A $30-million wind turbine project that threatens an airstrip owned by legendary Spitfire fighter pilot Jerry Billing got zoning approval Monday from town council in a 6-2 vote.

Billing's son Erik said afterwards the family doesn't know yet if they will appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Erik Billing told council that area pilots would be at risk trying to thread their way through some of the 120-metre high turbines just west of the airstrip.

Billing and several of his neighbours have asked the Ontario Ministry of Environment to order an elevated environmental study of the Gengrowth wind farm, but no decision has been made.

As with many other public meetings on wind turbines, the council chamber was packed with about 30 residents who were evenly divided -- and equally passionate on the issue.

Some were touting the benefits of green energy amid the threat of global warming while others worried about noise, vibration and declining property values in the shadows of 40-storey turbines.

Now 88 and ailing, Billing never made it to the meeting. He's a much-decorated pilot, shot down three times in the Second World War.

Made an honorary citizen of France, he came back from the war to build the airstrip and his home in Lakeshore 41 years ago.

But some of neighbours argued the airstrip is now in the way of progress.

"Why can one owner of a property dictate what we can do with our property?" asked Helen Lavin, who hopes to host a Gengrowth wind turbine on their farm. They'll be paid royalties of about $10,000 a year, council was told.

Gengrowth plans five turbines near the Billing airstrip, the closest almost 900 metres away from the end of the runway at a slight angle. The other four turbines would be roughly two kilometers from the airstrip on Lakeshore Road 211.

The Windsor Flying Club's Perry Burford recommended a 2.4-kilometre buffer should be standard around the county's dozens of private airstrips.

Essex County's official plan amendment dealing with alternative energy calls for a four-kilometer buffer around airstrips registered with Transport Canada. Billing recently registered his airstrip. Windsor Airport has a 10-kilometre buffer.

But Lakeshore planner Tom Storey said the county's four-kilometre buffer wasn't meant to exclude wind turbines. Within that zone, turbine developers should be talking to airstrip owners about compromises and solutions, he said.

Storey said Transport Canada doesn't offer any specific regulations or guidance in this situation other than requiring wind farm developers to talk to owners of registered airstrips.

Storey said municipal councils don't have the authority to make regulations of their own dealing with airstrips.

Mayor Tom Bain wondered if Gengrowth could relocate the wind turbine closest to the Billing airstrip, but was told that was impossible because of other approvals needed.

Coun. Francis Kennette opposed the rezoning, and wanted the town to put a moratorium on any more wind farm developments.

Kennette said the town is being bombarded with opinions from both sides and needs to assess some operating wind farms before approving more.

Kennette complained the province is pushing municipalities to approve wind farms that are heavily subsidized by taxpayers. Gengrowth will be paid more than double for its wind turbine electricity than the cost from traditional power sources, he said.

Deputy Mayor Bob Sylvester, who made the motion to approve the Gengrowth rezoning, said wind turbines could become a tourist attract in the county.

"I personally think they are not an eyesore," Sylvester.