July 9, 2013
Kansas

Lenexa neighbors say wind turbine too close to homes

By: Zach Tecklenburg | 07/08/2013 | www.kshb.com

LENEXA, Kan. – The western edge of Lenexa is a windy spot and that’s part of the reason Suburban Lawn & Garden chose it for its new 26-acre gardening center and greenhouse complex.

Suburban plans to take advantage of the wind by building a wind turbine, which will power the operation, located near Prairie Star Parkway and Kansas Highway 7. Vice President Matt Stueck said the turbine would rise up to 80 feet above the ground.

“We’re looking for something that is obviously tall enough to get the wind necessary, but doesn’t look out of scale with the rest of the operation,” Stueck said.

A block to the west, homeowner Corbett Smith worries the turbine would be too close to her home. While Smith said she likes the idea of clean energy, she has concerns about the noise a turbine would create and what it could do to her property value.

Smith thinks there’s a simple solution.

“If they could maybe put it closer to K7, I don’t think any of us would have a problem with it,” Smith said.

Stueck said his company is willing to compromise.

“We’re not going to build this wind turbine until the neighbors are satisfied that it’s what they want, it’s what the city wants and it’s good for us,” Stueck said.

The Lenexa Planning Commission will host a public hearing regarding the turbine on August 5 at 7 p.m. at Lenexa City Hall.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/07/09/lenexa-neighbors-say-wind-turbine-too-close-to-homes/