BLOOMINGTON - Concerns over "flicker vertigo," property values and flight paths for crop dusters were raised by area residents who voiced their objection Thursday to the proposed Black Prairie wind farm east of the Twin Cities.

Horizon Wind Energy LLC is seeking a special use permit to locate about 333 turbines in Towanda, Blue Mound, Martin and Anchor townships, north of Illinois 9. The McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals took a third session of testimony Thursday at a hearing at the Government Center.

After taking testimony for more than four hours, the zoning board continued the hearing until November. A date had not been announced as of The Pantagraph's press time.

Kim Schwab, who lives near the project area, said wind turbines interfere with the quality of life and health for the people who live near them. Schwab also said he was concerned about the effect of flicker vertigo caused by the spinning blades. Schwab said his concern about flicker vertigo is drawn from his experience as a helicopter pilot with the U.S. Army.

Aaron Wissmiller, a resident of Blue Mound Township, read a litany of questions and concerns he had regarding the construction of the roads, the stability of Horizon, the actual amount of electricity produced and the potential limits on economic development.

The board limited testimony to 10 minutes per objector.

The proposed wind farm 2.5 miles from the Bloomington and Normal corporate limits could create a barrier to further development in the area, according to previous testimony by Jacques Gourguechon of Chicago-based Camiros, a consultant for Horizon.

"Has the board taken Jacques' testimony seriously when he is talking about restricting the economic growth?" Wissmiller said.

Blue Mound Township Road Commissioner Joseph Wissmiller, who is Aaron Wissmiller's father, said he is concerned about the road standards used during the construction of Twin Grove wind farm, the already-existing Horizon wind farm across Illinois 9 from the Black Prairie site. The shoulders are too steep and the roads are not wide enough to meet safety standards recommended by the Illinois Department of Transportation, he said.

Among the concerns for Kim Schertz of Hudson is the location of the towers and whether crop dusters can fly safely around the towers and how the towers will be lighted for the safety of aircraft.