Design and installation standards

A. Controls. Wind turbines shall have automatic braking, governing, feathering, deicing and/or shutdown systems as needed to prevent uncontrolled rotation, overspeeding, rotor breakage, or excessive pressure on the tower structure, blades and other turbine components.
B. Lighting. Wind turbines shall only be lighted if required by the FAA. Lighting of nontower parts of a wind turbine, such as appurtenant structures, shall be limited to that required for safety, security and operational purposes and shall be shielded from abutting properties consistent with the "dark skies" principle outlined in the land development and subdivision regulations. Lighting glare on abutting properties shall be minimized except as required by the FAA.
Editor's Note: See Ch. A263, Development and Subdivision Review Regulations.
C. Outside experts. The Zoning Board of Review may hire outside consultants and experts as needed at the applicant's expense to peer review studies done by a wind energy facility applicant or to otherwise evaluate the design and installation impacts of a proposed wind turbine. Such review may cover any of the impacts addressed by this section and may also include a structural analysis of the proposed turbine, assessments of the expected power generation output of the facility, and any other topics deemed relevant by the ZBR.
D. Visual impacts. To assess the visual impacts on a neighborhood, area or viewshed of a proposed wind system, the Zoning Board may require color photos of a site and its surrounding areas along with color photo simulations, by a qualified graphics professional, of said site and surroundings with the proposed wind facility superimposed thereon.
E. Warnings. Clearly visible warning signage concerning voltage shall be placed at the base of all wind turbines, and turbines shall be designed to prevent unauthorized access. The Zoning Board may require protective fencing as reasonably necessary given the location of the wind turbine on the site or in relation to the neighboring area.
F. Shadow flicker. Wind turbines shall be sited to minimize the shadow flicker effect on neighboring property. The applicant bears the burden of proving that significant adverse impacts will not occur, and failure to show same shall result in denial of the wind system petition. Required documentation may include simulations showing the angle of the sun at various times of the day and of the year and at any/all angles wherein surrounding property may be affected depending on projected turbine height.
G. Utility connections. No special use permit for a wind energy facility will be issued until an applicant submits documentation from the relevant electrical utility, as applicable, approving the proposed connection.
H. Environmental analysis. Depending on proposed size, scale and siting, wind energy facility applicants may be required to submit to the Zoning Board of Review a report, from a professional environmental consulting firm, that addresses the following factors:
- (1) Constraints imposed by environmental and/or archaeological regulations.
- (2) The presence of plant communities or animal species of concern or critical habitat for these species.
- (3) Presence of critical areas of species congregation such as maternity roosts, hibernation sites, staging areas, winter ranges, nesting sites and migration stopovers.
- (4) The potential for habitat fragmentation.
- (5) Known avian species that are either present at the site, that migrate through it, or that may be attracted by site alteration and current studies addressing potential impacts on them by the specific turbine type proposed.
- (6) An assessment of the general suitability of the site for wind development in light of potential environmental impacts.
- (7) Design and operational recommendations to avoid or minimize significant adverse environmental effects.
- (8) Recommended mitigation measures if significant impacts cannot be avoided.
- (9) Recommendation regarding post-construction studies that might evaluate animal mortality and other impacts so that operational adjustments can be made to mitigate as necessary.
- (10) A structural analysis from a registered professional engineer to show that the proposed setback is adequate assuming the event of a turbine blade break or throw.