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<br />Zoning Districts. <br /> <br />Section 9.17 entitled Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) is added as follows: <br /> <br />.9.17 <br /> <br />Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) <br /> <br />9.17.01 Purpose. In order to accommodate the energy "needs of residents and businesses while <br />protecting the public health, safety, and general welfare of the community, the Council fmds that <br />these regulations are necessary in order to: <br /> <br />a. facilitate the provision of alternative energy sources to the residents and <br />businesses of the City; <br /> <br />b. minimize adverse visual effects of wind towers, turbines, and generators <br />through careful design and site selection standards; <br /> <br />c. avoid potential damage to adjacent properties from tower failure through <br />structural standards and setback requirements. <br /> <br />9.17.02 Location; WECS units shall be allowed by conditional use iflistedtas a Conditional Use <br />in the underlyip.g zoning district. Furthermore, WECS units shall not be allowed in the Critical <br />River, Wild and Scenic River, and Shoreland Overlay Districts, except for Micro-Scale WECS <br />provided that it does not violate the maximum structure height of the overlay district. <br /> <br />9.17.03 Bulk Standards.. <br /> <br />Subd. 1. General Requirements. No part of the WECS, equipment, guyed wires, <br />blades, or braces shall at any time extend across or over any part of the public right-of-way, <br />public street, highway, sidewalk, or recreation trail. <br /> <br />Subd. 2. Setback. All Small Scak WECS and Medium Scale WECS units shall <br />maintain a minimum setback of 1.5 times the height of the tower. In addition, WECS units in any <br />R-l, R-2, or R-3 Residential District must maintain a minimum setback of 1,000 feet from any <br />principle dwelling unit on adjacent parcels. <br /> <br />a. Setbacks shall-be measured from the center of the WECS Tower to the. <br />nearest property line. <br /> <br />b. The City Council may authorize a reduction of the 1,000 foot setback to <br />adjacent residential dwellings if the Applicant is able to show through a <br />noise study and shadow flicker model that the adjacent residential <br />dwelling will not be negatively impacted by noise or shadow flicker. <br /> <br />Subd. 2. Height. Height for any WECS shall be restricted by the defmition of the WECS <br />as listed in City Code Section 9.03 Defmitions. <br /> <br />a. The City Council may increase the height of a Small Scale WECS up to <br />an overall height of 100 feet ifthe applicant is able to demonstrate to the <br />satisfaction of the City . Council that the surrounding topography, <br />structures, vegetation, and other factors make the height limit for a <br />complying WECS impractical. <br /> <br />136 <br />