Watch out Mason county

[Willy]

I went to the meeting last night 6-28 at West Shore CC for the hearing on Consumer Energy request for a special land use. I was certainly suprised by some of the comments. According to County ordinance the special land use can only be approved if the 9 conditions for the special use are met. When Jay Kilpatrick of Williams & Works, the zoning Planner gave his opinion to the County Board I was amazed at what he said and he used a straight face when he said it. He said the 500 ft. towers met the criterea to be allowed in the agricultural district when clearly, according to the County's own ordinance requirments, they did not. This man must be working for Consumers and as far as I am concerned has lost all credibility as far as representing the County.

According to many of the citizens who spoke, CE, did not contact them if they were not involved with lease agreements regarding easements, so many of the people were left out of the loop even though the towers would adversely affect their lives. It seems that the land owners who signed leases formed a "pool " orginaization to deal with the zoning and other dealings that would arise.

According to other citizens:

1. Lease signers are banned from discussing the terms of their leases due to a "gag" clause in their contracts. So much for transparancy.

2. Leases have been signed by land owners in Freesoil and CE, so this will not be the limit of these turbines. CE has plans to blanket the county with them. 

No. 2 is why I titled this discussion as such.

Every independent study that stated adverse affects to real estate values and affect to human health were denied by CE experts. It truly was an amazing show.

Below are links to photos showing the beautiful vistas now to be seen in SW Mason county where these towers will be installed, a total of 59 I believe. These vistas are a part of the history and makeup of what makes this area a great place to be and they will be forever altered if these towers are allowed to be installed. If the link doesn't work then see the photos over in the photo section.

http://ludingtoncitizen.ning.com/photo/photo/listForContributor?scr...

 

 

 

[AQUAMAN]

Thanks for the thread and pics. Willie, and as a person whom attended the Scandia hearing last June 2010 with the MCC, their spokesperson was also full of hot air and untruths about the lake turbine farm. So, what cost is the green to be, and to what return on the investment? All the figures and facts I've seen show these wind turbines are not at all what they are bragged up to be, and clutter the landscape and air with more pollution of noise and other negative effects than they could ever be worth.

[Lisa O'Brien]

Do you happen to know where in Free Soil they will be located?

[Guidothesemipsuedocaptitalistpig]

It would be easier to say there are few places you will not see them from. 500 ft towers * over 50 turbines with 1000 ft set back.

[Willy]

No information was given about turbine location or who the lease signers were or where the properties were located. By the way this information was not offered by Consumers but was answered by one of the Board panel members who I believe was the County's attorney. None of the County Commissioners knew anything about the new leases.

[Eye On Ludington]

Why should anyone have the right to tell someone else what they can or cannot do on their own private property?

[Willy]

Eye

Zoning laws say so. The reason for zoning laws is to protect property owners from misuse of adjacent lands. You certainly would not want a factory built next to your house if you live in a quiet rural area. If you don't think these towers are not factories then you have not been paying attention. They are no different then nuclear or coal burning plants. The only difference is that they use wind to generate electricity. Combined, these towers are much larger than any coal or nuclear plant. It still amazes me that people have been duped into calling these generators a "park" or "farm". How many of Consumers nuclear plants are referred to as a "park". Palisades Nuclear Park has a good ring to it.

[AQUAMAN]

Quite right Willie, good post. But, as we can see, many out there aren't "paying attention to the details", and are quick to get any green project underway to achieve some environmentalist whacko goals. Not Looking before you leap is a code of honor the liberals have faith in to the grave, and the rest of us must either put a stop to it, or live in apathy with their misguided decisions.

[XLFD]

Read any City's or County's zoning laws, EOL, if you want a considerable list of government having the right to tell what you can and cannot do on your so-called private property.  Better yet, look at a list of the Ordinances passed by the Ludington City Council over the last few years onerously restricting many of your rights to do what you want with your property.  At their best, zoning laws are made for the public good, so that what you do on your property does not interfere with other's rights.   

If my neighbor decides to use his property as storage for nuclear waste or as a missile-testing facility, I want them to observe their neighborly obligation and duty to preserve my right to enjoy my property without ill-effect from their enterprise.     

[Robert]

Willie,
Thank you for the photos and comments. Saves me a drive, still intend one but clarifies the terrine involved. The compliancy of Mason County residents surprises me as these views scapes  are just a preview to what happens along the Lake just a few miles North. The thumb, Gratiot County, flat, farmland, farmers, a much more suitable location. Hate to say it but seems the Consumers deal in Mason County is a done deal and little meetings, the interest of a few non-leasing landowners is too little too late. Feel for you guys but the County has sold you out.  If your property (not specifically yours) is anywhere near one of these bemoths  consider it worthless.

[Robert]

Eye,

Just a casual observation but you appear one that comes here looking for an argument. On this particular topic you have played both sides and have no idea what the facts are.  

[AQUAMAN]

Robert, your casual observation hit the nail on the head. These "Troll types like Black EyE" come here for the kicks of put downs, not intelligent debate, education, nor informed posts. They usually burn out like a comet pretty quickly, so, not to worry.

[Eye On Ludington]

My beef is not so much with gov't zoning laws as it is with people who do not even live in the area who think they have a right to tell a landowner what he can or cannot do with his own private property.  I do not want to see nearly 500 foot towers when I look to the horizon but I also do not want to be dictating to other people what they do with their own property.

I am plenty informed.  Noise from the tires on the highway is more annoying, noise from bass speakers is more penetrating, the flicker will be less than 10 hours per year for most residents (some people get more than that from neighboring trees), the hundreds of telephone poles along nearly every roadway in the county is more of an immediate eye-level eyesore than windtowers, old broken silos and barns are more abundant and more visually unappealing, and the energy produced by windtowers is clean.  But on the other hand, some people in rural areas will be bothered by misquetos, others by pine sap, others by tractor noises, others by the smell of dung, and others by cows mooing and goats braying.  Everybody is bothered by something.  And land values are not automatically diminished by wind towers as some would lead to believe.

Around Mason County these days just the very topic of wind towers is an argument between those in favor and those opposed.  I have not formed a deadset opinion as of yet.  I see both sides of the issue and see good points and bad points from both sides.  I also see a lot of misinformation abound.