Albemarle panel OKs wind turbines

With little hesitation, the Albemarle County Planning Commission sent a formal recommendation to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that called for wind turbines to be allowed in the county.

Planning Commission members hope that by allowing small power-generating wind turbines, the county will encourage renewable energy use.

Local environmentalists spoke in favor of allowing wind turbines in Albemarle at Tuesday's public hearing.

Kathy Rash of Forever Albemarle said the group has met with county farmers and their neighbors, who are "very much in favor" of allowing wind turbines.

It was nearly two years ago when supervisors asked Planning Commission members to put their heads together alongside county officials, to provide supervisors guidance about whether wind turbines should be allowed in Albemarle.

Planning Commission members have spent little time debating whether turbines should be permitted, focusing instead on what kind of turbines should be allowed, where they should be restricted and what kind of regulations could reduce nuisances to neighbors.

Planning Commission members agree that wind turbines provide environmental benefits, but chief concerns have been the noise that turbines create and the potential for eyesores.

Officials have created guidelines that generally restrict the height of wind turbines to the allowed height of buildings - generally 35 feet in rural areas, for example - unless the Planning Commission grants a waiver. Other recommendations include the prohibition of wind turbines that double as cell phone towers or have lights, among other regulations.

Though county officials have expressed concern about the noise of wind turbines, some experts have ensured officials that newer model wind turbines aren't disruptive to neighbors and in some cases hardly make any noise.

The Board of Supervisors will get the final say on whether wind turbines should be allowed in Albemarle.

Even if wind turbines are allowed, county officials aren't expecting a sudden rash of the power-saving structures popping up in the county anytime soon, considering that they typically cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Village of Rivanna

In other business, the Planning Commission approved a draft master plan for the Village of Rivanna, which will be sent to supervisors, who will then have a chance to further scrutinize the draft plan.

The draft master plan for the Village of Rivanna, in the county's designated growth area, calls for the village to remain a small community, surrounded by rural land, with medium- and low-density residential neighborhoods.

The plan aims to guide the timing and location of development in the area. However, the draft plan recommends restricting approval of residential developments, pending improvements to U.S. 250 to reduce traffic congestion.