Agenda - Planning Commission - 08/06/2009

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Section 5: Use Standards for SmallWind Electric Conversion System Setback: The base of the tower shall be set back from all property lines, public right-of-ways,and public utility lines a distance equal t9 the total extended height. Turbines shall be allowed closer to a property line than itS total extended height if the abutting property owner(s) grants written permission and the inStallation poses no interference with public utility lines or public road and rail right-of-ways. Tower Height: So long as the total extended height meets sound and set-back requirements, there shall be no specific height limitation, except as imposed by Federal Aviation Administration regulations as Stated in 5.07. Sound: Sound produced by the turbine under normal operating conditions, as measured at the property line, shall not exceed the definition of nuisance, noise. Sound levels, however, may be exceeded during short-term events out of anyone's control such as utility outages and/or severe wind storms. ' Wind Turbine Equipment: Small wind turbines must have been approved under the state public benefits program or any other small wind certification program recognized by the American Wind Energy Association. Requirement for Engineered Drawings: Building permit applications for small wind energy systems shall be accompanied by standard drawings of the wind turbine structure and stamped engineered drawings of the tower, base, footings, and/or foundation as provided by the' manufacturer. Wet Stamps shall not be required. Soil Studies: For standard soil conditions (not including gravel, sand, or muck), foundations developed by the wind turbine manufacturer shall be acceptable for turbine installations of 20kW or less and will not require project-specific soils studies or an engineer's wet stamp. Compliance with FAA Regulations: No WEC shall be constructed, altered, or maintained so as to project above any of the imaginary airspace surfaces described in FAR Part 77 of the FAA guidance on airspace protection. Compliance with National Electric Code: Building permit applications for small wind energy systems shall be accompanied by a line drawing of the electrical components, as supplied by the manufacturer, in sufficient detail to allow for a determination that the manner of inStallation conforms to the National EleCtrical Code. Utility Notification: No small wind energy system shall be installed until evidence has been given that the utility company has been informed of the customer's intent to install an interconnected customer-owned generator. Off-grid systems shall be exempt from this requirement. Insurance: Additional insurance beyond homeowners' coverage shall not be required. Abandonment: If a wind turbine is inoperable for six consecutive months the owner shall be notified that they must, within six months of receiving the notice, restore their system to operating condition. If the owner(s) fails to restore their system to operating condition within the six-mom;h time frame, then the owner shall be required, at his expense, to 'remove the wfnd turbine from the tower for safety reasons. The tower then would be subject to the Public Nuisance provisions of the zoning code. Signage: All signs, other than the manufacturer's or installer's identification, appropriate warning signs, or owner identification on a wind generator, tower, building, or other structure associated with a small wind energy system visible from any public road shall be pronibited. ' Lighting: No illumination of the turbine or tower shall be allowed unless required by the FAA, Access: Any climbing foot pegs or rungs below 12 feet of a freestanding tower shall be removed to prevent unauthorized climbing. For lattice or guyed towers, sheets of metal or wood may be fastened to the bottom tower section such that it cannot readily be climbed. For more information contact Ron Stimmel at rstimmel@awea.org.