02-17-2015 Planning Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday, January 20, 2015 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 21 Schoenzeit stated it sounds like something similar to a clock. Lemke asked what would happen if the ornamental device is not maintained and becomes noisy. Gaffron stated it has a potential to be a problem, but unless it was squeaking very loud, it likely would not be considered illegal under any of the City’s current ordinances. Schoenzeit stated in that situation it likely would be bothering the homeowner more than the adjoining property owner. Schoenzeit indicated he likes Commissioner McGrann’s suggestion of limiting it to around 10 to 15 feet since the City is already allowing other structures that size. Thiesse stated the ornamental wind device should not be comprised of standard pieces of a WECS. Schoenzeit stated it would need to be nonfunctional as far as generating electricity. Leskinen stated she does not want to regulate this to death but that there could be someone who will call it ornamental, not use it to generate electricity, but it would still technically quality as a WECS. Leskinen stated she is not sure if the provisions already in the City Code would address a situation like that or whether the ordinance needs to be more specific about blade size, et cetera. Leskinen stated the question is what makes it ornamental. Leskinen asked if it is only the fact that it does not generate electricity. Gaffron stated they could do it as an accessory structure, but that he can imagine the types of things that could go up. Gaffron indicated he has a sense of what the Planning Commission is thinking as it relates to ornamental wind devices and that they can come back to this one if the Planning Commission would like. Gaffron stated as it relates to residential WECS, the existing code section identifies three distinct levels of WECS based on generating capacity: 10 kW residential wind turbine, 100 kW small wind turbine, and 100 kW utility wind turbine. Gaffron indicated residential wind turbines in many ordinances are the only WECS allowed in residential zoning districts regardless of lot size, height, or setbacks. In some ordinances, small wind turbines are allowed in residential districts. Residential wind turbines with 10 kW capacity are primarily designed to provide power to a single residence, while small wind turbines with 100 kW might serve a single business or a group of homes. Gaffron noted utility wind turbines are primarily designed as electric power generators for utility systems or wholesale power markets. The MPCA model ordinance defines something called Micro-WECS, which is a wind turbine with a generating capacity of 2 kW or less and mounted on a tower of 70 feet or less. Gaffron stated the wind turbine on Rest Point would fit into that category. Gaffron stated as generating capacity increases, the size and required height of a WECS will increase. The efficiency of a WECS relies on a wide variety of factors, not the least of which is sustained, unobstructed winds, which results in the need for greater heights and placement in open spaces and creates increased visibility. Gaffron noted the majority of Orono property is zoned for residential purposes, and approximately half of the City’s land area is within the designated Shoreland Overlay District. Orono’s commercial and industrial districts are limited in land area. The Navarre commercial area is almost completely within the Shoreland Overlay District, and a majority of the commercially zoned properties abut or are directly Item #01 - PC Agenda - 02/17/2015 Approval of Planning Commission Minutes [Page 4 of 21]