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Jackson County schedules public hearing on draft wind ordinance after zoning panel vote; residents urge larger setbacks and stricter noise limits
Summary
The board set a public hearing on the draft Wind Energy Conversion System ordinance for Feb. 25; residents at Tuesday’s meeting urged setbacks of at least 1 kilometer and noise limits lower than the draft's 50-decibel average.
Jackson County supervisors voted to set a public hearing on the draft Wind Energy Conversion System ordinance for 6 p.m. Feb. 25 in the community room at the courthouse, after the zoning commission forwarded a final draft to the board.
"In our January 20 meeting, the zoning commission made a motion to send the wind energy conversion system ordinance final draft to the board of supervisors after revisions noted... The motion carried all 7 members voted in the affirmative," said Miss Laurie, speaking to the board about the zoning commission's action.
During public comment, property owner Jen Kutch urged supervisors to adopt larger setbacks and stricter sound limits than those in the draft. "I would implore you to change that setback to 1 kilometer at the minimum," Kutch said, citing a turbine manufacturer (named in the comment as Nordex) and asserting the manufacturer's worker-safety guidance uses about a 1-kilometer distance (3,280 feet) during thunderstorms. Kutch also criticized the draft's proposed 50-decibel average sound limit and called for lower limits and for sound to be measured inside dwellings rather than at property lines. "We really need to be looking at peak times," she said, and asked the county to require developers to provide unredacted manufacturer health and safety manuals.
Board action and process: Supervisors discussed notice timing and publication rules for multiple public hearings and readings. The board voted to set a single public hearing for Feb. 25 in the county community room; Supervisors Ninh (mover) and Mike (seconder) carried the motion unanimously.
Why it matters: The draft ordinance raises issues of property setbacks, noise standards and the public-review process. Kutch and others urged the board to adopt more protective standards than the draft currently proposes; the zoning commission’s unanimous vote to forward the draft indicates the matter will return to the board for formal readings after the scheduled hearing.
Ending: County staff said the draft would be posted to the county website and the public hearing will be published according to statutory notice periods; the board did not adopt the ordinance at the meeting and will consider readings after public input.
