Council trims sails on neighborhood wind turbines
The Pueblo City Council unanimously approved an ordinance regulating the placement of wind turbines in various neighborhoods in the city.
Before Monday’s approval, the city had no law addressing the turbines and so by default they were allowed only in heavy industrial areas.
Now the turbines are allowed in nearly every industrial and business district, but are limited to 42 feet high.
Representatives from Pueblo Community College’s wind technologies class testified before council in support of the ordinance but encouraged the height restrictions be changed to 80 feet so that turbines can take advantage of better winds higher up in the air.
Interim City Manager Jerry Pacheco said the city’s ordinance is similar to others around the state. He said the ordinance allows industrial users to apply for variances on height restrictions that could make some turbines even taller than 80 feet. “This is an emerging industry and most of our zoning districts have a 35-foot height limit,” Pacheco said. “This is a good first step to embrace this new technology.”
But Pacheco added that the ordinance also protects the city from seeing wind turbines pop up on every lot in the city.
They are not allowed in residential areas and will be allowed only on lots of a half acre or larger.
Councilman Larry Atencio said he would like to see the half-acre lot restriction lifted but council also recognized that the ordinance is a work in progress.
“This ordinance is a good start because we can always come back and amend it,” said Councilman Mike Occhiato.
The ordinance will have no effect on Vestas’ plans to install three of its industrial grade turbines at its facility.
The city’s annexation agreement with the company allowed for the installation of those turbines.
It is also unclear what effect, if any, the ordinance will have on a project at Heaton Middle School.
The school received a grant to install a wind turbine on its grounds. The proposed turbine will be 80 feet tall, but school sites follow different rules than other properties in the city.
In other action, council gave its initial approval of an intergovernmental agency that would allow it to join an improvement district governing Fountain Creek.
The city will give final consideration to the IGA on March 2.
By Jeff Tucker
23 February 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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