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Fillmore County planning panel approves wind turbines, eases local tower-height cap
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Summary
The Fillmore County Planning Commission approved a conditional-use permit for three wind turbines, recommended removing a numeric local tower-height limit, and approved a 197-foot meteorological tower — all measures the commission said remain subject to FAA review and local fall-zone requirements.
The Fillmore County Planning Commission voted in 2017 to approve multiple wind- and tower-related land uses, including a conditional-use permit for three wind energy conversion systems and an amendment removing a numeric local tower-height cap.
At a February 21 meeting the commission approved a conditional-use permit filed by Bluestem Energy to construct three wind energy conversion systems on properties in Sections 25–27, Township 8, Range 3 West of the 6th P.M. The motion passed by recorded roll call with unanimous aye votes from members present. The panel also considered, and recommended, an amendment to Section 9.16.06 of the county zoning regulations to remove prior numeric height limits and instead determine total structure height by fall-zone requirements while retaining a requirement for Federal Aviation Administration approval; that amendment was approved by the commission the same day.
Later in the year, at a special hearing on October 9 the commission approved a conditional-use permit filed by Mark Goodwin of Apex Clean Energy to erect a 197-foot meteorological tower in the E½ of the NE¼ of Section 27, Township 6, Range 1 West. The commission’s October motion carried by a unanimous roll-call vote.
Commissioners characterized the regulatory change as a shift from a fixed-feet cap to a performance-based standard tied to safety (fall-zone) and federal oversight. The amended Section 9.16.06 text adopted by the panel states that total height will be “determined by the fall zone requirement” and that FAA approval is required.
Chairman Kenny Harre presided over the hearings. Planning and Zoning Administrator Jennifer Slezak handled staff packet distribution and procedural notices for the items.
The panel’s approvals are local recommendations under county zoning authority; projects that affect air navigation, and any structures near airports or flight paths, remain subject to FAA review and any required permits. The commissions recorded motions and unanimous vote tallies on the permitting and the zoning-text amendment in the official minutes for the February and October meetings.
Next procedural steps for each project include any site-plan or permit conditions the county or state may require and any federal reviews or approvals outside the county’s authority.