Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / March 18, 2015, edition 1 / Page 2
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Community Letter raises issues in ordinance review BY REGGIE PONDER Editor The chairman of the Chowan County Planning Board in a letter to the coun ty commissioners March d insisted the planning panel "will not agree to be limited by artificial and arbitrary constraints" in its review of the county's wind energy or dinance. The letter from Planning Board Chairman Lou Sar ratt goes on to cite some specifics: ■ We will not agree to l>e limited by artificial and arbitrary constraints on this effort (e.g. restrictions as to wlio we can consult with). ■ We will not agree to be held to a higher threshold m our reevaluation of the existing Chowan County wind law that what was es tablished at the time of its creation. ■ We will not be using as a template other ordi nances that have likewise been written by the wand in dustry. for the benefit of the wind industry. ■ We will pay close at tention to wind ordinances (anywhere in the I'.S.) that have been carefully and in dependently researched. ■ Finally, we will com mit to recommending an up dated wind ordinance that is written for the protection of local citizens, businesses and the environment. “Of course our work here is predicated on the as sumption that the Chowan County ( ommissioners. and the comity's other staff, are likewise committed to pro tect the health, safety and welfare of all local citizens," the letter states. Shortly after the letter was sent, planning board members Jim Leggett, Wil liam Monds and Bobby Winbome sent emails to the board - copied to the Chow an Herald - questioning whether the letter should have been sent without a vote of the full board. "Who originated this let ter?" Leggett asked. “Why was I not informed of it before sent out? I am not in total agreement of ev erything written, especially paragraph one and item #1. Why did we not see a drift of the letter?” Leggett raised those questions during Thursday's meeting of the planning board. Sarratt said the board could schedule a discussion of those issues for its March 31 meeting. He also said the letter reflected Iris personal opinions as one member of the board. During the meeting Thursday night, local resi dent John Sams asked Sar ratt whether he thought 30 days was sufficient time to research such a complicat ed topic. “Is that enough time?” Sams asked. Sarratt said that wliile he doesn't think 30 days is suf ficient time to re\iew the or dinance. the Planning Board can’t take a vote to change the timeframe established by the county commission ers. “We are going to do what we have been directed to do and we are going to do the best job that we possibly can," Sarratt said. Chowan Comity Man ager Kevin Howard said last week that the county com missioners were awaiting the report from the [’lim ning Board once the .to day period was up. He said he had not received any communication from the Flaming Board that would indicate that board would not be presenting its report within the 30-day timeframe established by the commis sioners. Sarraft's letter states that the county’s wind or dinance, adopted in June 2011, “was basically a docu ment written by wind ener gy lobbyists, for the benefit of wind energy developers.” The letter cites as a basis for that claim the use of the model ordinance from the N.C. Wind Working Group as a basis for the local ordi nance. Lyra Rakusin, senior clean energy training spe cialist at the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center, wrote a letter in response to Sarratt's letter. Rakusin’s letter states: "The letter in question in accurately portrays both our role facilitating the NC Wind Working Group and the process of developing the mcxlel wind ordinance by suggesting it was driven by a wind lobbyist without the input of other stakehold ers.” Sarratt said this week that the reason the planning board’s ordinance review is focusing on other county and municipal ordinances rather than the mcxlel ordinance is that they have been through tlie same kind of review pro cess that the planning board is tasked with doing. Planner Holland not renewing contract with county BY REGGIE PONDER E ! T.".r Yfter nearly lour years as a contract planner for Chowan County. Lanriin Holland announced last ■a eek he is m it plaimm.tt to li'iiru his ci mtraet a ith the ■ i >unty Holland said in a state ment to the t hovvan Coun ty Planning Board during the hoard's meeting Thurs day that he had come in as an emergency measure during the county's finan ■ lal crisis. He thanked the hoard members lot the opportunity to work with 'diem on planning matters n i he county. Holland, who lives out of ti ia n. told the ( hi avail I Inl aid on Monday that it uas time for the county to con sider si imei me win > a ould 4 tL. . J CHOWAN HERALD PHOTO Landin Holland, the county’s contract planner, has announced he will not renew his contract with the county. In' able tu spend more time m the i iimmunity working mi planning issues. The workload has increased because of large projects such as Riversound and the proposed Timbermill Wind Energy Project, he said. "You just kind of know when it's time.” Holland said. He indicated there were no negative feelings on his part or on the part of coun ty officials. “We till agree tliis is healthy and good,” Holland said. Holland pointed out his family's business, Holland Consulting Planners, would continue to work with the Town of Edenton. Holland Consulting Plan ners has a contract with the county at $30,000 a year and has always worked within the budget, without requesting any kind of bud get amendment, Holland said. "I think it served its pur pose," Holland said of the contract. But with a big project on the horizon, the county wants someone who can be in the community more, Holland said. Holland has worked in his family business, Hol land Consulting Planners, since 1090. According to information on the com pany’s website, his work is focused mainly on land use planning, urban design and hazard mitigation. He has administrative plan ning experience on Unified Development Ordinances. Hazard Mitigation Plans, administration of flood re covery projects, and assis tance on or supervision of CAM A Land Use Plans. He holds a master's de gree in public administra tion and a dual bachelor's degree in geography and urban planning from East Carolina University, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Plan ners. Holland told the plan ning board at its meeting Thursday that growing pains come with adopting countywide zoning as the county did in 2006. The county has made a lot of progress in tweaking its or dinances, he said. He said he would update the new planner on issues currently before the board. Planning Board Chair man Lou Sarratt thanked Holland for his .service as county planner. Holland said he hoped by at least the April plan ning board meeting that a now planner would be on board and that he would be able to attend the mending with the- now planner. •Jim Leggett, a planning board member and former chairman, thanked Holland for providing good leader ship for the county's plim ning efforts. Holland thanked Iwggett for his service as chair man. Citizen calls for turbine moratorium BY REGGIE PONDER A ( hii\\;ui ( < nuii\ resi dent has requested that the county UIIJKIS4- a. inoraton Mm on wind turbine activity but i i unit , i ifficiaJs aje n< >t considering a iiionitoniini at tins tune Ille < i H i! ity has lx-eii ad vised b\ its atluniey .John Morrison, that there ls a ver\ hit’ll litres)H id t< >r tiit| losing a local ini iratiinuin under a dt tdi- state law The <-urrent situatu in in 1 In - an < '< iunt\ regarding wind turbines ii<ms not u ns-t that 11 itesla i|iI (' 'f a tui irati inutu according tl ' Ml IITIS I! ; I be mi irati it'ium iia- Iteet i requested hy Peter Lolkema. Lolkema sent the request hy email to county commis sioner-, aiiri planning Liard iiutiiUts. ;uki also made the nquest m jierson at T1 hum lays planning 1>< >;u< 1 meeting "Please accept. hy receipt of this conunuiucalion, a for mal request to have a mora toriimi t>e placed on all wind turbine activity in Chowan ( oiuity until a comprehen sive enginfvring study can tie condiK ted." Lolkema siud in. las statement. “This study should include the impart such tiiibine installations would have on the safety, tiealih am 1 welfare of me ;uii I 1 'the] resi( ienl.s i >f I 1 k >w;ui | Family Dentistry with a uentlt and caring touch V IP IK i; FAiY(j, vvs 212 Ainsley Avenue Hertford. NC 252-426-5565 New Patientsl Welcome1 J Easy on the ears (ounty." I/hi Sarratt, chtiinnan of tlu* Chowan County Plan ning Board, said tills week that based on Morrisons explanation, a moratorium requin's due diligence by county officials before it can lx■ sought. Sarratt said the planning lioards current process of reviewing die existing ordi nance is p;irt of dial due dil igence. Depending on what happens with dial re\iew. a moratorium conceivably could lie consider'd at a later time, lie s;ud. Fait it s not appropriate to move m the direction of a moratorium until the or dinance has Ix-en reviewed and suggestions haw been made to die county com missioners regarding the ordinance, according to Sarratt. County Manager Kevin Howard siiid tills week that lh(“ current situation does not seem to meet the lltreshold for seeking a moratorium as descrilied by Morrison. Lolkema's statement cites a number of tilings he sees as critically ini]x>rtant ;m<l as ciiiTently kicking. Among the items he cites: No clear definition of the financial impact of turbine installations; no de finitive data on the effects low frequency modulations produced by turbines have on humans and other mam mals; no clear accounting of tax dollars paid to wind turbine developers in the form of subsidies; no clem reason for the county con sidered for a wind farm site when it falls within the lowest wind |>ower rating in the state and nation; no publish'd studies of the impacts on wildlife, tourist traffic or pro|rerty values. Free Consultation • Individual-Business-Rentals Secure Electronic Filing Call Edward Horn today! 252-482-3330 108 E. King St. Suite A, Edenton hornstaxservice@yahoo.com ANIMAL Riston Howell DVM Benton. Kelley Dlrlman Christian Ford DVM DVM Small Animal Medicine & Surgery BOARDING AVAILABLE Appointment Preferred 252'482-4113 Hours: Mon-Fri. 8:00 - 5:30 • Sat. 8:00 - 12:00 noon 1515 PARADISE ROAD, EDENTON Visit our website for specials www.chowaRanimalliospilal.coin Crimewatch Edenton Police ARRESTS • March 12 — Pamela Elaine Brothers, -12, of East Church Street, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. • March 11 — Yondell Norman, NS, of West dale Street, was arrested for fail ure to appear. • March S) — Stephatue Michelle Byrd, 43, of Vann Street, was arrested for failure to return rental prop erty. • March 1* — Dyhenz Ke nyi Roulac, 17, of Paradise Road, was issued a citation for possession of one-half ounce or loss of marijuana, a Schedule VI controlled substance. • March 8 — Brian Mar quis Bentley, 30. of Blade Street, was issued a citation for driving with a revoked li cense and while impaired. • March 8 — Marcus Eli jah P(/well. 27. of West ('art eret Street, was arrested for simple physical assault. • March 8 — Dwrell Lamonte Welch, 24, of.John ston Street. vv;is issued a <Tiininal summons for fiiil ure to pay fine for vicious dog ordinance violation. • March 7 — Eric Ten'll Holley, 20. of (‘handlers Fer ry' Road, was arrested for simple physical assault. • March 7 — Reginald Ihuuilton Roberts, 21, of Blade Street, was arrested for trespassing. • March 7 — Perez Agus tin 1 lemandez, 20, of P;ira dise Road, was arrested for impersonation and posses sion/inanufaeture of fraudu lent ID. • March 0 — Edessa Ras coe Holley, ti.S, of Haughton Road, was issued a citation for failure to stop. INCIDENTS • March 12 — Lirceny of motor vehicle on Oakdale 1 >n\ e. • March 11 — Injury to personal properly on Bond Street. • March 10 — l<areeny on West King Street. • March 0 —- Hit ;uid run on Virginia Road. Uiny.in Art", (.ouncil presents S eeiru^ the/1 rwCtibie/” tlie Art (it Barbara \\ achter. 1 ler art invites \nu into the painting. She captures the scene, rhe emotions, and even the weather in her paintings. Join usl 504 S. Broad Street, I .demon, \C 252 482-8005 Opening Friday, March 27, 2015 5:30 PM CHOWASfHERALD (USI'S 106-380) Vol. 81, No. 11 Published Every Wednesday Cooke Communications North Carolina, LLC Entered as a second-class matter August 30, 1934 at the Post Office of hdenton, North Carolina, under Act of March 3. IH70. S>UBSCHLn'iONliAXKS Daily Advance home delivery area $27.00 (Chowan, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Camden, Currituck, parts of Gates) Elsewhere in continental United States $46.00 POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: The Chowan Herald • P.O. Box 207 • Edenton, NC 27932 Telephone: (252) 482-2623 Fax: (252) 482-4410 chowanheraldtf ncweeklies.com
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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