TOWN NEWSLETTER
Cohocton informational letter.
NOTICE
The Zoning Board of Appeals will be holding a Public Hearing on an application submitted by T J Lucas, 5 Maple Ave. in North Cohocton. This is to here people for against the Variance application submitted to convert an existing garage into a canine kennel. This hearing will be held at the Town Court Facility on March 16, 20l0 at 7:00 P.M.
The Planning Board will be holding a Public Hearing on an application submitted by Noco Energy/Jim Wallace, 3525 Co Rte 36, Wayland NY for Mr. Wallaces property located on 8 McKay Street in North Cohocton. This is to here people for or against the Special Use Permit application to update and convert exisiting 12,000 gwc propane tank to use as propane bulk storage facility. This hearing will be held at the Town Court Facility on April 1, 2010 at 7:00 P.M.
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The Town of Cohocton Town Board meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of each month starting at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise posted. If you have questions please check with Town Clerk about times and locations.
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NEW LOCATIONS FOR COHOCTON VILLAGE & TOWN CLERKS Beginning Monday June 1, 2009
Monday (9-12 & 1-4), Wednesday (9-12), Friday (9-12 & 1-4) at the Cohocton Office.
Tuesday (9-12 & 1-4), Thursday (9-12 & 1-4), Saturday (9-12) at the Atlanta Office.
The Town Clerk can still be contacted by calling either 384-5330 or 534-5100 ext 3 or via email cohoctonclerk@aol.com. We believe that these new locations will be advantageous to everyone. We are pleased that the Village offered to let us share their building and at the same time we are pleased that the Town Clerk's office is available at both locations.
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An Open Letter to the Residents of Cohocton
Dear Residents of Cohocton:
As many of you are aware, over the past few weeks, a resident of the Town of Cohocton, Hal Graham, has been lodging complaints with First Wind, the owner of the Town of Cohocton's two wind farms, members of the Town Board, other State and local elected officials, and the Town's Code Enforcement Officer concerning noise levels at his home. Hal has also turned to the media, and his complaints appear to be driving policy decisions in neighboring Towns.
As we have explained to Hal, when the Town adopted its local laws to regulate the wind farms, the Town established setbacks and noise limits at "non-participating" parcels of land only. The Town did not establish setback requirements from turbine locations or noise limitations for "participating" parcels. The difference between "non-participating" and "participating" parcels, is that First Wind obtained lease agreements and/or setback waivers from the landowners of all "participating" parcels in the Town, and will be making payments to the owners of these parcels throughout the full life of the projects. First Wind did not obtain similar rights with respect to "non-participating" parcels.
A distinction between "non-participating" and "participating" landowners was made in the adoption of the Town's local laws because the Town wanted to allow those persons in the Town signing leases or setback waivers to make their own decisions about the use of their land, without constraining any particular landowners' ability to negotiate with First Wind. On the other hand, the Town also wanted to ensure that the wind farms would not adversely impact those residents of the Town who did not sign a lease agreement or setback waiver with First Wind and who would not receive a direct payment from First Wind. "Participating" landowners are viewed under the Town's local laws as in essence, First Wind's co-applicants. In fact, in an effort to ensure that the wind farms were designed in compliance with the local laws and were protective of all "non-participating" parcels, the Town's Planning Board required that proof of First Wind's contractual interest (lease or setback waiver) in the "participating" parcels, and right to improve these parcels, be shown to the Town's Code Enforcement Officer before work on the projects was undertaken beginning in 2007.
Concerning Hal's situation, he is the owner of a "participating" parcel, having signed a lease agreement and setback waiver with First Wind. Standards established under the Town's local laws are not applicable to Hal's land. Hal's grievance is, therefore, with First Wind, not the Town.
While we are hopeful that First Wind will be responsive to Hal's concerns and the concerns of any other "participating" landowners, the Town will not compromise its ability to address legitimate complaints received from the owners of "non-participating" parcels by taking on a "participating" parcel owner's problems. The Town's sound consultants are currently engaged in sound monitoring to assure compliance with the standards established under the Town's local laws at "non participating" property lines, and any "non-participating" parcel owner who believes that noise from the wind farms is exceeding these standards should register a complaint with First Wind. If First Wind does not adequately respond to your complaint, then follow up wit the Town's Code Enforcement Officer.
Respectfully submitted,
Cohocton Town Board
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TOWN INSTALLS NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM
The Town has recently upgraded its phone system that will now allow you to contact every department in the Town no matter where the office is located. You may call the main number 585- 534- 5100 the recording will ask you to select on of the following options:
with extention # 1 as the Police "Non Emergency Number" If an Emergency Dial 911
extension # 2 as the Town Justice Court
extension # 3 as the Town Clerk
extension # 4 as the Supervisor
extension # 5 as the Code Enforcement Office/Zoning
extension # 6 as the Assessors
extension # 7 as the Highway or dial 384 - 5290
extension # 8 as the Bookkeeper/Water Billing Clerk
You may contact the Highway department at the regular number 585-384-5290.
To leave a fax for the Court facility just dial 534-5100 number and the system recognizes that it is a fax and directs the call to the fax machine automatically. We hope that this new system will better serve the public and make contacting town office easier.
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Park
FOR PAVILION RENTALS CONTACT THE TOWN CLERK AT 585-384-5330.
Now taking reservations for the 2010 SEASON.
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Wind Questions
Questions and concerns in regards to the windmill project can be directed to the External Affairs, Jane Towner at the UPC/ First Wind Cohocton office at 585-384-9550 or at the toll free number at 1-866-276-9172 or jtowner@firstwind.com.