February 2, 2011
Iowa

Council approves wind energy systems ordinance

Brittany Linenberg, Indianola Record Herald, indianolarecordherald.desmoinesregister.com 2 February 2011

The Indianola City Council approved an ordinance establishing and regulating small wind energy conversion systems on Jan. 17.

SWECS are now allowed in C-2 (highway commercial), C-4 (planned commercial district), M-1 (limited industrial), M-2 (general industrial), A-1 (agriculture) and all residential zoning classifications.

City Council started looking at the ordinance on SWECS in November 2010.

The ordinance went through several revisions as council members worked to incorporate residential areas and decrease the minimum lot size necessary to have a SWECS.

For lots of more than one acre and less than three acres, a maximum height of 65 feet is allowed for SWECS.

Lots three to five acres are allowed a maximum of 80 feet and lots of five or more acres are allowed a maximum of 100 feet.

SWECS are not allowed on a lot size of less than one acre.

For C-1, C-2, C-4, M-1 and M-2 classifications, the minimum lot size is one acre.

A-1 and residential zoning classifications must have a minimum lot size of three acres to construct a SWECS.

Wind energy systems can have a capacity of up to 15 kilowatts for residential uses and up to 100 kilowatts for commercial and industrial districts.

SWECS must be freestanding and cannot be mounted on buildings.

The systems must be a neutral color such as white, sky blue or light gray and the surface cannot be reflective.

Lighting is not permitted on the structure unless it is required to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.

Signage is also not allowed on the structures.

A special use permit must be obtained through the city before a SWECS is constructed.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/02/02/council-approves-wind-energy-systems-ordinance/