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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, March 9, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 29 of 43  <br />  <br />(11. #14-3700 CITY OF ORONO – AMEND ZONING CODE – AMEND SECTION 78-1379: <br />WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS (WECS) FIRST REVIEW, continued) <br /> <br />Walsh stated one option could be to ban them in certain districts. <br /> <br />Mattick stated the more places the City allows them, the less likely it is the ordinance would be struck <br />down. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated as it relates to safety, standards and certification, the ordinance states that the WEC <br />systems shall meet minimum standards and must be certified. In addition, all grid connected systems <br />shall have an agreement with the local utility prior to the issuance of a building permit. If the WEC <br />system is abandoned or remains nonfunctional or inoperative for a continuous period of one year, the <br />system shall be deemed to be abandoned and shall constitute a public nuisance. Gaffron stated he also <br />does not have any idea whether the local utility companies have any interest in accepting electricity from <br />a WEC system. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated based on the discussion tonight, Staff can make some changes to the ordinance, but that the <br />Council will need to determine what an appropriate lot size and setback is. Gaffron indicated he can <br />bring back sketches of different sizes and shaped lots but that he is not sure how useful that will be. <br /> <br />McMillan stated in her view the 300-foot setback is too restrictive but that she is not sure what it should <br />be. McMillan indicated she likes the 10-acre lot size. <br />Levang stated she does not want these devices to impact the neighbors and that the clustering of the <br />homes need to be taken into consideration in addition to the lot size. Levang stated in her view the <br />answer has to be setbacks or size of lots but that in her view five acres is not the answer. Levang stated <br />she does not want to push this onto the backs of neighbors. <br /> <br />Walsh stated whatever the Council does, it has to be defendable in court. <br /> <br />Levang noted there is a significant number of five acre lots in Orono and that she does not want them to <br />be worried about a wind turbine being installed in their neighbor’s yard. <br /> <br />Cornick stated what is holding the Council back is not being able to decide on what size lot the turbines <br />should be allowed on. Cornick stated he likes the 10 acres because it simplifies things a little more. <br /> <br />Walsh indicated he does not agree with the ten acres but that he would go along with it to keep things <br />moving along. <br /> <br />Cornick stated the size of the lot could always be changed if the City finds it is not working. <br /> <br />Levang stated the City can always go down but it would be difficult to go up. <br /> <br />McMillan and Levang indicated they are both fine with requiring ten acres. <br /> <br />McMillan stated two good restrictions are the flicker and shadow not being allowed on neighboring <br />properties. McMillan stated they could have two setbacks, 100 feet from the property line and no further <br />than 150 feet from the house.