Pre-Filed Testimony and Exhibits of David Raphael - Vermont Public ...

Aesthetic Assessment of the Proposed Beaver Wood Biomass Facility
2. The Quechee Analysis
area” because there are no mandatory provisions or language that could be
considered a clear guide for protecting scenic values under Step 2 of the Quechee
analysis. The zoring regulations provide one clear standard that identifies the
Project site as an Industrial District, and the Project development will be well within
the zoning standards.
2.2.B Does the Project offend the sensibilities of the average person? Is the Project,
when viewed as a whole, offensive or shocking, because it is out of character with
its surroundings, or significantly diminishes the scenic qualifies of the area?
This is a challenging question insofar as a biomass plant of this scale is concerned.
There is no question that there may be some individuals who will find this Project to
be not pleasing or overly compatible with its surroundings. We have already
established that this plant, as proposed, will have an adverse impact on the area from
a visual perspective. It is, admittedly, at a scale and size that will dominate its site as
a single purpose energy generation facility. However, a number of factors prevail
under this step of the Quechee Analysis when coming to an overall conclusion. These
factors include:
1) The stated intent of the community as a whole that this is to be a suitable site for
this type of development via the zoning designation.
2) The consideration that energy generation via biomass fuel conversion is a form of
energy production that is becoming more widespread in the region and is
recognized as a renewable form of energy - hence more acceptance and
understanding by the general public. The Fair Haven Town Plan confirms this by
recognizing that bioniass generation may be a viable form of energy with
supplies coming from local sources. A biomass plant has long been operating in
Burlington’s lntervale without offending local sensibilities.
3) The overall lack of visibility of the Project reduces the potential for the Project to
offend local residents or visitors. The site is wail screened from most directions
and adjacent roads. This factor will reduce the presence of the plant in the
landscape -
as it also will be well set back from local roads and there are very few
residences in the vicinity. There will be minimal if any visibility from the Fair
Haven Town Center and this will be primarily of the vertical chimney or stack
and an occasional plume from that stack and the cooling towers.
4) The siting of the Project in area that has a mixed land use quality, with dominant
infrastructural elements such as the limited access highway, a nearby cell tower,
and a rail corridor.
5) The Project will not be directly seen from any designated park, open space,
recreation facility or conserved land. Therefore, there will be little if any visual
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intrusion or effect of the Project and its operation on such facilities or lands. The
only exception to this is the Welcome Center on Route 4.