NEWBURYPORT — The City Council and Planning Board will hold a joint hearing to study revisions made by a council subcommittee to the city's wind turbine ordinance.
The City Council's Planning and Development subcommittee spent months reviewing the ordinance after neighbors around the 292-foot-tall turbine on the Mark Richey Woodworking property complained of noise and flicker from the structure.
Neighbors urged the council subcommittee to study the setbacks — the closest distance property lines can be from the structure — and notification, pointing to the impact they face from noise and flicker, the shadow caused by the moving blades.
The current setback is 300 feet. The council is looking to increase that amount to 900 feet, or three times the height of the turbine. Under the ordinance, the maximum height a turbine can be is 300 feet tall.
Councilors also want to see any future applicants notify all abutters outlined in their noise and flicker studies as being affected when they file the application to put up a turbine with the city, as well as put a notice in the newspaper, in order to allow those neighbors a chance to follow the process from the beginning. They will also review which city board or committee should be the permitting authority for a turbine to be approved.
Residents cautioned city councilors about making the setbacks too big.
Jim Stiles, of Strong Street, said it would be an "error" to make the setbacks three times the height of the turbine, saying it's not necessary for safety or other issues.
"There are better ways to address flicker," Stiles said, such as requiring a turbine owner to provide mitigation.
Bill Harris, of Lime Street, offered his support of the ordinance, but agreed the new setback amount could be "potentially unnecessary." He also urged councilors to study the impact turbines could have on the city's historic districts. The city is also applying to become a national historic landmark district.
Kathy Kondylas, of Beck Street, told councilors she has worked in the noise-control industry for 20 years. For the last two months, she has spent time on Hill Street with her noise meter and found the turbine exceeds all noise ordinances by the state and city.
"We have a neighborhood that has been greatly harmed by noise and flicker," she said.
Amesbury resident Jane Snow, who owns property in Newburyport, said turbines are not always practical.
"One size doesn't fit all," she said.
Communities must place turbines in careful spots that benefit the entire community, she said. "It's really a sin when a neighborhood has to suffer because someone is trying to conserve energy," she said.
Jerry Mullins urged councilors to adopt the ordinance, calling it "quite superb and direct."
At-large Councilor Tom Jones suggested the councilors consider changing the ordinance to make the City Council the permitting authority rather than the Planning Board or Zoning Board.
Mayor John Moak said yesterday he hasn't seen the recommended changes but agreed the setback amount should be reviewed.
The mayor said he envisions several turbines placed in the south Common Pasture, but noted the impact on birds and wildlife would need to be studied.
While the Common Pasture is wetlands, turbines could still be placed there if done properly, Moak said.
Moak said his concern is to reduce the city's carbon footprint, and he would welcome a partnership similar to cell phone towers, where a turbine is placed on city property with some of the money going back into the grid for the city.
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