07/08/2009 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commission as a development proposal and abutting property owners are given notice. Throughout the review process the public is invited to express their concerns or views but there is not a voting process by the community, City Council is the voting body which either approves or denies WECS applications. Ms. Meredith said other types of systems should be included in the ordinance to ensure more advanced or preferred systems are not ruled out. Linking the new chapter to the noise chapter 555 will eliminate or minimize noise concerns. There is a small wind certification council which is an independent third party program and they have performance safety standards which are set up for liability. Definitions of small and medium should follow industry standards to ensure there are no misunderstandings. Mr. Malone said required setbacks as written are sufficient. Mr. Rerko said WECS systems are designed to withstand up to 125 mile an hour winds and if the threshold is exceeded they are designed to fall over not be lifted and thrown. Limiting kilowatt output should be removed so the city doesn't restrict technology as it is released. The setbacks and other restrictions will control the sizes of the WECS. Ms. Meredith noted that light and sign poles which are readily used throughout the city don't have such stringent setbacks therefore the proposed setbacks were sufficient. Ms. Williamson felt the definitions should be the same as industry standards and the issue of easements should be addressed. She also felt a wind study should be conducted. Mr. Lasko said that although only Council can make changes to legislation the public discussions brought up many good topics, ideas and suggestions to be addressed. Mr. Lasko movecl, seconcled by Mr. Malone to table Ordinance 2009-63, which was unanimously approved 5-0. Ordinance 1Vo. 2009-64 providing for the amendment of the zone map of the City of liTorth Olmsted in order to supplementally zone the hereinafter identified parcels of real property so as to include them within the Wind Energy Overlay District (VVEOD) of the City of North Olmsted. Note: PDC tabled 6/10/09 Mr. Laslco recused himself from the discussion of Ordinance 2009-64 as he is a member of the North Olmsted Board of Education and turned the meeting over to Vice Chair Meredith. Ms. Wenger said 2009-64 is the companion piece to the proposed zoning text. It establishes areas to be included in the overlay district where medium wind energy conversion systems could be located if a conditional use permit is granted. The overlay is limited to select light industrial parcels and select public properties. Overlay districts do not change the base zoning of a property but add additional regulations on top of the base zoning. The Commission discussed the rationale for the sites proposed, namely industrial or public properties that had sufficient area which would accommodate a turbine and a structure or possible future structure that could benefit from energy generation. Concerns were raised regarding the impact of turbines on the historic district and questioned why commercial properties were not included in the overlay district. Commercial properties were not included in the overlay because of layouts of buildings and parking lots which could not accommodate a fall zone. Mr. O'Malley said that an overlay district was a floating zoning which depicts specific property which would accommodate such regulations and advised that the commission should review the 4