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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br /> Tuesday,January 20,2015 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> Schoenzeit stated it sounds like something similar to a clock. <br /> Lemke asked what would happen if the ornamental device is not maintained and becomes noisy. <br /> Gaffron stated it has a potential to be a problem, but unless it was squeaking very loud, it likely would not <br /> be considered illegal under any of the City's current ordinances. <br /> Schoenzeit stated in that situation it likely would be bothering the homeowner more than the adjoining <br /> property owner. Schoenzeit indicated he likes Commissioner McGrann's suggestion of limiting it to <br /> around 10 to 15 feet since the City is already allowing other structures that size. <br /> Thiesse stated the ornamental wind device should not be comprised of standard pieces of a WECS. <br /> Schoenzeit stated it would need to be nonfunctional as far as generating electricity. <br /> Leskinen stated she does not want to regulate this to death but that there could be someone who will call it <br /> ornamental, not use it to generate electricity, but it would still technically quality as a WECS. Leskinen <br /> stated she is not sure if the provisions already in the City Code would address a situation like that or <br /> whether the ordinance needs to be more specific about blade size,et cetera. Leskinen stated the question <br /> is what makes it ornamental. Leskinen asked if it is only the fact that it does not generate electricity. <br /> Gaffron stated they could do it as an accessory structure, but that he can imagine the types of things that <br /> could go up. Gaffron indicated he has a sense of what the Planning Commission is thinking as it relates <br /> to ornamental wind devices and that they can come back to this one if the Planning Commission would <br /> like. <br /> Gaffron stated as it relates to residential WECS,the existing code section identifies three distinct levels of <br /> WECS based on generating capacity: 10 kW residential wind turbine, 100 kW small wind turbine, and <br /> 100 kW utility wind turbine. Gaffron indicated residential wind turbines in many ordinances are the only <br /> WECS allowed in residential zoning districts regardless of lot size, height, or setbacks. In some <br /> ordinances, small wind turbines are allowed in residential districts. <br /> Residential wind turbines with 10 kW capacity are primarily designed to provide power to a single <br /> residence, while small wind turbines with 100 kW might serve a single business or a group of homes. <br /> Gaffron noted utility wind turbines are primarily designed as electric power generators for utility systems <br /> or wholesale power markets. The MPCA model ordinance defines something called Micro-WECS,which <br /> is a wind turbine with a generating capacity of 2 kW or less and mounted on a tower of 70 feet or less. <br /> Gaffron stated the wind turbine on Rest Point would fit into that category. <br /> Gaffron stated as generating capacity increases,the size and required height of a WECS will increase. <br /> The efficiency of a WECS relies on a wide variety of factors, not the least of which is sustained, <br /> unobstructed winds, which results in the need for greater heights and placement in open spaces and <br /> creates increased visibility. <br /> Gaffron noted the majority of Orono property is zoned for residential purposes, and approximately half of <br /> the City's land area is within the designated Shoreland Overlay District. Orono's commercial and <br /> industrial districts are limited in land area. The Navarre commercial area is almost completely within the <br /> Shoreland Overlay District, and a majority of the commercially zoned properties abut or are directly <br /> Page 4 of 21 <br />