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Resident urges zoning change to allow small wind turbines; committee recommends variance process
Summary
Dr. Van Beveren asked the committee to lower minimum lot size for residential wind turbines from six to one acre; the master plan committee had recommended keeping requirements as-is due to unresolved noise impacts, and the committee suggested pursuing a variance process instead of changing the ordinance at this time.
During public comment, Dr. Van Beveren urged the township to revise its land-use code to permit a wind turbine on one-acre residential lots rather than the current six-acre minimum. He told the committee he had provided manufacturer noise documentation to the master plan committee and disputed that the data were insufficient, saying the manufacturer always responded and that questions about noise levels were overstated.
Staff read the master plan committee’s recommendation that the zoning ordinance remain unchanged in the absence of additional technical information and suggested that an individual owner could instead apply for a variance to make a case on a parcel-by-parcel basis. Dr. Van Beveren objected that the variance route could cost $5,000, leaving homeowners to bear the expense and uncertainty.
The committee limited public-comment time to three minutes and asked the resident to leave materials with the clerk so members could review his supporting documents. There was no motion to change the ordinance during the meeting; staff indicated the matter remains subject to the normal zoning and variance processes and further technical study would be required before officials would consider a town-wide code amendment.
