Wellfleet National Seashore Homeowners Association

The Planning Board continued its discussion of tighter standards for residences in zones R1 and R2, aimed at preserving the character of Wellfleet, and of procedures to apply these new standards.

When it finalizes a draft zoning bylaw amendment, it will conduct informational public meetings during the summer and fall in anticipation of presenting the amendment for a vote at the fall Town Meeting.

See the Minutes of its February 3, 2010, meeting.

A proposed Town Bylaw amendment to add protection of the Wellfleet Harbor Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) to the Town’s Environmental Bylaws is on the Warrant for Town Meeting on April 26, 2010.

The Bylaw would authorize the Conservation Commission to protect land within the ACEC in the same manner it now protects wetlands and floodplains.

The Bylaw notes that “Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) are places in Massachusetts that receive special recognition because of the quality, uniqueness and significance of their natural and cultural resources.”

The Bylaw was recommended by the Board of Selectmen and Conservation Commission, both by 5-0 votes, and was opposed by the Bylaw Committee by a 2-1 vote.

If approved, the Bylaw would allow the Commission to adopt specific Regulations to protect the ACEC.

The proposed Bylaw is Article 35, on pp. 26-29 of the Warrant.

The Board of Selectmen reviewed the multi-year history of Town efforts to develop alternative energy sources and the wind turbine project in particular at their meeting on March 30, 2010.

Board members summarized their own views of the pros and cons of the proposed turbine at the White Crest Beach site.

After acknowledging all the efforts by Town committee members, they voted 5-0 to halt the project.

Although Warrant Articles relating to the project have been published, they are likely to be withdrawn at the April 26, 2010, Town Meeting.

For more details, see “Wellfleet Selectmen Kill Turbine Plan“, by Doug Fraser, Cape Cod Times, March 31, 2010.

The United States of America filed an appeal on March 5, 2010, in the Massachusetts Appeals Court of the Massachusetts Land Court’s dismissal of its challenge to the Blasch LLC building permit.

A Land Court judge had ruled that the U.S.A. did not have standing to appeal the Wellfleet Zoning Board of Appeal’s approval of the Blasch LLC building permit.

The U.S. was granted a second extension, until June 28, 2010, to file its appellant’s brief with the Appeals Court.

The case is docketed as 2010-P-0385.  Its status is online here.

A proposed amendment to the Town’s Zoning By-Law would increase the allowed height of a wind turbine to 415 feet from 400 feet and would require anyone applying for a Special Permit to build to demonstrate the height of the turbine hub and of the blade tip by use of balloons or a crane.

There will be a public hearing on the proposed amendment on Wednesday, April 17, 2010, at 7:00 pm at the Senior Center.