Residential Wind Turbine Use Regulations Approved By Cedar Falls City Council

If wind turbines come to a neighborhood near you, they'll be regulated.

The approved amendments Monday to the zoning ordinance as it applies to wind energy facilities.

Currently, the city has no regulations for residential wind energy production. The ordinance change would regulate small wind turbines meant to power homes or businesses.

City Planner Marty Ryan said the ordinance change was modeled on similar provisions in other communities across Iowa.

"This is more proactive then reactive," he said. "It's so the owner knows beforehand what's expected."

Such facilities aren't common in Cedar Falls, but could be in the future, he said.

"There's a growing demand for green energy," he said. "We want to be proactive to allowing that type of activity."

Council member Nick Taiber expressed concerns the zoning change was coming too quickly and could be constrictive. He said he would rather allow future use to shape how the regulation was written, rather than put in place ordincances before the needs and concerns surrounding residential wind turbines were fully understood.

He voted against the amendment, with all other council members voting in favor.

The council also approved plans to improve the safety of bike paths near Highway 58. An underpass will be completed at Greenhill Road just east of Highway 58, and a bridge over the highway will be constructed south of Greenhill Road. The money for the projects will come primarily from a federal Department of Transportation grant.

Additionally, the council approved demolitions of two properties at 708 Beech Ave. The properties are part of the city’s flood buyout program.

All three actions were subjected to public hearing at the meeting, but no community members raised any objections or concerns.