cobb wind farm, and they had reported it was less noisy than they expected. However, he stated that the couple does not live at the farm where the wind towers were erected. Mr. Schwartzlow stated that he had a friend near the Lena wind farm in Illinois who reported that he had not noticed any decrease in the value of agricultural land as a result of the wind farm.

In response to a question from the chairman, Mr. Gengler stated that he had extensive experience representing clients before administrative agencies, including public utilities seeking approval of energy facility siting, and would donate time to the town if the town is involved in a wind farm siting case.

At the request of the chairman, the commission then discussed the status of the Working Lands Initiative. Mr. Gengler distributed the most recent issue of Working Lands Connection, a newsletter published by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. He referred the members of the commission to the DATCP website for future issues. It was the consensus of the commission that the Board of Supervisors should consider advocating for passage of an exclusive agriculture zoning ordinance by Green County, and should also consider exploring with local landowners the desirability of organizing an Agriculture Enterprise Area within the town. The commission noted that with both elements of the Working Lands Initiative in place, participating landowners would be entitled to a $10.00 per acre annual tax credit. It was the consensus of the commission that the goal of preserving agricultural land use in the town is desirable and consistent with the town�s previously adopted Comprehensive Plan.

There were no land divisions or questions of interpretation of ordinances administered by the plan commission to come before the meeting.

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

______________________________

Michael T. Gengler
Secretary

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