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Murrieta: Commissioners deliberate on wind turbines

The Californian|Nelsy Rodriguez|April 9, 2008
CaliforniaZoning/Planning

A change in the city's development code that would allow for wind turbines in rural residential areas of the city received the Planning Commission's blessing Wednesday. The Planning Commission approved it 4-1, with commissioner Tom Butler voting no because he said he believed the requirements placed on having the turbines, which are energy generating windmills, would be too restrictive. The commission is recommending that the City Council consider allowing wind turbines on properties as small as 1 acre and that the wind turbines would be allowed to be as high as the already existing height requirements in the zone where they would be allowed. The height limit In rural residential zones is now 40 feet. ...Currently, the city has nothing in its codes that would allow for the use of the turbines, which have been determined to be an "abundant, renewable and nonpolluting energy resource," according to the California Development Code.


Code change could allow the energy producers on some properties

A change in the city's development code that would allow for wind turbines in rural residential areas of the city received the Planning Commission's blessing Wednesday.

The Planning Commission approved it 4-1, with commissioner Tom Butler voting no because he said he believed the requirements placed on having the turbines, which are energy generating windmills, would be too restrictive.

The commission is recommending that the City Council consider allowing wind turbines on properties as small as 1 acre and that the wind turbines would be allowed to be as high as the already existing height requirements in the zone where they would be allowed. The height limit In rural …

... more [truncated due to possible copyright]

Code change could allow the energy producers on some properties

A change in the city's development code that would allow for wind turbines in rural residential areas of the city received the Planning Commission's blessing Wednesday.

The Planning Commission approved it 4-1, with commissioner Tom Butler voting no because he said he believed the requirements placed on having the turbines, which are energy generating windmills, would be too restrictive.

The commission is recommending that the City Council consider allowing wind turbines on properties as small as 1 acre and that the wind turbines would be allowed to be as high as the already existing height requirements in the zone where they would be allowed. The height limit In rural residential zones is now 40 feet.

"Since this is new, I think we have to be concerned with measuring the success or failure of it and not allowing a blanket ordinance," said commissioner Mike FitzPatrick. "It's one of these things that is new and the horizon on a lot of the new technology is just an absolute unknown and in five years, the technology can be completely different. Let's evaluate it as we go forward."

The city's consideration of allowing the turbines was spurred by a request from Diana Hofman to install a windmill on her property at the base of the Santa Rose Plateau.

"I don't think that our horizon is going to be dotted with windmills," she said. "But it's something to consider (if) it would help our city (advance) into 2008."

The commission's consideration was the first step after a March discussion during which council members looked at ways for the city to become more environmentally friendly.

Currently, the city has nothing in its codes that would allow for the use of the turbines, which have been determined to be an "abundant, renewable and nonpolluting energy resource," according to the California Development Code.

Typical residential wind turbines begin churning out energy when sustained winds reach from 7 to 10 miles an hour, and they can generate approximately 4,800 kilowatt hours per year, according to SkyStream, a residential wind turbine manufacturer. One kilowatt hour could keep an energy-saving 20-watt light bulb on for 50 hours.

After researching the use of wind turbines, the city's staff found that they would be suitable on properties west of Washington Street between Elm and Ivy streets, north of Clinton Keith near Greer Ranch Road and around Los Alamos Road east to Winchester Road and north of Hunter Road, all areas that are zoned rural residential.

However, residents would be responsible for determining whether their properties would experience adequate wind to benefit from a turbine. The city is not recognized on a California wind source map as being a strong candidate for wind-energy production, the staff's report to the commission indicates.

The staff concluded that the turbines would make about the same amount of noise as air conditioners or swimming pool equipment.

The ordinance amendment recommended to the city would require an owner remove a windmill that remains inoperable for more than six months.

"We believe these standards will assist in keeping in an envelope (for) safety and aesthetic concerns," said Assistant Planning Director Cynthia Kinser. "It would be no more intrusive than what someone can construct at this time."

Contact staff writer Nelsy Rodriguez at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or nrodriguez@californian.com.

 


Source:http://www.nctimes.com/articl…

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