The Town Board acknowledges that prior to construction of a WECS or a small 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 Districts.
An application for a wind measurement tower shall include:
A. 
Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant, owner, contractors and project sponsor. 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 i) confirming that the property owner is familiar with the proposed applications and ii) authorizing the submission of the application.
C. 
Address of each proposed tower site, including Tax Map section, block and lot number.
D. 
Site plan.
E. 
Decommissioning plan, including a security bond, irrevocable line of credit, or cash for removal.
A. 
The distance between a wind measurement tower and the property line shall be at least 1 1/2 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 any aboveground electric transmission or distribution lines. The point of attachment for the guy wires shall be sheathed in bright orange or yellow covering from 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 (as now existing or hereafter amended) shall be adhered to both inside and outside of agricultural districts.
A. 
Applicants may request a preapplication meeting with the Town Planning Board, and/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.[1] The preapplication meeting may be requested through the Code Enforcement Officer 15 days prior to the following Planning Board meeting.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Public Officers Law § 100 et seq.
B. 
Twelve paper copies and one digital copy of the application shall be submitted to the Code Enforcement Officer. 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 receipt of the application.
C. 
The Town CEO and/or Town-designated consultants shall, within 60 days of receipt, or such longer time if agreed to by the applicant, determine if all the information required under this article is included in the application. No application shall be considered until deemed complete. This includes referrals to SLC, APA, Fort Drum, and any regulatory agency deemed pertinent.
D. 
If the application is deemed incomplete, the Town CEO and/or CEO-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 submission of the additional information unless the number of wind measurement towers proposed is increased.
E. 
Upon submission of a complete application, the CEO shall transmit the application to the Chairperson of the Planning Board.
F. 
The Town 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 less than 10 nor more than 20 days before any hearing, but, where any hearing is adjourned by the Town 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 Town Planning Board and shall submit an affidavit of service. The assessment roll of the Town shall be used to determine mailing addresses.
G. 
The public hearing may be combined with public hearings on any environmental impact statement or requested variances.
H. 
Notice of the project shall also be given, when applicable, to i) the St. Lawrence County Planning Board, if required by General Municipal Law § 239-l and 239-m, and ii) adjoining Towns under Town Law § 264.
I. 
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 agencies 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. The applicant is responsible for the SEQRA process. The Town is responsible for the SEQRA review.
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 application, in accordance with the standards in this article.