Click here to view proposed windmill zoning amendments: (Word format)
06/12/08
July public hearing eyes proposed
windmill regulations
The Town Council will hold a public hearing July 14, 2008, on two proposals
to allow windmills in town.
One proposal would allow small wind-turbine systems for residential or other
uses. The other restricts the system to Town-owned properties.
The second, designed to allow a pilot, Town-operated wind project, came out
of the Town Council's ordinance committee after months of review.
"We are not sure we know enough about wind potential in Cape Elizabeth to
allow windmills to go up on every residential lot," subcommittee chairman
Cynthia Dill said at the council's June 9 meeting.
Following a public hearing last December, the Planning Board forwarded to
the council a draft set of windmill zoning amendments that would allow systems
townwide. The Planning Board's draft allows wind systems on lots of at least
20,000 square feet, with height limit of 100 feet and a setback of half the
height of the tower.
While the council's hearing is not scheduled until July, some citizens took
the opportunity to share their thoughts June 9. Jack Roberts, a former Town
councilor and resident of Fowler Road, said that a modern, small-scale windmill
such as proposed in the ordinance amendment would likely not effect his
neighbors, and encouraged windmills for residential use. Warren Roos, Kettle
Cove Road, said he calculated a four-and-a-half-year payback period from
energy savings with a windmill on his property.
Bill Slack, who is chairman of the town's Alternative Energy Committee, said
his group supports the council's proposal for a pilot wind project on Town
property. "With the alternatives we are considering, we would like a wind
turbine to be in that mix," he said, but he added that the council should
consider residential wind projects in the future.
Councilors said they supported the idea of wind energy, but are
treading carefully. Councilor Jim Rowe called the ordinance committee's
recommendation to start with a Town pilot project as "baby steps" toward
residential use. "We want to be sure we don't infringe on neighbors," Rowe
said.
Dill added that officials have heard from a number of citizens concerned
about aesthetics.
The Planning Board in December voted 4-1 to forward windmill amendments that
include residential and business uses, with an added recommendation that
the Town conduct a pilot project, possibly at the transfer station.
Most councilors said they supported a Town pilot project to test the benefits
of wind power, but some said they might consider allowing windmills on larger
lots.
Councilors encouraged citizens to send information or internet links to help
educate them on wind power.
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