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Municode Page 1 of 5 <br />Sec. 117 -430. - Wind energy conversion systems (WECS). <br />(a) 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 finds <br />that these regulations are necessary in order to: <br />(1) Facilitate the provision of alternative energy sources to the residents and businesses <br />of the city; <br />( Minimize adverse visual effects of wind towers, turbines, and generators through <br />careful design and site selection standards; <br />( Avoid potential damage to adjacent properties from tower failure through structural <br />standards and setback requirements. <br />Location. WECS units shall be allowed by conditional use if listed as a Conditional Use in the <br />underlying zoning district. Furthermore, WECS units shall not be allowed in the Critical River, <br />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 />Bulk standards. <br />(1) General requirements. No part of the WECS, equipment, guyed wires, blades, or <br />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 />( Setback. All small scale WECS and medium scale WECS units shall maintain a <br />minimum setback of 1.5 times the height of the tower. In addition, WECS units in any <br />R -1, R -2, or R -3 residential district must maintain a minimum setback of 1,000 feet <br />from any principle dwelling unit on adjacent parcels. <br />a. Setbacks shall be measured from the center of the WECS tower to the nearest <br />property line. <br />( Height. Height for any WECS shall be restricted by the definition of the WECS as <br />listed in City Code section 117 -1, definitions. <br />a. The city council may increase the height of a small scale WECS up to an <br />overall height of 100 feet if the applicant is able to demonstrate to the <br />satisfaction of the city council that the surrounding topography, structures, <br />vegetation, and other factors make the height limit for a complying WECS <br />impractical. <br />b. A micro -scale WECS is limited to 25 feet taller than the structure to which it is <br />mounted and can be no taller than the maximum building height of the <br />underlying zoning district. A variance, processed in accordance with section <br />117 -53 (Variance procedures) is required for any micro -Scale WECS proposed <br />to be taller than these restrictions. <br />(4) Blade clearance. Any WECS blade shall maintain a minimum ground clearance of 30 <br />feet. <br />( Restricted climbing apparatus. Any WECS tower shall be designed to have removable <br />climbing apparatuses a minimum of 25 feet from the ground. All climbing apparatus <br />within 25 feet of the ground must be removed when not being serviced. <br />( Site location in residential districts. A WECS may only be located in the rear yard in <br />the R -1, R -2, and R -3 residential districts. <br />(b) <br />(c) <br />a. <br />http: // library. municode. com /print. aspx ?h= &clientlD =14286 &HTMRequest= http %3 a %2f... 1/30/2014 <br />