Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — City officials met Monday evening for a workshop on a proposed ordinance that would establish rules for the installation of wind energy systems within residentially-zoned areas of the community. Present for the session were: City Manager Tom Stevens; City Councilors Jennifer Trombley, Don Gardner, Walt Elish, Ron McPherson, Calvin Hall and G. Melvin Hovey; Planning and Development Director Ken Arndt; City Planner Jamie Francomano; Planning Board members Brent Anderson, Steve Sutter, Pat Coty and Karl Dampf; Larry Clark, executive director, Presque Isle Industrial Council; Larry Fox, SAD 1; Larry LaPlant, NMCC; and Leo Freeman, the local Skystream wind energy system distributor.
The purpose of the meeting for participants to continue their review of Section VIII, Small Wind Energy Systems (SWES), to provide local regulation of such systems within the city, to preserve and protect public health and general welfare without significantly increasing the cost to owners nor decreasing the efficiency of such systems. Participants had their first glimpse of the ordinance earlier this summer, when the Planning Board presented their first draft to City Council. But upon review of that version, councilors deemed it “too restrictive” and sent it back to the board to be tweaked. Of primary concern to the Council was the ordinance’s limit on energy production to 5kw; public response led councilors to request the board consider upping that figure to 100kw.
The Planning Board did just that, meeting on Aug. 20 to discuss what, if any, changes should be made to their original document. At that gathering, members discussed increasing output from 5kw, settling on a compromise of 25kw. Also addressed were issues of height and setback requirements.
Arndt presented the revised ordinance to the group on Monday. He said the document was designed with
“As the result of public comments at all levels, we really only focused on four areas: structure/height; power generated and capacity; the area of setbacks; and a change in code to do with sharing authority and administration,” said Arndt.
Arndt explained that the ordinance would pertain to structures up to 60 feet in height and would set a limit on output of 25kw, as well as require a setback of 1.1 times the height between the base of the unit and the property line. Building permits would be required, as well as prior notification to abutters of any plans to construct a wind turbine.
A few participants expressed concerns, noting that safety was an issue and questioning the need for 25kw units.
“Looking at the 25kw unit, you’re probably looking at a 50-foot tower,” said Coty. “I’m looking at aesthetics. I live in a nice neighborhood. But If somebody puts up a 60-foot tower, that’s big. There are only two units bigger in the area than what you are approving.”
Anderson said not everyone would be able to put up such a structure, given the setback guidelines.
“You can’t put up a 60-foot tower if you have a postage-stamp lot,” noted Anderson.
Gardner said he feared them “popping up everywhere.”
“I’m just worried about these sprouting up all over town,” said Gardner.
Anderson reminded the group that, at present, it was “open season,” and that some type of ordinance needed to be established to provide a basis for future projects.
Freeman informed the group that his own tower measured 35 feet.
“That’s designed for smaller lots,” said Freeman. “Generally, what I’m seeing is 1.5 percent height setback. I’m seeing anywhere from 45-48 feet, with setback, on that unit.”
Hovey asked how neighbor concerns would be addressed.
“If someone decided to put up a windmill and followed this all the way through, and a neighbor’s upset about it — as long as it met criteria, it would be approved regardless of a neighbor’s objections?” questioned Hovey.
Anderson said it would be much like any other ordinance on construction projects.
“As would a shed or anything else,” provided proper permits were in place and ordinances followed, said Anderson.
Arndt said such ordinances are cropping up all over the state.
“They’re all new. In my opinion, we needed a place to start and that’s why the Planning Board initiated this,” said Arndt.
“I think this is well-crafted. All our concerns have been addressed. I’m not seeing any problem with this,” said Hall.
Arndt said plans for NMCC and SAD 1 (at Presque Isle Middle School) to erect wind systems would not be affected by this ordinance, since plans were to get zoning changed for their respective properties — an action that the Zoning Board will be discussing at a future session.
“Officials have agreed to meet and craft a change and present that at the (Zoning Board’s) September meeting,” he said.
Arndt said this was the best plan the Planning Board could come up with.
“It’s the best we can do for now. We’ve been at it since about April. I really do think this is the best we can come to at this point,” said Arndt. “We offered a much more comprehensive version earlier and folks found it to be too complex. This isn’t anything we’ve done before, but it’s comparable to communities like Brunswick and Augusta.”
Anderson said city officials would most likely continue to receive public comment for years to come.
“You have to consider there will be people in a year or two who are unhappy once they go up, but as Ken said, it’s not outside the box with regard to what’s going on elsewhere in other communities in the state,” said Anderson.
The group concluded the discussion, agreeing to move the proposed ordinance back to Council for the public-hearing process. The first public hearing on the revised ordinance will be held during Council’s next session, scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
For more information, contact Stevens at 764-4485 or Arndt at 764-2527.
