22 Feb 2008 03:51:33 | Bill Hirst
When my son Jamie was 18 years old he had been planting trees on a field of ours for 3 years. His project was to use 5 acres of seedlings which he propagated to grow trees. As he trees grew he saved a down payment and used it to buy a larger tract of land. By the time he was 18 he had enough for a down payment on a $60,000 track of land which is 160 acres in size located in Herkimer NY. Using a morgage he financed the deal. It was his first farm that he bought. Gung ho, he grew and tended the trees that he planted. As they grew to marketable size he sold them off by finding buyers and delivering and planting these trees to pay for the farm. Today he is 24 years old and owes about $20,000 on the farm. Farming and tree work is not easy. It is long hours and hard labor. He has pride in his accomplishment. He did this while going to college and graduating with a degree in horticulture from Delaware Valley college.
We now have found out that there is a large wind mill farm being placed near our son's property in Herkimer County, NY. He will probably lose future uses of his property. Because of new zoning restrictions which are being placed on the property, he will not be able to use the land for its intended use. To set up a residence and nursery on the land. There will be what is called a 1250 foot setback requirement that means there will be no new devolopment within that zone. His properties best building site is in that exclusion zone. The wind mill will be on the neighbors property. We have no problem with the wind mills on the neighbors property, just don't take away our property rights because of the neighbors use of his property. This amounts to a taking without compensation. I would call this legislative conmdenation. The politicians have forgotten and age old property right exists. That is in order for the wind mills to work, they must change air patterns. These changes effect the free flow of air to to from properties. In order to do that, they need an easement. They have no rights to alter the course of a stream or water run off on to an adjacent property and they have no right to do the same with the air. Land rights include air rights. These windmill operators must not take away our property rights or they may assume ownership through adverse possession.
It can happen to you. Bit by bit our public officials use zoning to suit their needs, not to protect ours. If one should not build within 1250' of a wind mill why is a wind mill allowed to be built within 1250' of an existing house or adjacent property? The answer is simple, the public officials don't care about the citizens, they only care about their private agenda. How would they like to be trashed? There is a need for better standards about where the big windmills should be built, both to limit their impact on local communities and help prevent more disputes over the future our skyline. My sons property will be surrouned by windmills on three sides. If there are sounds coming on the property from three sides at once and the noise level is dangerous we will bring legal action against all parties that are respondsible for any of this noise pollution.
Please call and or email all the following officals and tell them to stop supporting this project:
Number of Members:
Claudine Grande - District 1
Phone: 315-866-6886
Mildred S Wheeler - District 2
Phone: 315-866-3209
Dolores D Walawender - District 3 (dee525@twcny.rr.com)
Phone: 315-866-0137
Jean E Maneen - District 4 (missjeanie@aol.com)
Phone: 315-894-2034
Gary G Jackson - District 5 (jacksong@twcny.rr.com)
Phone: 315-894-2579
Leonard Hendrix - District 6 (diggerhend@aol.com)
Phone: 315-894-3211
Robert Hyde - District 7
Phone: 315-866-1898
John L Brezinski - District 8
Phone: 315-732-6397
Peter F Manno - District 9
Phone: 315-894-5454
Raymond Smith - District 10
Phone: 315-429-9433
Vincent J Bono - District 11 (vchenzo@aol.com or bonobrothers@aol.com)
Phone: 315-894-4334
J. Keith Davy - District 12 (jkdavy@ntcnet.com)
Phone: 315-823-3109
Bernard Z Peplinski Sr. - District 13 (pepb@ntcnet.com)
Phone: 315-822-6974
Dennis Korce - District 14 (korce@ntcnet.com)
Phone: 315-823-2375
Patrick E Russell - District 15 (perussell@frontiernet.net)
Larry Barton - District 16
Phone: 315-429-9544
Bruce Weakley - District 17 (weakleyb@adelphia.net)
Phone: 315-826-3899
Please Tell Them not to support this taking...Most concerns are centered on destruction of the vistas and a decrease in property values that will occur if the turbines are built. As farmers we cherish the beauty of our land and detest its destruction. We hope to avoid the need for legal action but will hold public officials accountable for the wind farm if it is built. In the mean time, would you please email or call these public officials and help in the defence of our land? Thanks, Bill Hirst
State Official to call:
NYS Governor
George E. Pataki
Executive Chambers, Albany, NY 12224
Phone: 793-2535 (Regional Office - Utica)
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NYS SENATOR, 51st DistrictJames L. Seward
Room 917, Legislative Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12248
Phone: 518-455-3131
DO: 235 N. Prospect St., Suite 101, Herkimer, NY 13350
Phone: (866-1632)
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NYS ASSEMBLYMAN, 117th District
Marc W. Butler
Room 318, Legislative Office Bldg., Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5393
DO: 235 N. Prospect St., Suite 101, Herkimer, NY 13350
Phone: (866-1632)
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US SENATOR
Charles E. Schumer
229 Dirkson Senate Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-6524
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US SENATOR
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Suite 6, SDB 40, Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-4451
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US CONGRESSMAN, 24th District
Sherwood Boehlert
2246 Rayburn House Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515
DO: Alexander Pirnie Bldg., 10 Broad St., Utica Phone: (793-8146)
Phone: 202-225-3665 Toll Free: # 1-800-235-2525
About Author :
Bill Hirst has been growing plants on his 200 acre farm in Bucks County for 30 years. His web sites are http://www.seedlingsrus.com and http://www.digatree.com Sign up for Bill's newsletter at http://www.seedlingsrus.com/123456signup.html
