October 14, 2011
Indiana

Hobart wind turbine request postponed

By Deborah Laverty, www.nwitimes.com 14 October 2011

HOBART | A farmer will have to return next month to the Board of Zoning Appeals on his request to operate two wind turbines on his property.

The board deferred until Nov. 10 a request by farmer Louis Mikolics, who was represented at the meeting by Rob Hefner of AB Wind Power.

The request for the deferral was made by City Planner A.J. Bytnar and Assistant City Engineer Jake Dammarell.

Both staff members said they wanted to work out all the details on the request – the first of its kind in Hobart – before its eventual presentation to the City Council.

“This way it can be a complete package,” Bytnar said.

Hefner fielded several questions from residents who live near 6716 Colorado St., the proposed site for the 172-foot-tall wind turbines.

Resident Deborah Bolek said she and her husband live on acreage north of Mikolics’ farm. Bolek’s concerns include health and safety of her family and whether the turbines will affect property value, she said.

Janet Swisher, who lives in the Meadows subdivision, said she also had concerns and questions.

“My concern is I don’t know what it will look like when I’m looking out my front door,” Swisher said.

The wind turbines, which harness wind power for electricity, would feature a lattice-tower design and be spaced about 700 feet apart, Hefner said.

The sound from the wind turbines is around 43 decibels, similar to noise heard within most households, he said.

“It’s one of the quietest turbines,” Hefner said. “The turbine is inaudible 459 feet away.”

The closest property owner lives 1,000 feet from either of the wind turbines, he said.

Studies indicate property values don’t decline near wind turbines, Hefner said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/10/14/hobart-wind-turbine-request-postponed/