Chairman Dombrowski and members of the Planning Board:
The League of Women Voters of Howard County supports ZRA 129 with the
suggested technical amendments proposed by the Department of Planning and
Zoning.
The Zoning Regulation Amendment proposes new definitions for "small wind
energy system, building mounted and freestanding tower." Generally, the building
mounted systems are proposed for both the Rural Conservation District and
Rural Residential District as an accessory use. The use of a free standing tower
is proposed in these zones as an accessory use and requires a 5 acre plus
parcel with a tower system height maximum of 60 feet, or on a 25 acre parcel or
greater, the permitted height would be 180 feet. The League supports the
minimum setbacks from any property line of total tower height plus 10 percent as
proposed in Section 131 Conditional Uses 49.
These small wind energy systems are also proposed for other County residential
and commercial zoning districts. The League supports the proposed
amendments made in the May 14, 2010 Department of Planning and Zoning
Technical Staff Report.
The League's support for ZRA 129 is based on the National League's position on
Energy for the use of a variety of energy resources, with emphasis on conserving
energy and using energy-efficient technologies.
We ask for Planning Board support.
Alice Giles
Co-Chair, Action