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~Iea.~~~~ <br />cti®n a ~ueste <br />Staff and the Planning Commission recommend approval of the attached ordinance. <br />urnn~a <br />The attached ordinance represents an attempt to address a growing question relative to how the City of <br />Elk River regulates wind turbines. Historically, they are only permitted as a conditional use i~ the A-~ <br />zoning district. <br />A draft ordinance was presented to the Planning Commission and City Council in July and again in <br />September, Also in September, the draft ordinance was presented to the Energy City Comrriission. Their <br />comments are outlined in the attached memo dated September 17, 2009, from Nicola Blake-Bradley. <br />The ordinance as presented to the Council for adoption does not incorporate all recommendations from <br />the Energy City Commission, notably: <br />i. The ordinance does not require an applicant to gain neighbor approval. Neighbors have the <br />ability to comment, if their request goes through the CUP process, but the power of approval <br />remains with the City Council. <br />2. Changes have been made <br />3. Changes have been made <br />4. Changes have been made <br />5. Staff made moderate changes. Tt is staffs frrm belief that wind turbines are not appropriate in all <br />districts and on all properties. However, to allow it on R-~ a lotssome of which are 2.5 acre lots, <br />while not allowing it on R-1c lots, some of which are the same size, seemed arbitrary. The revised <br />ordinance allows wind turbines on R-1 lots ~a-d} on lots larger than 3 acres. Staff does not <br />recommend allowing wind turbines higher than 22 feet on lots smaller than 3 acres due to the <br />impact thy most likely have on neighboring properties. <br />ttacr~ents <br />Nicola Blake-Bradley memo dated September ~ 7, X009 <br />® Draft ordinance <br />C;~Documents and 5ettings~jmiller~Loca1 Settings~'Ternporary Internet l~iles~~LK3~~5taff report to CC 9-21-09 Turlaines (2}.dac <br />