April 18, 2008
Kansas

Commission debates length of wind moratorium

Discussion regarding wind towers within the city of Hays was short-winded during Thursday night’s Hays City Commission work session.

Commissioners discussed the possibility of a moratorium until the end of the year.

“The moratorium is to hold anything off and not allow any development for a set period of time so the planning commission could come back with a recommendation for you,” City Manager Toby Dougherty said.

The eight months would allow the Hays Area Planning Commission time to research what other cities and counties have done in regard to wind power.

The issue came up because a developer asked about the possibility of putting a turbine up in the area of 33rd Street, Dougherty said.

Commissioner Troy Hickman expressed concern about the length of the moratorium.

“Maybe a shorter time period and re-issue it,” he said. “There will be times when putting a moratorium for eight months for a developer to not know if it will be yes or no. Eight months is a long time for a developer.”

City Attorney John T. Bird said many counties have a yearlong moratorium to study the issue, but the length often is because the county has no zoning to build upon.

Commissioners discussed a shorter moratorium period but opted to leave the length at eight months.

The item will be on next week’s agenda for formal approval.

A possible wavier of fees for Overland Property Group was not discussed because no representative was present.

By Karen Mikols