Published: July 02, 2009 09:19 am      

Wind farm, home location ignites debate

CLINTON — A public hearing and first reading of amendments to the Clinton County Zoning Ordinance sparked discussion concerning reverse setback limits concerning wind farms Wednesday at the Clinton County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Paul Ketelsen, planning and zoning administrator, presented an amendment to the zoning ordinance concerning wind harvesting towers. This amendment would change the setback for wind turbines and meteorological towers from the nearest residence, school, hospital, church or public library to 1,200 feet. This is an increase from the originally-stated 1,000 feet. The amendment also reduced the allowed audible noise due to C-WECS sites operations from 60 dBA to 50 dBA. No one from the public attended the hearing. Bill French from Midwest Wind Energy, which is the company currently looking into the wind farm project in Goose Lake, attended the meeting. The second reading and possible action on the ordinance was set for 10:30 a.m. Monday.

During the zoning discussion, BOS Chairman Dennis Starling questioned what rules were in place to limit how close a person could build a home to a previously existing tower or turbine. Ketelsen said while the ordinance posed a setback for towers built near a residence or other buildings, the county’s ordinance has no set limitations on where a person could build a new residence near a tower. He said currently a person could legally build their residence as close to an existing wind tower as they choose. Starling said he felt this could provide a safety issue since the setbacks for wind towers exist to protect residents.

“In the leases, we do prohibit anyone from building any closer than 600 feet,” said French, adding, “We don’t want anybody near it (a tower) either, both for safety reasons and because we don’t want a building potentially that will interfere with the wind.”

However, French said he rarely sees ordinances with reverse setback limits .

“Usually, we put the tower up. You know it’s there. If you want to build closer to the 1,200 feet, or whatever you chose, it’s at your own caution,” said French.

“I’m not even so sure you need a reverse ordinance. I mean, it’s not like it’s a hidden underground tank or something. It’s there, you know. Use some common sense,” said Supervisor Jill Davisson.

Starling, though, maintained the board should have a set limit to protect people, even from themselves. He said if people were allowed to build as closely to an existing tower as they wish, one day a tragedy like the tower falling down or a blade falling off and hurting someone could happen.

“I would think, though, if we don’t allow the tower to be built that close to a house, then I would think that we wouldn’t let a house be built that close to a tower,” said Starling, adding, “It just seems to me that we need to make sure that the wind industry, or the wind towers, the people who own these things, have the same considerations.”

Ketelsen said he would prefer to have a chance to look at how other communities deal with the topic of reverse setbacks before continuing the discussion.

Meeting Watch

Board of Supervisors

The Clinton County Board of Supervisors met Wednesday for special meetings. The following occurred:

• Authorized Chairman Dennis Starling to sign a joint agreements on behalf of Clinton County with Clinton, Camanche and Low Moor in order to proceed with the Urban Renewal Plan and participate in the railport project.

• Approved a Department Head Employment Benefit Policy for the case management director, mental health coordinator, CAP director, building maintenance coordinator, IT director, zoning administrator, weed Commissioner, executive assistant to the Board of Supervisors and the Criminal Justice Commission coordinator.