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<br /> <br /> <br /> Created: 2025-05-22 16:40:53 [EST] <br />(Supp. No. 36) <br /> <br />Page 173 of 198 <br />(Prior Code, § 1195-710.1, § 90-270) <br />Sec. 90-267. Wind-powered generators. <br />(a) It is unlawful for any person to erect or maintain a wind-powered generator in the city, except in <br />conformance with these regulations. <br />(b) Wind-powered generators shall not exceed a height of 100 feet (including propeller blades). Any such <br />generators shall be located on parcels of land at least five acres in size. No more than one wind-powered <br />generator shall be located on a lot or parcel of land. <br />(c) Wind-powered generators and their supporting towers shall be located in rear yards, meet the minimum <br />structure setback requirements and shall be set back from all property lines, residential dwellings, and <br />overhead electrical transmission lines at least 50 feet plus the height of the tower and generator, including <br />propeller blades. No part of the tower, generator, or any appurtenances thereto shall be located on, or <br />extend across, any public right-of-way, public street, highway, sidewalk, or trail, except as may be approved <br />by the city council. <br />(d) The height of the wind-powered generator shall not exceed that allowed by Federal Aviation Administration <br />Regulation (FAA) 77, "Objects Affecting Navigable Air Space" or Minnesota Department of Transportation <br />(Mn/DOT) Rule 14, MCAR 1.3015 "Criteria For Determining Obstruction to Air Navigation." <br />(e) Wind-powered generators and their supporting towers shall be erected and maintained to meet the <br />following standards, except that FAA and Mn/DOT regulations shall be followed as they may apply: <br />(1) Structural design, mounting, and installation of the tower, generator, and all components shall be in <br />compliance with manufacturer's specifications. The tower, generator, and components shall be <br />professionally designed and constructed to meet all federal, state, and local regulations, including <br />those relating to nonionizing radiation and other health hazards. If new, more restrictive regulations <br />are adopted, the property owner shall bring the facility and its operation into compliance with the new <br />regulations within six months. <br />(2) All wind-powered generators shall be equipped with both a manual and an automatic overspeed <br />control device. <br />(3) All wind-powered generators shall be adequately grounded for protection against direct strike by <br />lightning. <br />(4) Foundations shall not exceed 150 square feet in ground coverage, and shall be designed and <br />constructed to resist two times the wind uplift calculated pursuant to the state building code. Design <br />and construction of the foundation shall be certified by a professional engineer. <br />(5) Propeller blades shall not exceed 30 feet in diameter, and arcs from the propeller blades shall be <br />constructed to be a minimum of 30 feet above ground level. <br />(6) No noise, glare, or vibration from the structure and its related facilities shall be detectable from off the <br />property on which they are located. <br />(7) The tower must be freestanding, not include any guy wires, be treated with corrosive-resistant <br />materials, and painted to be as inconspicuous as possible when viewed from off the property. <br />(8) Effective measures shall be taken to prevent climbing of the tower by unauthorized persons. <br />(9) No advertising signs or extraneous materials shall be located on the tower. The tower shall not be <br />illuminated except to meet federal or state safety regulations, and one warning sign not exceeding two <br />square feet is permitted. <br />(10) All wind-powered generators shall be constructed as monopoles.