Waukee City Council starts vote on turbine ordinance

Three members approve, but two absent leaders still have to vote.

Waukee became the latest Iowa city to address wind power on Monday, when its City Council voted on an ordinance that would allow wind turbines in only a few areas within city limits.

The council voted 3-0 to approve the first reading of the ordinance, which would prohibit turbines from being erected on or around single-family homes. Council members Don Bailey and Darlene Stanton were absent.

The ordinance will require two more votes before it can take effect.

If the ordinance passes, one of the first turbines erected in Waukee may be built by the school district. A group of Waukee High School students called the Earth Club has looked into placing a turbine near Waukee Stadium. The students approached the city and discovered that current ordinances in Waukee wouldn't allow a turbine at all.

Superintendent David Wilkerson said the district has no definite plans to erect a turbine, but he sees it as a possibility. "I think having the ordinance in place is a good thing, because the option is there," he said.

The provisions of the ordinance include:

- Turbines would be limited to properties zoned for agricultural, commercial, industrial and multi-family residential use.

- Only tower-mounted turbines would be allowed; roof-mounted structures would be prohibited.

- The maximum height of a tower, including the blades, would be 60 feet.

- Turbines could only be erected on lots two acres or larger.

- All turbines would have to be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.

A year ago, Waukee city leaders named beginning a citywide environmental initiative as one of their top goals to focus on in the next two years. Waukee Development Services Director Brad Deets said the proposed ordinance was suggested by the green initiatives committee created to fulfill that goal.

Stanton serves on the green committee. She said Wednesday the proposed ordinance would allow Waukee residents to get used to seeing a few wind power generators in the city, and would encourage a discussion between residents and city leaders about someday allowing turbines in residential areas.

She said placing small turbines near homes "shouldn't be offensive because of everything we know, but let's be wise and take it a step at a time."

Last month, the Clive City Council postponed a vote on a similar ordinance that would prohibit wind turbines on all but a handful of Clive residential properties. The West Des Moines City Council approved an ordinance in October that allows turbines on one-acre or larger lots.

The proposed Waukee ordinance borrows provisions from both Clive and West Des Moines, and from other cities around the country.

Councilman Casey Harvey asked Deets why residential areas would be excluded in the ordinance.

"I think it was the aesthetics," Deets said. "There's been some pictures and articles that came out here recently that didn't put them in a positive light."