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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Monday,November 17,2014 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Elements of the study process will include the following: A review of the various types of SWECS and <br /> their capabilities and limitations, as well as potential impacts to surrounding properties and uses; a review <br /> of various model ordinances and existing ordinances enacted by other local municipalities with regard to <br /> SWECS; and consideration of where and under what conditions SWECS should be allowed in Orono. <br /> Gaffron stated the 2013 draft also included the following list of potential measures to mitigate the impacts <br /> various alternative energy systems could have on neighborhoods: <br /> 1. Establishment of the defined types of systems that are allowed or prohibited; <br /> 2. Establishment of appropriate locations for each type of alternative energy system to ensure proper <br /> location of the systems. Those would include the minimum size of the property required and <br /> minimum setbacks from property boundaries and/or from offsite residences; <br /> 3. Establishment of standard procedures for construction process to minimize impacts of access, <br /> materials storage, erosion or other land disturbances,etc.; <br /> 4. Establishment of system design or performance standards that would eliminate the potential for <br /> the impacts noted above, such as standards for height, system size or capacity,physical location <br /> in relation to attachment to the ground or to structures, location of associated mechanical <br /> equipment,use of screening, visual aesthetics, safety,etc.; <br /> 5. Establishment of standards for system abandonment; and <br /> 6. Establishment of permit requirements. <br /> Gaffron noted the Planning Commission reviewed alternative energy systems in 2013. During that <br /> review,the Planning Commission reviewed sample WECS codes from a number of cities. The Minnesota <br /> Pollution Control Agency has also generated a model ordinance similar to many others,which suggests <br /> the following punch list of items should be included in a WECS ordinance in establishing wind generators <br /> located in a residential neighborhood: <br /> A. Distinguish between types of wind energy applications <br /> B. Define necessary permits <br /> C. Identify wind resource standards <br /> d. Establish setbacks <br /> E. Establish Safety Standards <br /> F. Establish Design Standards <br /> G. Establish other applicable standards <br /> H. Minimize infrastructure impacts <br /> The ordinance draft reviewed by the Planning Commission in November of 2013 addressed many of the <br /> above elements and avoided or purposely did not address others. The 2013 draft established three types <br /> of wind turbines based on the nameplate generating capacity. The draft did not acknowledge that WECS <br /> of 5,000 kW capacity or larger are state-regulated. <br /> Page 2 of 23 <br />