The planning board is proposing an ordinance that would ban from residential properties the tall, bladed turbines most typically in use, chair Michael Lazar said. But the ordinance would allow another, less common type of wind conversion generator - a vertical axis wind turbine, he said.

Typical wind turbines or windmills would be permitted only on land zoned for industrial or high-tech use, Lazar said. They could be no higher than 50 feet, or 30 feet higher than the principal building on the property, he said.

The town board will hold a public hearing and discussion on the proposed ordinance, among others, at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the town hall, 5400 Butternut Drive.

Vertical-style systems are better suited to residential areas, Lazar said. He said they are quieter, smaller and shorter than the blade-type windmills.

Most of the towns that are discussing the windmill issues are rural and have more open land than DeWitt, he said.

"We don't have those kinds of areas available, so we have to be much more restrictive because basically it's homes next to each other," Lazar said.

Town Supervisor Ed Michalenko said the town wants to encourage alternative energy use. He said he does not favor banning any single area of technology - for instance, the bladed windmill. He said he will scrutinize the ordinance proposed by the planning board and expects the rest of the town board to do the same.

"We want to be friendly to this type of technology and encourage its use, but we also don't want to expose nearby residents to liability, noise, and we also want to protect aesthetics," he said.