The city committee that rejected Ottawa's first application for a residential wind turbine did so because the proposed location of the turbine is too close to neighbouring property lines, not due to its noise or visual impact. ...Zoning bylaws require that accessory structures to a house not exceed 4.5 metres in height and that their height must equal their distance from property lines. The committee rejected Mr. Findlay's proposal after a public hearing on Oct. 1, but only released its rationale on Friday.

The city committee that rejected Ottawa's first application for a residential wind turbine did so because the proposed location of the turbine is too close to neighbouring property lines, not due to its noise or visual impact.

Graham Findlay, a 54-year-old Island Park resident who sells large-scale wind and solar energy farms for a living, was asking the city's bylaw adjustment committee to allow him to skirt existing bylaws to erect a 10-metre high, 500-watt wind turbine in the backyard of his 70 Iona St. home, about a metre and a half away from his rear property line. At peak wind, the turbine could generate about 10 per cent of Mr. Findlay's residential electricity.

Zoning bylaws require that accessory structures to a house not exceed 4.5 metres in height and that their height must equal their distance from property lines.

The committee rejected Mr. Findlay's proposal after a public hearing on Oct. 1, but only released its rationale on Friday.

John Earl, whose Faraday Street home backs on to Mr. Findlay's, argued at the hearing that if the 177-kilogram turbine were to fall over, it would fall on his land, potentially injuring his family and damaging his property. Mr. Earl also expressed concerns, on behalf of about a dozen other Faraday Street residents, about the noise and visual impact of the turbine, but the committee ruled that Mr. Findlay adequately addressed those issues.

Mr. Findlay argued at the hearing that it was "highly unlikely" the turbine would fall over, saying it would be planted about two metres into the ground. But he was unable to provide a safety certification from a structural engineer, which the committee specifically mentioned as one of the reasons for their rejection.

The committee's rationale concludes by stating that it is not convinced Mr. Findlay could not put the structure on another part of his property, therefore ensuring that if it fell, it would only fall on his own property.

At the hearing, Mr. Findlay explained that he wanted to put the turbine at the end of his backyard because that's where it would capture the most steady wind. If the turbine were placed closer to his house, the wind would be obstructed by the building and neighbouring trees, he said.

Mr. Findlay has until Oct. 30 to appeal the committee's decision to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Mr. Findlay already has a 20-year contract with the province to sell power to Hydro One. He said he spent about $6,000 on the turbine and another $5,000 to $6,000 on his application to the city.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association has produced a model zoning bylaw for municipalities that addresses urban wind-power applications. The group encourages a more streamlined application process for citizens wanting to use wind turbines in a residential area, and also call for removing existing height restrictions. However, they maintain that the structures must be placed away from property lines at distances equal to their heights.

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