Professional Documents
Culture Documents
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON
___________________________________________________
-vs-
Respondents-Defendants, and
Index No. _________
ST. LAWRENCE WINDPOWER, LLC,
Respondent-Defendant.
____________________________________________________
follows:
I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
New York Civil Practice Law and Rules (“CPLR”) and asks this Court to
“approvals”) filed with the town clerk on September 29, 2010 by the
PLANNING BOARD OF THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT (“planning
board” or “board”).
2. The approvals lack substantial support in the record of the board's review
in this matter because the board ignored the findings and opinions of its
own engineering and acoustic consultants regarding the noise that would be
expected from the project, and Wind Power Ethics Group's (“WPEG's”)
acoustic consultant, and instead the board elected to rely on SLW's findings
3. The board's and WPEG's acoustic consultants both rejected not only
time of the vote these two members were actively involved in the board's
5. Although three members of the board voted to approve the findings, one
or more of these three had and have direct or indirect material interests in
6. The planning board was obligated to but did not coordinate their
farm. Under these conditions, the Court should find the majority of the
board was biased and unwilling to take a hard look at potential adverse
II. PARTIES
dedicated to protecting the rural amenities and environment of the area. The
board’s review of the SLW project, more so than most residents of the
town.
the SLW project area and therefore would be harmed by the approvals
challenged here, differently than the general public.
responsibility for permitting certain land uses in the Town of Cape Vincent,
and is lead agency for review of the SLW project pursuant to the State
13. SLW is a necessary party in this matter because it is its proposed project
III. VENUE
as the county in which the Respondent planning board made the decisions
complained of here.
IV. EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES
15. In January 2007 the planning board scheduled a formal public comment
period on a Draft EIS (“DEIS”) prepared by SLW for the SLW project
proposal.
16. On March 25, 2009 the board scheduled a public comment period on a
after the public comment period on the DEIS and the DSEIS, and these
were incorporated into a proposed Final EIS (“FEIS”) prepared by SLW for
18. WPEG and its members, together with involved and interested agencies
19. On September 15, 2010 the board approved and adopted a Findings
SEQRA, and approved and adopted the FEIS as the board's basis for its
findings.
20. The board's September 15, 2010 findings were filed with the town clerk
21. The board's September 15, 2010 findings conclude that all identified
22. The board's September 15, 2010 findings will now be incorporated into
the planning board's site plan review of the SLW project but their substance
will not be revisited during the site plan review. Therefore, no further
V. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
24. Petitioner members all own land in the Town of Cape Vincent or the
Town of Lyme.
25. The value of petitioner members’ land lies in its rural setting and the
26. The physical environment, the recreational practices and the aesthetic and
lines.
28. In 2001 at least two different wind developers began purchasing land use
Cape Vincent and Lyme. These companies are British Petroleum (“BP”)
and Acciona.
29. On or about July 13, 2002, the planning board approved a request for
30. In 2003, the Village and the Town of Cape Vincent adopted a Joint
Comprehensive Plan (termed the “General Plan” under the town's zoning
natural vistas and tourism assets, and discourages towers or utility facilities.
31. Under Cape Vincent's zoning code, wind farms may be deemed
“utilities,” in which case their approval is subject to site plan review by the
32. Cape Vincent's zoning code lacks any specific regulation for wind farms.
manner that preserves the rural character of the town or, if it finds the
34. No later than 2006, both BP and Acciona had obtained sufficient land use
rights from local property owners to support their respective wind farm
project proposals.
35. The project area required for the SLW project is approximately 7,900
36. As proposed, and as directed by the planning board, Acciona (SLW) and
BP must utilize a common transmission line in Cape Vincent and Lyme and
37. On June 13 and 14, 2007, WPEG submitted written comments to the
board by SLW, noting that the project is inconsistent with the town's
38. In 2007 the nearby towns of Clayton and Orleans began review of a wind
project proposed by Atlantic Wind, LLC, and that review continues today.
39. In 2009 a wind farm began operating on nearby Wolfe Island and plans
for the expansion of the Wolfe Island wind project were announced.
40. On June 10, 2010, the Cape Vincent Town Board formed a Wind Turbine
the town on local employment, private property values, and the town's
42. On March 10, 2009, the board's engineering consultant, based in part on
potential noise impacts of the SLW project, concluded that the analysis of
noise impacts of the SLW project in the SDEIS is not supported by data,
methods for assessing noise in the SDEIS; and noting that the SDEIS lacks
43. On March 25, 2009, the board accepted the SDEIS prepared by Acciona
44. The board scheduled a public comment period on the SDEIS in May and
June 2009.
45. During the comment period in May 2009 involved agencies and the
public, including WPEG and its members, submitted to the board additional
lower than background sound levels asserted in the SDEIS, and explaining
46. SLW's acoustic consultant, WPEG's acoustic consultant, and the board's
acoustic and engineering consultants agreed that the SLW project's noise
(“NYSDEC”).
also provided substantial evidence from realtors and other experts in real
estate valuation supporting the conclusion that the analysis in the SDEIS of
the potential for adverse impacts on property values in the community that
would result from the SLW project is based on widely discredited analysis
48. WPEG's acoustic consultant, and the board's acoustic and engineering
49. In June and July 2010 the planning board's consultant was still
the proposed FEIS that had not been included in the SDEIS.
50. However, for several areas of concern the board allowed SLW to develop
plans detailing potential impacts and how they would be mitigated during a
51. The board did not provide any formal comment period during which
addressed to changes in the DEIS and SDEIS proposed since the May-June
53. On August 17, 2010, the Town of Lyme planning board as an involved
54. On or before August 17, 2010, the Town of Cape Vincent Wind Turbine
the analysis of potential impacts of the SLW project on property values and
56. At the September 8, 2010 meeting of the planning board, the board
the chairman directed that since the May-June 2009 public comment period
had closed, these materials be put in a “do nothing” file, meaning they
57. On or about September 15, 2010, upon a 3-2 vote, the planning board
approved the FEIS, adopted the FEIS in support of its conclusions about the
SLW project, concluded that all SEQRA requirements have been met, and
its action.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
58. Petitioner repeats and realleges the prior paragraphs as if fully set forth
here.
59. The planning board’s approval of findings regarding the SLW project is
lead agency “shall act and choose alternatives which, consistent with social,
0109(1).
other things, set forth in writing “a reasoned elaboration” of the basis for
N.Y.C.R.R. § 617.7(b)(4).
62. The reasoned elaboration of the basis for the action referred to in the
N.Y.C.R.R. § 617.2(p).
63. The environmental impact state process for the SLW project, including
comments and supporting information provided to the board by interested
and involved agencies and the public, revealed that serious adverse impacts
community character remained, but the FEIS and the board's findings fail to
64. In approving the SLW project findings, the board relied on future noise
65. Therefore, the action of the town board was in violation of lawful
66. Petitioners repeat and reallege the prior paragraphs as if fully set forth
here.
617.2(n).
71. The Cape Vincent Planning Board at the beginning of its review of the
SEQRA.
72. The Cape Vincent Planning Board at the beginning of its review of the
SLW project proposal determined that the project as proposed may have
73. The Lyme Planning Board is listed in the DEIS and the FEIS for the
coordinated review with the Lyme Planning Board as evinced, for example,
in the Cape Vincent Planning Board's neglect to provide a copy of the FEIS
75. The Cape Vincent planning board published notice of its acceptance of a
filed with the Town of Lyme Planning Board because the Lyme board is an
involved agency; it is not sufficient that the notice was published and
77. The Cape Vincent Planning board did not provide the Town of Lyme
Planning Board with notice of acceptance of the FEIS or a copy of the FEIS
78. Therefore, the action of the town board was in violation of lawful
79. WPEG and the Town of Lyme planning board submitted comments on
the proposed but not yet accepted the FEIS for the SLW project on or about
August 17, 2010, one month prior to the Cape Vincent planning board's
WPEG and the Town of Lyme planning board commented on August 17.
81. Once the board accepted the FEIS for the SLW project, it was required to
“afford agencies and the public a reasonable time period (not less than 10
calendar days) in which to consider the final EIS before issuing its written
82. However, the Cape Vincent planning board did not review, read or
83. Nor did the board provide notice of acceptance of the FEIS or a copy of
84. Because the Cape Vincent planning board deprived the public and an
made by SLW in 2010, the board's adoption of the findings statement was
85. Petitioners repeat and reallege the prior paragraphs as if fully set forth
here.
86. Before the Cape Vincent planning board accepted and adopted an FEIS
for the SLW project, it was aware that a commercial wind energy project
was operating nearby on Wolfe Island; was aware of plans to expand the
Wolfe Island project; was aware that another commercial wind energy
project was under review by the nearby towns of Orleans and Clayton; and
was aware that BP had submitted an application to the board for another
87. The SEQRA regulations required the board to consider whether, in light
of planned and operating wind farms near the SLW project area, the
and other members of the public specifically urged the board to consider
the potential cumulative impacts the SLW project may have in light of the
89. Because the Cape Vincent planning board did not consider the potential
supporting its approval of the project FEIS, its approval was done in
90. Petitioners repeat and reallege the prior paragraphs as if fully set forth
here.
deemed to have an interest in the applicant when he, his spouse, or their
whereby he may receive any payment or other benefit, whether or not for
93. Because one or more of the voting members of the planning board voting
September 15, 2010 votes approving the SLW project FEIS, the vote was
Vincent has adopted a local code of ethics imposing rules of ethical conduct
disclose on the official record the nature and extent of any direct or indirect
95. The town’s Code of Ethics also precludes town board members from
official duties.”
96. On information and belief, a majority of the Cape Vincent planning board
farm development assets in the town, or their family and friends have such
interests such that any reasonable person would conclude under the
97. Because a majority of the planning board hold or expect in the future to
hold investments in land that would be used for wind farm development in
Cape Vincent, the planning board’s September 15, 2010 votes approving
the FEIS and certifying that all identified adverse impacts that may result
from the project have been adequately avoided or minimized were defective
(1) Declaring that Respondents’ decision approving the SLW project Final EIS
including but not limited to coordinating its review of the SLW project with
(3) Declaring that the September 15, 2010 approvals are null and void for
(4) Awarding costs and disbursements and attorney fees of this proceeding;
(5) And ordering such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and
proper.
DATED: October 26, 2010
Allegany, New York
____________________________________
Gary A. Abraham, Esq.
Attorney for Petitioner-Plaintiff
170 No. Second Street
Allegany, New York 14706
716-372-1913
VERIFICATION
JOHN BRYNE, being duly sworn, states that he is the Chairman of Wind
Power Ethics Group (“WPEG”); that on behalf of WPEG as well on his own behalf he
states that the annexed Petition is true to his own knowledge, except as to matters therein
alleged upon information and belief, and as to those matters he believes it to be true.
_____________________________________________________
JOHN BYRNE, CHAIRMAN
WIND POWER ETHICS GROUP
_____________________________________
Notary Public