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Page County supervisors promise checks after residents spot wind-project earthmoving; confusion over 2,600‑foot setback
Summary
Residents reported turbines-era construction and questioned whether the Shenandoah Hills settlement or older county ordinances control turbine setbacks. Supervisors said the settlement will be posted publicly and the county engineer will verify turbine siting.
Residents reported earthmoving for the Shenandoah Hills wind project and asked the county to confirm whether the project must follow a 2,600-foot setback established in a settlement or an older one-mile setback in county ordinance.
Why it matters: setbacks determine how close turbines can be to nonparticipating properties and affect noise, view and safety concerns for nearby residents. Confusion over the controlling rules prompted supervisors to promise more transparency and field checks.
What residents reported: At the May 13 meeting, resident Terry Phillips said heavy equipment had begun "moving a lot of dirt" and that she could not find a posted county ordinance showing the 2,600‑foot setback she and neighbors had been told applied. Phillips said, "The only reference I can find to that is in your lawsuit settlement. I cannot find an updated ordinance listing that 2,600 foot setback." She said foundation digging and access‑road work were underway near her nonparticipating property.
What the board said: A supervisor told the meeting the settlement that reduced setbacks for the Shenandoah Hills project had not been posted on the county website and said she would add it. The supervisor added that MidAmerican's project director, Kelsey Ballard, expected to meet with the board on the 27th to provide updates "either in person or via Zoom." County staff said they would ask the county attorney and have the county engineer verify tower locations against the approved maps.
Distinguishing discussion from direction: The meeting record shows supervisors directed staff to check turbine locations, post the settlement materials if requested and arrange for MidAmerican to brief the board; there was no recorded change to the county ordinance at the meeting.
Clarifying details: Supervisors and commenters said the settlement reduced earlier, larger setbacks and that the settlement also limited the number of turbines agreed for the project. The supervisor said the older ordinance had set a one‑mile setback, that litigation led to a negotiated setback (commonly described at the meeting as 2,600 feet), and that the settlement governs the Shenandoah Hills project. County Engineer JD King said staff were inspecting construction activity and access-road placement.
Ending: Supervisors said they would post the settlement terms online, arrange a briefing from MidAmerican and instruct the engineer to confirm turbine placement; residents urged prompt action because they said foundations were already being prepared.
