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The Adams Township Board of Trustees will be focusing on a proposed zoning ordinance at tonight’s meeting, which begins at the town hall at 6:00. A public hearing on the matter was held last Tuesday and the planning commission approved the document later in the week. The ordinance has had some controversy attached to it recently. An ad ran last weekend in the local newspaper saying that it could potentially affect several other businesses, outside of the proposed Scotia Wind Farm.
The twelve turbine installation would stretch along the spine of the Keweenaw to the west of South Range and Painesdale. Circle Power is the company behind the most recent push to put a development in the area. The business remains at odds with a grassroots organization called Guardians of the Keweenaw Ridge. Both sides were able to argue in favor, or against, the wind farm on Sunday’s edition of Copper Country Today.
Vice President Chris Moore says the original vision, which was to have turbines in Adams and neighboring Stanton Township, became unworkable given the distance the company will have to maintain between each turbine and the nearest homes.
Moore says he is worried that the zoning will be exclusionary, designed to make a wind farm impossible to develop. He believes that is illegal. Moore also says the process is potentially being rushed.
Guardians of the Keweenaw Ridge Secretary James Mihelcic views the panel more favorably. He says Adams Township has had a planning commission for years and the updates it is looking to implement are prudent to protect local residents. Mihelcic offers his opinion on the scope of local tax benefits being touted by Circle Power.
You can hear the full edition of Copper Country Today here.
