August 11, 2011
Illinois

Roberts officials to hold meeting in November to discuss wind farm issues

Will Brumleve, Paxton Record, www.paxtonrecord.net 11 August 2011

ROBERTS – The village board has tentatively set a public meeting for early November to gauge the public’s interest in banning wind farms within a “buffer zone” around the village of Roberts.

The informational meeting will likely be held in the “first two weeks of November” at the Roberts Gym, said Mayor Rick Flessner.

Flessner said he recently visited the Settlers Trail Wind Farm near Sheldon in Iroquois County. He said he was “disturbed” by the noise created by the wind turbines, which seemed more noticeable at night.

Due to potential noise issues, Flessner said he believes the village needs to review whether to limit the construction of turbines within an area around Roberts. The purpose of the upcoming meeting is to explore the pros and cons of wind farms to give the board an indication of whether to move forward on the idea.

However, Roberts officials won’t be able to take any action until the village first creates its own planning commission and zoning board of appeals.

Ford County Zoning Officer Larry Knilands said only those municipalities that have their own planning commission and ZBA have the authority to set zoning restrictions – including restrictions against wind farms – within an area of up to 1 1/2 miles of their corporate limits.

The planning commission and zoning board would be required to vote on any zoning proposal being considered by the village board.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/11/roberts-officials-to-hold-meeting-in-november-to-discuss-wind-farm-issues/