(Title changed by the Falmouth Enterprise from “Sticks and Stones” to “Say No to SouthCoast Wind”)
FHMNA Board of Directors President Dave Buzanoski has submitted the following letter to be published in this coming Friday’s Falmouth Enterprise (2/24/23):
In a debate, when one resorts to name calling to support their position it does not reflect well on the author and provides the opposition with an advantageous moral high ground. FHMNA has endured the name calling; however, we find it disappointing and completely unacceptable for our elected officials to be insulted just because they don’t agree with the thinking of others. Let’s stick to the facts and follow the science.
The residents of Falmouth have elected town officials, Select Board, and Town Meeting members, to do what is right for the Town of Falmouth, we ask no less of them.
Our association board was elected by our members to uphold our mission statement, which is indisputably consistent with doing what’s right for our neighborhood and the Town of Falmouth:
“To preserve and improve the residential character of the Falmouth Heights and Maravista neighborhoods. To protect and enhance our beaches, parks, estuaries and other public spaces…”
Facts:
We do not deny Climate Change.
We do not oppose Wind Generated clean energy.
We have expressed our concern over EMFs (AC+DC) at an early stage, however we do recognize there is inconclusive evidence of ill health effects, although the research continues.
Falmouth Heights is for the most part zoned RC (single residence C), which would prohibit commercial/industrial high voltage cables of 1200MW / 275,000V. SouthCoast (Mayflower) has submitted to Massachusetts EFSB a Comprehensive Zoning Exemption request circumventing all relevant Falmouth zoning bylaws, which presumably also includes aspects of the Town of Falmouth Wind Turbine Bylaws.
We maintain our position that cables of this size and voltage should not be placed in our densely populated residential Falmouth Heights community, and we would support this position for any similar Falmouth community.
SouthCoast recognizes that the park lands they have targeted in Falmouth Heights are designated as “Article 97 Open Space”, as per the maps they have filed with BOEM, which will require Article 97 relief to proceed. This is completely contrary to the purpose of this article in the state constitution.
With respect to the Article 15 Warrant petition, we do not feel this is a sensible approach. The idea of the Town in essence voting to allow any wind developer to conduct testing anywhere they desire in Falmouth is in our opinion foolish. Approval of such an article would be tantamount to an open invitation to multiple wind developers to come to have their way in Falmouth.
Any such request must be evaluated on the merit of a detailed, individual case basis. Article 15 is clearly not in the best interest of the Town of Falmouth
Dave Buzanoski, President
Falmouth Heights – Maravista Neighborhood Association