Clarke County Planning Commissioner Kathy Smart, who wants a "greener" home, has an appointment to discuss her heating system.

She is considering the installation of a solar- or wind-power generation system to replace the oil furnace that warms her baseboard heating units.

But first, Smart must determine if enough wind blows across her property to make a wind-power generation system viable.

She is also waiting for the approval of a new county ordinance that would permit small wind turbines for home use.

At its meeting Friday, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the ordinance, which would allow the turbines in several zoning districts, including Rural Residential and Highway Commercial.

The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the county Board of Supervisors, which will make the final decision on the amendment.

The proposal would allow one or two wind turbines 100 feet tall or less as an accessory use, and three or more turbines - or a turbine taller than 100 feet - with a special-use permit.

The commission debated the number of turbines that would be allowed by the ordinance, in case a resident attempted to build a commercial wind farm to generate electricity.

The amendment is aimed to allow turbines for individual home use only, said Planning Director Charles Johnston, but the commission amended the proposal to specify the number of allowed turbines.

Commissioner William "Chip" Steinmetz noted that the proposal does not address high-flying tethered wind turbines, which are at the cutting edge of wind-generation technology.

Johnston said the ordinance as written would not permit tethered turbines.

"It's probably not a technology that's going to hit Clarke County in the next few years," Steinmetz said.

Smart, a member of the committee that researched turbines and the amendment language, said some county residents may be interested in wind-power generation.

"We hope, at least some of us on the commission, that the people in the county will become more aware of alternative forms of energy," she said.

"The motivation is to get green, to stop using oil," Smart added, speaking of her own interest in the topic.

Also at Friday's meeting, the commission:

Continued a public hearing on the rezoning and site plan for a 7-Eleven gas station and convenience store proposed to replace the Triple J convenience store at Va. 7 and Triple J Road.

Approved a text amendment to the county zoning ordinance to delete the acreage requirement for tenant houses in the Agricultural-Open Space-Conservation District. The amendment also requires tenant houses to comply with the zoning and subdivision ordinance, as well as Virginia Department of Transportation requirements.

Attending the meeting in the Clarke County Circuit Courthouse were Smart, Steinmetz, Chairman Beverly B. McKay, George L. Ohrstrom, Harry Lee "Jay" Arnold Jr., Anne Caldwell, Pat McKelvy, Cliff Nelson, and Robert "Bob" Wade. A.R. "Pete" Dunning Jr. and Barbara Batterton were absent.