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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 /> Lanpner stated their view from the kitchen and deck is also impacted by the glare coming off of the wind <br /> turbine. <br /> Lanpher stated the last video was taken less than two weeks ago and shows the small roof-mounted <br /> turbine. Lanpher pointed out the flicker going through their sunroom into the great room area. Lanpher <br /> stated while there are trees in the area,the neighboring house is 30 feet tall and the wind turbine is on top <br /> of the roof. Lanpher stated in his view a 300-foot setback is not enough and that the position of the sun at <br /> different times during the day needs to be taken into consideration to try to minimize the shadows and <br /> glare caused by the wind turbine. Lanpher noted the neighbor three doors up can see the large turbine <br /> when it is spinning and he is more than 300 feet away. <br /> Lanpher stated the small turbine is also lit up 24/7 with blue lights. Lanpher indicated the wind generator <br /> has stopped he and his wife from going down to their boathouse for safety reasons due to the wavering of <br /> the wind turbine. Lanpner noted the wind turbine is located too close to the property line. Lanpher stated <br /> a new turbine pole was installed earlier this year and that the pole that was lit up with green lights has <br /> been taken down. <br /> Lanpher noted the next video shows the wind turbine at night all lit up. <br /> Lanpher stated the next slide shows the damage that the trees have sustained from the neighbor's <br /> trimming in order to accommodate the turbine. <br /> Lanpher stated there is also noise associated with the turbines,which is tough to regulate. Lanpher <br /> indicated he and his wife have had sleepless nights when the large turbine is in operation and that when <br /> the wind gusts,the blades go up or down, and there is noise generated from that as well. Lanpher <br /> indicated it is not as noticeable on the smaller turbines but that it is definitely noticeable on the larger one. <br /> Lanpher stated the issues that need more scrutiny is the distance from the property line and that the <br /> impacts to each property will be different depending on where the sun sets or rises and how it impacts <br /> people from a further distance. Lanpher stated in his view the 300-foot setback is not far enough away. <br /> Lanpher indicated they have had to endure this situation since September of 2010 and that the situation <br /> has escalated even further. Lanpher stated they have had four lawsuits against the adjoining neighbor as a <br /> result of trespassing and damage to their property. One of the lawsuits went to the appellate court level <br /> and one to the Supreme Court level and that they have not lost a single one. <br /> Lanpher stated he and his wife are citizens of Orono and that there are ordinances that need to be <br /> enforced. Lanpher stated he understands the City has been dealing with it as best as possible. <br /> Chair Leskinen closed the public hearing at 7:10 p.m. <br /> Leskinen stated this is not something that will be resolved tonight but that the Planning Commission has a <br /> starting point. Leskinen noted considerable effort was spent in 2013 examining this issue. <br /> Gaffron recommended the Planning Commission refine the work done in 2013. Staff's recommendation <br /> would be to discuss this at the January work session. Gaffron stated in his view the Planning Commission <br /> should be able to make a recommendation to the City Council sometime in the spring. <br /> Page 5 of 23 <br />