Martha Frey, the executive director of the Cooperstown-based environmental and planning group, presented the board with a visual assessment map showing everywhere the wind turbines could be seen within a seven mile radius of the proposed site.

Richard Weber, the Director of Geographic Information Systems for the LA Group in Saratoga Springs, created the visual assessment, or visibility map, and was at the meeting to explain the differences between his map and one created earlier this summer by Marybeth Vargha, Otsego County Geographic Information System Coordinator.

Weber said both he and Vargha used similar methodology and the same computer software, but slightly different layers of information.

The main differences, he said, were the fact his assessment went out seven miles, but Vargha's was only five. He also included the impact of vegetation on visibility and used a greater height for the turbines that took into account the blades. Vargha's map only went to the cell, or turbine, on top of the tower.

When Weber said his map used the 400 feet height, planning board chairman Chris Ottman objected, saying it was "too high."

Frey countered, saying that the site plan review application contained several different heights for the turbines.

"We set it at the worst case scenario," Weber said. "We got the numbers from the narrative with the application. This could be an over statement."

The additional two miles indicates a number of things which were just starting to be seen on the county map, he said. "The extent of visibility is relatively significant," Weber said.

One thing Weber did was go the two Madison County turbine sights and took many photographs and recorded the distance they could be seen.

"You can see the blades seven miles out," he said, adding that on one day when he was there it was possible to see one site from another - a distance of 21 miles. He admitted that the impact of that visibility was not significant and it would only be on a clear day that they could be seen.

Weber said he added the layer of vegetation to his map because in many places it blocks the view of the turbines.

Careful visual assessment is very important to understanding the significance of the project, Weber told the board. The exact placement of the turbines may change a little bit by the time the site plan application is finalized, but the visibility map is an accurate estimate of what will be seen within the seven-mile study area, he said

"It's a good tool and I stand by what I say. It is an accurate representation," Weber said.

Frey said Wednesday morning that anyone who would like to see the map is welcome to come to her Pioneer Alley office and review it. Frey may be reached at 607-547-8881.

The planning board is still waiting for Global Winds Harvest, the project developer, to provide additional information before continuing its review of the proposed wind park.

The plan has been scaled back from the original which had called for more than 40 wind turbines on two sites in the town. Currently the site plan application before the planning board shows 27 wind turbines.

Global Winds Harvest submitted the site plan review application in July, but has not returned to the board since then.

Project manager Erich Bachmeyer said last month that they are still working on additional details requested by the planning board and will submit them as soon as they have been compiled.

The planning board meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.