“The existing zoning regulations mention in section 115 that any conflicting regulation found in any other law should be ruled by the more restrictive regulations. In this case, the zoning regulations are stricter than the wind-energy law,” Fuller read.

“And, after the definition amendment, (it) will possibly ban wind energy from the town. This shows the importance of consolidating the zoning law and land-use regulations under one zoning law to reduce confusion for residents and those trying to administer the law.”

The proposed law had been built similar to the town’s existing Telecommunications Law, a stand-alone regulation that gives authority of review to the Town Council rather than the Zoning Board.

Fuller felt the existence of the Telecommunications Law warranted the same understanding for the new law, and the Town Council seemed to agree.

“Your existing zoning doesn’t even discuss wind energy,” Fuller said. “Again, on the cell-towers, how do you deal with that? There is not a zoning-law amendment that I’ve seen that discusses cell-towers. So under that, one person could say that cell towers are not allowed in the Town of Beekmantown?”

With definitions of terms and concerns for legal loopholes looming, the Town Council decided to put out another moratorium on wind-facility projects.

“This could take another few months. We go over all this, set up the public hearings again,” said Garrant with exasperation. “It could be October.”

A public work session will be held at the Beekmantown Town Hall tonight at 7.