February 6, 2020
Indiana

Public speaks up at hearing over zoning ordinance in Gibson County

By Amanda Mueller | WEHT | Feb 5, 2020 | www.tristatehomepage.com

On Wednesday, people who live in Gibson County spoke to Area Plan Commissioners during a public hearing at the Gibson County Fairgrounds .

Neighbors weighed in on a proposed zoning ordinance, which has come up before in the county.

In recent weeks, commissioners heard from medical professionals and those in the scientific community. But Wednesday, members of the public had their chance to step up to the microphone.

“To me, it’d be a boon to the county. Really.”

“To be able to see the stars at night…without a thousand blinking lights from the wind turbines…”

The emergence of a proposed wind farm by German company RWE Renewables has brought zoning back to the forefront in Gibson County.

“If this wind project is approve as we know it – then concerns for the safety of my family – will cause me to sell my home.”

Some at the meeting asked for zoning laws to regulate set-back distances for turbines.

“The health and safety of my children, my grandchildren, my neighbors and my friends. Two, the control of wind energy isolation by utilizing safe zones as set-backs.”

Others say it is less about windmills and more about personal freedoms.

“I went to Vietnam for a period of time to fight for another country’s freedom, and come home to give up my own. And that’s what’s happening with this zoning law.”

This is not the first time zoning has been a hot topic in Gibson County. But it is the latest chapter in an ongoing dialogue within the community.

“We all don’t have to agree, but let’s please remember why we’re here. Because we love our homes, we love our way of life, we love our community and we love our neighbors.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2020/02/06/public-speaks-up-at-hearing-over-zoning-ordinance-in-gibson-county/