Wind turbine ordinance's proposed changes to be discussed at public hearing
Property owners in Manitowoc County installing small wind turbines likely won’t be required to own large lots of land to locate their energy-generating systems, according to proposed county ordinance revisions supported by members of a county commission.
The Manitowoc County Planning and Park Commission voted unanimously at its Monday meeting in favor of the proposed revisions, said Mike Demske, commission director.
The revisions are expected to head to the Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors for a vote in October, he said.
The proposed changes come after a town of Schleswig couple and others told the County Board the county’s existing ordinance contains requirements that make it impossible to install a turbine on their own property.
The revisions would mean property owners would no longer be required to locate their turbines at least 1,000 feet from any dwelling on their neighbor’s property, according to Demske.
Instead, a landowner would have set back the turbine at least two times the turbine’s total height from a neighbor’s property line and from any public road or power line right-of-way, said Demske.
Residents can comment on the proposed changes at a public hearing of the Planning and Park Commission at 4 p.m. on Sept. 22 at the Manitowoc County Office Complex, 4319 Expo Drive, Manitowoc.
Commission members could vote after the hearing to send the proposed revisions to the County Board, Demske said.
The Planning and Park Commission is made up of members of the public and County Board supervisors.
Proposed revisions
In 2006, county officials enacted two ordinances — one for turbines 170 feet or shorter and another for turbines taller than 170 feet — after residents voiced concerns about potential public health and safety issues with turbines located near their backyards.
Navitas Energy Inc. had proposed to build a 49-turbine wind farm in Two Rivers, Mishicot and Two Creeks, dubbed the Twin Creeks Wind Park.
On Monday, the commission voted 7-0 in favor of creating two ordinances – one for “very small” turbines and one for “small” turbines.
Under the revisions, a “very small” turbine would be 120 feet tall or less and have the capacity of 40 kilowatts or less. A “small” turbine would be 170 feet tall or less and have the capacity of 100 kilowatts or less.
No changes are being proposed for the county’s large wind energy systems ordinance that regulates turbines at 170 feet or taller, Demske said.
The noise restrictions in the current county turbine ordinances would remain in the revised ordinances.
The current ordinances require the turbine be set back from an adjacent property line and from any public road or power line right-of-way.
Under the revisions, that set back for both “very small” and “small” turbine would increase from 1.2 times the turbine’s total height to 2 times its height.
Property owners also would be subject to less extensive site plan requirements under the revisions.
Currently, those seeking a permit must pay a $100 fee and submit multiple copies of detailed site plans to the commission for review, he said.
The proposed revisions would remove the fee, he said.
In addition, if property owners submit a site plan that meets the ordinance’s requirements, “we can give them a permit on the spot” without a delay in taking it to the commission for approval, he said.
By Kristopher Wenn
Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
28 August 2008
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