Zoning request for Electric box draws opposition
Monday, May 11, 2009
Wednesday evening’s Lyon County Zoning and Appeals Board meeting will include several items including a power substation box being proposed in Lyon County that has residents upset.
The proposed utility substation is on the northwest corner of Road 170 and V in Lyon County off of Old Highway 50, said Samuel Seeley, Lyon County zoning administrator and flood plain manager. The property involves one acre of land and is being proposed by Lyon-Coffey Electric Cooperative, Seeley said.
“It’s not your typical substation,” Seeley said.
Seeley said the substation will be similar to the green box that is located in front of Walnut School.
“It’s not like the one on South Street ...” Seeley said.
Residents of the area west of Neosho Rapids have circulated a petition opposing the proposal. Residents Jim and Taime Pitchford expressed concern over the application. Jim Pitchford said the substation will be about 150 feet from their house.
“It shouldn’t be that close to our house,” Pitchford said. “There’s miles of country they could use and they chose that spot next to our house.”
Taime Pitchford said she is concerned about the proximity as well but she had other concerns like devaluation of their property, electromagnetic fields, excessive noise, fire hazard and stray voltage and ground vibrations.
“You worry about health issues,” she said.
The board also will hear an application request for a change from agriculture to agriculture single-family dwelling by M. Theodore Brown and will consider a text change in the zoning regulations.
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Lyon County Commission chambers of the Lyon County Courthouse, 430 Commercial St.