On Tuesday evening, the Warren County Board of Supervisors approved several changes to CPV's existing permit, bringing the long-term project one step closer to reality.

CPV, a Maryland-based firm that builds power plants run by natural gas and wind power, was issued a permit to build an electrical power generation station in the Warren Industrial Park and Kelley Industrial Park in 2001.

According to CPV representative Chris Ganley, the changes CPV has requested will affect noise levels, landscaping, traffic management and environmental conditions.

One of the most significant changes proposed concerned noise levels, which CPV agreed to lower from 80 to 75 decibels.

"In addition, the 75 decibels is 5 decibels less than the thresholds imposed on the industrial neighbors," Ganley said.  "From an audible standpoint, it represents about a 30 percent decrease."

Under the revised permit, CPV will also eliminate the use of fuel oil, reducing the amount stored at the plant from 2 million gallons to 10,000 gallons, which will be used only for an emergency generator and fire pump.

The only thing that CPV cannot modify is the placement and height of two 175-feet-tall stacks, Ganely said.

"One of the longest processes we have in developing the project is the air permit.  The air permit very early in the process
identifies the height and exact position of the stacks.  There are no changes we can make to that," Ganley said.

Any modification would reinitiate the air permit process, costing the project at least another few years, Ganley said.

Also at Tuesday's meeting, the board agreed to hold another public hearing to determine whether Diamond Auto Spa will be able to construct a car wash on Country Club Road.

At their Sept. 18 meeting, supervisors denied a request to allow a car wash as an acceptable use of the property, which was zoned commercial in June 2005.

Supervisor Ron Llewellyn, who originally voted against the facility, brought the matter before the board.

"I was made aware of some information concerning this potential project that led me to have a willingness to at least explore the possibility of reevaluating it," Llewellyn said.

Llewellyn said he voted against the facility because of the potential for excessive traffic.

A traffic impact report released by consulting engineer firm Painter-Lewis, P.L.C., demonstrated that a car wash would actually generate less traffic than other businesses that could be built on the property.

The report compared the potential traffic generation of three fast-food restaurants, a convenience store with eight fuel pumps and the car wash.  In one weekday, a car wash would generate 1,404 trips, as compared with 1,876 for fast food restaurants or 1,953 for a convenience store, the report stated.

A public hearing on the issue will be held at the Warren County Government Center in January.

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