City Council decides: Turbine-free neighborhoods
The Post-Bulletin|Kurt Nesbitt|May 18, 2010
With the possible exception of schools that want them, wind energy conversion systems, such as turbines won't be allowed in residential neighborhoods in Austin and they will be allowed by city ordinance in most other sections of the city through a conditional use permit process.
With the possible exception of schools that want them, wind energy conversion systems, such as turbines won't be allowed in residential neighborhoods in Austin and they will be allowed by city ordinance in most other sections of the city through a conditional use permit process.
With the possible exception of schools that want them, wind energy conversion systems, such as turbines won't be allowed in residential neighborhoods in Austin and they will be allowed by city ordinance in most other sections of the city through a conditional use permit process.
This was the decision of the Austin City Council on Monday night, which voted 7-0 during a work session to instruct Community Development Director Craig Hoium to rewrite the ordinance to exclude WECS in residential neighborhoods, except for public schools and Riverland Community College.
Discussion centered around a familiar topic - constituent concerns about WECS in residential areas - and council members' comments took a familiar course.
Some council …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]With the possible exception of schools that want them, wind energy conversion systems, such as turbines won't be allowed in residential neighborhoods in Austin and they will be allowed by city ordinance in most other sections of the city through a conditional use permit process.
This was the decision of the Austin City Council on Monday night, which voted 7-0 during a work session to instruct Community Development Director Craig Hoium to rewrite the ordinance to exclude WECS in residential neighborhoods, except for public schools and Riverland Community College.
Discussion centered around a familiar topic - constituent concerns about WECS in residential areas - and council members' comments took a familiar course.
Some council members recognized that the cost of building WECS is so prohibitive that most residents couldn't build one if the ordinance were less restrictive, but they acknowledged wind energy technology is changing to the point where WECS small enough to fit on top of a house without a pole or a tower could be developed.
The moratorium - the city's third - expires June 28. Hoium said a 180-day limit exists on moratoriums, so passing the ordinance is "critical." Council member John P. Martin asked what could happen if the moratorium expired without an ordinance in place. Hoium answered the city would have no WECS regulation at all.
The council generally agreed the issue could be revisited when technology changes.
The Rev. Marv Repinski was the only citizen who offered an opinion on the issue. He told the council that wind energy is a moral issue to him, but he recognizes that older residents are "a little bit leery" about wind energy.
"Energy is a primary issue, and it will be for war and peace," Repinski said.
Austin wind turbines
What happened: Wind turbines will be mostly prohibited in residential areas but allowed through a conditional use permit process elsewhere in the city in an ordinance being drafted. The city council approved the conditions.
Why it matters: More individuals and organizations are looking for cleaner energy. Technology to tap the wind is improving, but not everyone wants a wind turbine as a neighbor. The city has had a moratorium on wind systems until it could draft an ordinance.
What comes next: The council's next meeting is June 7. The council can address the issue in the future as technology changes.