The Town Board acknowledges that prior to construction of a WECS, an assessment is typically needed to determine local wind speeds and the feasibility of using particular sites. Installation of wind measurement towers, also known as "anemometer" ("met") towers, shall be permitted as special uses, but shall not be limited to those areas delineated as Wind Overlay Zones.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
An application for a wind measurement tower shall include:
A. 
Name, address and telephone number of the applicant. If the applicant is represented by an agent, the application shall include the name, address, and telephone number of the agent as well as an original signature of the applicant authorizing the representation.
B. 
Name, address and telephone number of the property owner. If the property owner is not the applicant, the application shall include a letter or other written permission signed by the property owner:
(1) 
Confirming that the property owner is familiar with the proposed applications; and
(2) 
Authorizing the submission of the application.
C. 
Address of each proposed tower site, including Tax Map section, block, and lot number.
D. 
A site plan.
E. 
A decommissioning plan, including a security bond or cash for removal.
A. 
The distance between a wind measurement tower and the property line shall be at least 1.5 times the total height of the tower. Sites can include more than one piece of property and the requirement shall apply to the combined properties. Exceptions for neighboring property are also allowed with the consent of those property owners.
B. 
Special use permits for wind measurement towers may be issued for a period of up to 26 months. Permits may be renewed if the facility is in compliance with the conditions of the special use permit.
C. 
Anchor points for any guy wires for a wind measurement tower shall be located within the property that the system is located on and not on or across aboveground electric transmission or distribution lines. The point of attachment for the guy wires shall be sheathed in bright orange or yellow covering for three feet to eight feet above the ground.
D. 
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets guidelines for agricultural mitigation for wind farm projects shall be adhered to both inside and outside of agricultural districts.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
Applicants may request a preapplication meeting with the Town Planning Board, or with any consultants retained by the Planning Board for application review. Meetings with the Planning Board shall be conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Law.
B. 
Twelve copies of the application shall be submitted to the Town Clerk. Payment of all application fees shall be made at the time of application submission. If any variances are requested, variance application fees shall be paid at the time of the receipt of the application.
C. 
Town staff or Town-designated consultants shall, within 30 days of receipt, or such longer time as agreed to by the applicant, determine if all information required under this article is included in the application. Unless the Planning Board waives any application requirement, no application shall be considered until deemed complete.
D. 
If the application is deemed incomplete, the Planning Board or its designated reviewer shall provide the applicant with a written statement listing the missing information. No refund of application fees shall be made, but no additional fees shall be required upon submittal of the additional information unless the number of wind measurement towers proposed is increased.
E. 
SEQRA review. Applications for wind measurement towers are deemed unlisted projects under SEQRA. The Planning Board may conduct its SEQRA review in conjunction with other agencies, in which case the records of review by said communities shall be part of the record of the Planning Board's proceedings. The Planning Board may require an escrow agreement for the engineering and legal review of the applications and any environmental impact statements before commencing its review. No application will be deemed complete until the SEQRA review has received a declaration or final findings as per SEQRA regulations.
F. 
Upon submission of a complete application, including the grant of any application waiver by the Planning Board, the Town Clerk shall transmit the application to the Planning Board. The Planning Board shall consider the application and render its decision in accordance with special use permit regulations § 306-28B(2) of this Code.
G. 
The Planning Board shall hold at least one public hearing on the application. Notice shall be given by first-class mail to property owners within 1,000 feet of each proposed wind measurement tower and published in the Town's official newspaper, no fewer than 10 nor more than 20 days before any hearing, but, where any hearing is adjourned by the Planning Board to hear additional comments, no further publication or mailing shall be required. The applicant shall prepare and mail the notice of public hearing prepared by the Planning Board, and shall submit an affidavit of service. The assessment roll of the Town shall be used to determine mailing addresses.
H. 
The public hearing may be combined with public hearings on any environmental impact statement or requested variances.
I. 
Notice of the project shall also be given, when applicable, to:
(1) 
The St. Lawrence County Planning Board, if required by General Municipal Law §§ 239-1 and 239-m; and
(2) 
Adjoining Towns under Town Law § 264.
J. 
Upon receipt of the report of the recommendation of the County Planning Board (where applicable), the holding of the public hearing, and the completion of the SEQRA process, the Planning Board may approve, approve with conditions, or deny the applications, in accordance with the standards in this article.