Small-Scale Residential Wind Turbines

With the advent of small-scale residential wind turbine technology, Estes Park faces important regulatory decisions pertaining to height restrictions, visual impacts and noise. The Town is seeking input on what changes, if any, should be made to the Estes Valley Development Code to regulate wind turbines. These regulations must weigh the rights and expectations of individual property owners against the broader community values and standards. Property owners and residents of the Estes Valley are invited and encouraged to submit comments.

Pole Mounted Horizontal Axis

Two public forums were held to answer questions and gather information from citizens. The forums were facilitated by Community Development Director Bob Joseph, and public comment both in support and opposition of small-scale residential wind turbines in the Estes Valley was received. Since those forums, draft code revisions have been written and discussed at Estes Valley Planning Commission meetings. The public is encouraged to attend these meetings and comment on this topic.

Pole Mounted Vertical Axis

On August 11, 2009, the Town Board of Trustees placed a temporary moratorium on the issuance of any building permit by the Community Development Department for the installation of any wind turbine within the Town of Estes Park. On December 8, 2009, this moratorium was extended for another one-hundred-twenty (120) days unless amended and/or terminated by the Board of Trustees. This moratorium period is being provided to facilitate an informed public discussion of the pros and cons of residential-scale wind turbines prior to the formal adoption of local policies and regulations.
	Roof Mounted Horizontal Axis

On January 26, 2010, the Town Board of Trustees heard the first reading of the proposed Wind Turbine Regulations. It was determined to review small-scale residential wind turbines independently from the smaller micro-wind systems. Community Development staff will proceed accordingly and will present revised drafts at the next regularly scheduled Town Board meeting on February 23, 2010.

Public Comment

Review Schedule:

To Be Determined	Larimer Board of County Commissioners
April 20, 2010	Estes Valley Planning Commission — Small Wind Turbines
March 23, 2010	Estes Park Town Board — Reading of Draft 5, which includes revisions from Planning Commission meeting of March 16, 2010 Micro Wind Energy Conversion Systems
March 16, 2010	Estes Valley Planning Commission — First public hearing for initial review and comment on Draft 5 — Micro Wind Energy Conversion Systems — Recommended approval with minor revisions Staff Report on Small Wind Turbines — Continued to April meeting
March 9, 2010	Estes Park Town Board — Agenda item to continue moratorium Moratorium extended to August 31, 2010
February 23, 2010	Estes Park Town Board — Staff Memo to Town Board Draft 4 - Exhibit A Draft 4 - Exhibit B Remanded back to Planning Commission to make minor revisions to Draft 4-Micro Wind Energy Conversion Systems.
January 26, 2010	Estes Park Town Board — Staff Report to Town Board First reading of Draft 3 — Town Board of Trustees determined to review small-scale residential wind turbines independently from the smaller micro-wind systems. Revised drafts will be presented to the Town Board on February 23, 2010
December 15, 2009	Estes Valley Planning Commission — First public hearing for initial review and comment on Draft 3 Draft 3 Approval with minor revisions recommended to Town Board
December 8, 2009	Estes Park Town Board — Town Board of Trustees extended the moratorium on the issuance of any building permit by the Community Development Department for the installation of any wind turbine within the Town of Estes Park. Moratorium extended to March 8, 2010
November 17, 2009	Estes Valley Planning Commission — First public hearing for initial review and comment on Draft 2 Continued to December 15, 2009
November 12, 2009	Estes Valley Planning Commission Special Meeting — First public hearing for initial review and comment on Draft 1 Technical Feasibility Presentation by Utilities Engineer Reuben Bergsten Setback Illustrations by Community Development Director Bob Joseph Problem Statement Continued to November 17, 2009
August 13, 2009	Public Forum #2 Notes
August 11, 2009	Town Board of Trustees placed a 120-day moratorium on the issuance of any building permit by the Community Development Department for the installation of any wind turbine within the Town of Estes Park. Moratorium is set to expire December 11, 2009
April 30, 2009	Public Forum #1 Slide Presentation by Community Development Director Bob Joseph Notes

Click here to view the Renewable Energy Survey Results

If you have questions about the proposed changes or the timeframe for their review, please contact the Community Development Department at bjoseph@estes.org or 970-577-3721.

What is the process for adopting revisions to the Development Code?
Proposed revisions to the Estes Valley Development Code are considered and adopted through a public hearing process that is held before the respective elected boards, the Estes Park Town Board of Trustees and the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners, with each acting independently.

Proposed changes are first heard by the Estes Valley Planning Commission. If the Planning Commission recommends approval of the revisions, they are presented to the Estes Park Town Board of Trustees at the following two monthly Town Board meetings. If the Town Board approves the changes, they are presented to the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners at their meeting a month later.

If the revisions are approved by both the Town Board and Larimer County Commissioners, they are adopted into the Estes Valley Development Code.