Agenda - Council - 08/25/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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C Case # , ` INTRODUCE ORDINANCE TO ADD CITY CODE SECTION 9.17 TO PERMIT WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS AS A CONDITIONAL USE; CASE OF THE CITY OF RAMSEY By: Tim Gladhill, Associate Planner Background: In February of 2009, the City Council directed staff to draft an ordinance to permit Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS). Staff has prepared a draft ordinance addressing bulk standards (specifically height and setback), design, and style (i.e. monopole vs. lattice) based on available research and a Public Information Meeting on July 15, 2009. Additional materials are available online at www. c i.ramsgy.mn.us/wind. asp. Observations: S A moratorium continues to be in effect for Wind Energy Conversion Systems until October 20, 2009. During this time; staff has been studying various aspects of permitting these systems. Staff is prepared to bring forward a proposed ordinance to permit these .systems as a Conditional Use in certain Zoning Districts. Attached is a summary report of findings by staff, as well as a background report from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The AWEA report is geared towards small scale systems, but provides an excellent overview of the challenges and opportunities of systems of all sizes. Staff believes the model ordinance included in this report is deficient of certain details that should be considered in an ordinance based on previous discussions with the Planning Commission and City Council. Staff is of the belief that a majority of the concerns outlined in the reports are sufficiently handled through adequate setbacks of 1.5 times the height of the tower and 1,000 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling unit. This will also dictate a certain lot size, so any lot size restriction may be redundant. A 1,000 foot setback to any adjacent residential dwelling unit -is proposed, based on the research, to mitigate the effects of the WECS, most notably noise concerns and shadow flicker. If the shadow flicker model and noise study show that a residential dwelling structure within 1,000 feet will not be negatively impacted, the City Council would have the authority under the CUP process to reduce that 1,000 foot setback, maintaining'a setback of 1.5 times the height of the tower to the property line. Based on these two setbacks, a minimum lot size of approximately 2 or more acres would be created. To avoid duplication, Staff is only listing the systems as a Conditional Use in the appropriate Zoning Districts and not a second time in the new section of City Code. These include Micro and Small Scale in all residential districts and Medium Scale in Business and Employment Districts in addition to Small Scale. All systems are proposed to be prohibited in the Wild and Scenic River, Critical Area, and Shoreland Overlay Districts. In addition, height restrictions are regulated in the definition of the type of system; Small Scale is restricted to 50 ft., Medium Scale to 200 ft. Large (Utility) Scale units are not proposed to be permitted under local zoning ordinance. It is important to note, however, that units over 500 megawatts are regulated and permitted through the State. Micro Scale systems, those systems constructed on roof tops, would also be permitted. The reason for a 50 foot height restriction on Small -Scale WECS was a direct response from the public information meeting. At that meeting, it was stated that a WECS would be more accepted if they were no taller than the tree line. However, research shows that this may lead to less than ideal wind conditions for the WECS. With that in mind, the proposed ordinance includes a clause that