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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 noted 10 kW will not generate that much electricity and that the City could require they only <br /> connect it to their house and local meter grid but not redistribute it. <br /> Thiesse indicated he is in agreement with that. <br /> Landgraver asked if there is a reason why those points were not raised in the other model ordinances. <br /> Gaffron stated there are a few that specifically prohibit that but that he does not know the answer to that. <br /> Schoenzeit stated that would be the safest way to connect it and that a licensed electrician will need to do <br /> the hookup. <br /> Leskinen asked if there is a risk to someone only feeding their house and not the grid. <br /> Schoenzeit stated the extra current would not be a problem if it is hooked properly to a person's meter. <br /> Thiesse stated he would recommend allowing a connection to the grid. <br /> Leskinen indicated she would also be agreeable to that. <br /> Gaffron stated that would also help to eliminate the commercial component to it if they are allowed to <br /> connect it to the local utility to offset their electrical use. <br /> Thiesse stated with only one turbine on a property, the electricity generated would be rather minimal. <br /> Gaffron stated the way the language is currently drafted, more than one would not be allowed. Gaffron <br /> stated he has not seen multiple wind turbines addressed in other city ordinances. <br /> Gaffron stated as it relates to accessory use versus conditional use,the Planning Commission had <br /> concluded under the limitations recommended in 2013 that WECS could be listed as an allowed accessory <br /> use in the RR-1B and RR-1A districts, and approval would be administrative, with any deviations subject <br /> to the variance process. The administrative approval process negates any neighbor input, while the <br /> conditional use permit or variance processes each involve neighbor notification and the public hearing <br /> process. <br /> The Planning Commission should consider the following: <br /> 1. Should residential WECS be allowed administratively as an accessory use or should they be <br /> allowed only as a conditional use. <br /> 2. Should any deviations from the standards be subject to the variance process rather than a <br /> conditional use permit. <br /> Gaffron stated a number of suggested changes have been incorporated into the 2013 draft ordinance and <br /> that the Planning Commission should review the comparison of various jurisdictions' WECS code <br /> provisions provided in their packet and attempt to answer the questions listed in Staffs memorandum. <br /> Page 9 of 21 <br />