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DeWitt ZBA asked to change wind turbine setbacks
Credit: Kevin Barlow | The Pantagraph / Herald & Review | herald-review.com ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
CLINTON – Opponents of a planned DeWitt County wind farm won a small victory on the second night of testimony before the Zoning Board of Appeals as the group works to strengthen the codes that are currently on the books.
Andrea Rhoades of Kenney argued for establishing setbacks from property lines instead of from existing homes for turbine locations as the ordinance currently reads.
The board was asked to change setbacks from 650 feet, measured from the property line to the center of the wind turbine, to 1,640 feet measured from the edge of the property line to the turbine.
“Property rights should be a top priority for every resident of this county,” Rhoades said. “We can all agree that you can do what you want on your property. That’s good in practice, but not reality, because every resident has a neighbor. Placing a 600-foot turbine too close to a neighboring home would violate that right.”
Among those opposing the ordinance changes were potential wind farm construction employees such as Brandon Burton, a rural DeWitt County resident.
“Everyone has different beliefs, but these amendments are crippling anyone who would want to build a wind farm now or in the future,” he said. “There aren’t a whole lot of people coming here to build anything.”
Tradewind Energy of Lenexa, Kan., has announced plans to submit a special-use permit to build the Alta Farms II wind farm stretching from Waynesville to Wapella. Tradewind Energy Development Director Tom Swierzcewski said the company is finalizing road agreement contracts and expects to submit the application to DeWitt County officials in the coming weeks.
Company officials argued a change in the setbacks would put the project in jeopardy.
“An increase in setbacks would effectively prohibit any wind energy projects from being built in DeWitt County,” said Jim Griffin, the zoning attorney for Tradewind Energy. “That amounts to exclusionary zoning, and that is not legal.”
On Monday, the Zoning Board of Appeals, rejected a recommendation requiring developers to submit all required federal, state and local regulatory agencies’ reports, certifications and approvals to the county to demonstrate compliance with changes. However, the board voted to approve a recommendation requiring wind farms to have an aircraft detection lighting system.
Any recommendations would go to the DeWitt County Board for approval. The board is scheduled to meet Thursday, but the proposed ordinance changes will not be considered until at least August.
Proposed changes the board is also considering include:
• Lowering the acceptable noise level limit from a turbine from 50 dBA (a measurement of the relative loudness of sounds) to 37 dBA.
• Setting a standard for shadow flicker caused when rotating blades cast moving shadows on the ground.
• Mandating an analysis verifying turbines will not interfere with public communication.
The Zoning Board of Appeals will consider those later this month.
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