The Windmill prepares for wind turbine

The popular Yates County attraction, The Windmill, seems to be the perfect spot for a working windmill and it will produce an energy source to the market with over 200 vendors.

Glenn Steed of Wind Tamer Wind Turbine was present at the Yates County Planning Board review of a use variance for installation of a wind turbine not to exceed 39 feet.  

Steed explained that Wind Tamer turbines are small and can even be used in residential areas because they comply with most zoning laws.  

The installations only require 10 sq. feet, so they can be installed near buildings.  Noise is a common complaint with the larger turbines, but  Steed said these smaller units are almost silent.

The plan is to place the windmill 150 feet off 14A.  Steed said the working equipment will be placed behind glass so people can watch the energy being harnessed. The small turbines are manufactured in Rochester and local sub-contractors do the installation.

Planning Board member Sandra King said, “This is an opportunity for The Windmill to reduce utility costs and a chance for Wind Tamer to showcase a local product.”

Barrington Building and Zoning Officer John Griffin, said a use and height variance may still be needed.  The Town of Barrington is pretty pleased, Griffin said, but plans are in the preliminary stages.

The county board voted in favor.  Marilyn Scharf, a Barrington representative, and Lane Clute, a Windmill vendor, abstained. Ron Rubin was absent. The application now goes back to Barrington for final approval.
In other business;

• PENN YAN: A variance request by Mark and Wendy Warren for an additional sign for Dahlia’s Curios  on Elm Street in the village was reviewed.  The owners want to paint a sign on the side of the building.  The village law allows for only one sign per business.    The board members approved the review with no county-wide significance and passed the application back to the village.

• MILO:  A local law enacting regulations for the Town of Milo for construction on steep slopes was not approved and returned to the town for additional work.  A memo attached to the law from Yates County Soil and Water, called for further considerations.  

• BARRINGTON:  At the June 24 meeting the county board reviewed an application from Karen Bradley to divide four lots on East Lake Road into one and three lots.  The county board declined the variance because it made non conforming lots and created an issue with the septic tank.  The final say was still up to the town.

At the July meeting Bradley and Realtor Mark Moon returned with a new proposal for a two lot configuration.  

Barrington was in agreement with this proposal, but asked the county to review it again because it was a drastic change from the previous application.  The new plan places the septic tank in an acceptable area.  The county members voted in favor.  

• JERUSALEM:  Joan Pierri at 2395 West Lake Rd. asked for a variance to convey a very small piece of property to a neighbor, making the neighbor’s  lot conforming and Pierri’s lot less conforming.  The board referred the application back to the town.

•  TORREY:  In June the county board tabled a draft of the new Town of Torrey Zoning Ordinance sent for review.  County Planner Shawna Bonshak said this is the fourth copy and she understands their is a fifth.  Barrington representative Marilyn Scharf said she would like to see a final draft with changes highlighted.  Torrey representative Dave Christiansen said he has a list of questions and it would be good to have somebody from Torrey there to answer them.  The document was tabled.

• GUEST: Village of Rushville Code Enforcement Officer and President of the Yates County Code Officers Association Reggie O’Hearn asked to review some points in regard to an application the county board approved in May.  

O’Hearn pointed out that “hardship” claimed by the applicant was of a personal nature.  “Hardship is unique to the land and not to the owner.  His problem has no bearing on use variance,” O’Hearn said.
Potter board member Sandra King asked if discretion and common sense shouldn’t play a part?”

O’Hearn replied, “Zoning is there for a purpose.  I ask you to look at the laws and to be consistent.”
In a later conversation O’Hearn said the owner of the used car lot has since been denied a variance by the Village of Rushville.

• OTHER: Bonshak passed out self-study course guides that can be used by planning and zoning board members to meet required training hours.