Wednesday, June 29, 2011

New wind power bylaw drafted

ANNAPOLIS ROYAL — Annapolis County has drafted a new bylaw that will allow large-scale wind turbines on four areas of the North Mountain and an already designated location on South Mountain.

The proposed legislation follows a year of public meetings and an interim bylaw that restricted development until council had more time to study the issue.

The interim bylaw was never intended to stop wind farm development but it was designed to allow time for a bylaw to be developed that was right for the county, Warden Reg Ritchie said.

"It was important that residents had the opportunity to be included in any decisions made in this regard," he said in a news release. "The year spent researching wind farm development was essential in helping to explore the issues . . . and hone a draft bylaw that reflected what our residents said was important to them."

The new bylaw specifies four locations on the North Mountain, including the Delaps Cove-Victoria Beach and Hampton Hills area, along with an original designated area on the South Mountain.

"Locations for wind resource areas where large-scale wind turbines may be located were brought up repeatedly during the public meetings," said Ritchie. "The planning advisory committee listened to what was being said."

The committee also addressed other wind turbine issues including setback and separation distances from public roads, habitable buildings and property boundaries and the decommissioning of large wind turbines.

Public meetings on the proposed bylaw have been scheduled for the Bridgetown Lions Hall on July 5 and the Lower Granville Hall on July 7. Both begin at 7 p.m. It may also be viewed on the municipality’s website at www.annapoliscounty.ns.ca.

No date was given for when council expects to pass the bylaw.


http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1250959.html

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