FALMOUTH – Falmouth Selectmen approved a recommendation from the planning board to indefinitely postpone the vote on Article 3 during Special Town Meeting Tuesday night.
Voters approved the decision to postpone the vote, which if passed, would allow the town’s existing turbines, Wind 1 and Wind 2, to operate without special permit because they were built before the town’s turbine bylaw was enacted.
“We recognize and appreciate that the short time frame associated with this request placed a burden on the planning board to hear and consider this matter without time for the significant community outreach and deliberation on decision that they are accustomed to use,” said Selectmen Chair Doug Jones.
The current bylaw was put into effect in 2013 and requires that all wind turbines obtain a special permit from the Falmouth Zoning Board of Appeals.
Voters did approve Article 2 at Special Town Meeting, which allowed Town Meeting to continue to support the town’s efforts at promoting wind energy in Falmouth.
The town is currently before the Zoning Board of Appeals seeking a special permit for Wind 1.
“We remain optimistic that this process will result in permitted operations consistent with the board’s continued goal to respond to and address the concerns of neighbors and to fulfill the will of the town to continue renewal energy production through the operations of the town’s wind turbines,” said Jones.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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