Laserfiche WebLink
Planning Commission Minutes — July 8, 2004 <br />ordinance requirements. <br />Young explained that when the winds reach speeds of 28 miles per hour, the blades turn the <br />system off. <br />Chair Schumann asked if there was a feature that would shut it off should there be a bad bearing, <br />or something similar in nature, that caused a noise problem. <br />He explained that there was no feature that would automatically shut it off but there was a break <br />switch located at the base of the tower that could be manually shut off. <br />Commissioner Hoffbeck asked how many they had installed and if they had ever experienced any <br />problems. <br />Young said he installed approximately six over the previous years and had only experienced <br />problems when they were neglected. He indicated that the problems were not so much noise <br />issues but rather efficiency problems. <br />The applicant questioned whether the City had the right to come on the property and shut off the <br />windmill. <br />Young indicated that the agreement with the power company gave the power company permission <br />to disconnect it to work on the equipment of necessary. <br />Commissioner Rosenquist had no problem with the request but felt there should be some <br />information on the sound to show the City had exercised due diligence in knowing the noise level. <br />Chair Schumann suggested there be some reasonable process to shut the windmill down should <br />there be excessive noise. <br />Acting Chair Malaski opened the public hearing. <br />Jim Bever, 7131 132nd Street, expressed concern about the look of the windmill because it would <br />be very visible from his home. He was also concerned about the value of his property should he <br />decide to develop it in the future. <br />Young stated that they had, on staff's recommendation, painted the blades gray to match the rest <br />of the windmill. <br />There were no other comments and Malaski closed the public hearing. <br />Commissioner Hoffbeck said she understood the visual impacts but also was in favor of <br />alternative methods of energy. <br />Commissioner Rosenquist said that if it complied with ordinance requirements, they couldn't <br />legally deny it because of the way it looked. <br />