The city of Cumberland, Maryland is prepping a new zoning text amendment to regulate wind turbines, primarily to create height restrictions on turbines over 150 ft. in height.
"David Umling, city planner, said the amendment was presented at the May 11 Planning Commission meeting.
'The city has no provisions for wind energy systems at all,' he said. 'The proposed changes would establish standards and requirements for small wind energy systems and a prohibition on large wind energy systems.'
The amendment states that small wind energy systems will have a rated maximum output of no more than 15 kilowatts of electricity for direct consumption; large systems are considered to have a rated maximum output over 15 kilowatts.
The amendment also says that the maximum height variance will not exceed 150 feet and, if a height variance is granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals, the board is allowed to impose additional landscaping requirements along the boundaries of the property."
Read the full story: City drafts amendment for wind turbine zoning
Will Safety Concerns Curb the Spread of Wind Power?
Speigel Online reports that wind turbines are proving to be prone to breakdowns and accidents. In Europe, the wind business is booming, but growing concern about safety could put a crimp in the growing industry.
Wind Woes
A North Dakota man says he'll fight his city to keep his wind turbine.
‘One code to rule them all:’ this Ohio county is streamlining all 59 of its zoning codes
Cuyahoga County hopes the unified zoning code will speed up housing development.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority