CHERRY VALLEY - Town planning board chairman Ed Harvey announced at the close of Tuesday's meeting that he intends to step down from his position during the board's review of a proposed $50 million wind park because of a potential conflict of interest.

Harvey owns property on East Hill, one of the two areas in town targeted for the wind park. He confirmed he has been approached by the company about locating turbines on his property.

Prior to the start of the meeting, Harvey had said he did not plan to abstain from chairing the discussion of the project, but would not vote on it. "I can't be penalized because I own property up there," he said.

But by the close of the meeting, he told board members and the public that he had thought about it and come to the conclusion that it would be in the town's best interest if he refrained from participating in the plan's review.

"I'll probably resign from the board because I will get the board in trouble. Before the next meeting there will be another chairman," he announced late in the meeting. "This is going to turn into a lawsuit."

Erich Bachmeyer, of Global Winds Harvest, said they had approached Harvey before they realized he was the chairman of the town planning board.

Although some members of the public urged him to stay on, Harvey said his mind was made up. "I think it is in the best interest of the town and Cherry Valley if I was to get off at least until this is over. I would sit here until hell freezes over if I didn't own property up there," he said.

Harvey said he would ask planning board member Christopher Ottman to act as interim chairman. Ottman was out of town and did not attend Tuesday's meeting.