With local and state interest growing in wind turbines as an energy source, the St. Ignace Planning Commission agreed to revise a six-year-old wind turbine ordinance at its meeting Wednesday, September 24. When the commission updates the city's master plan next year, it will also include measures to direct any proposed development of the turbines.

Two residents of St. Ignace Township have inquired about erecting wind turbines. Jill Bentgen of Moran wants to make her home more environmentally friendly and save on utility costs. In August, Michigan State University Extension offered a seminar on wind energy in St. Ignace that was attended by 68 residents and county leaders.

Now, a three-bill energy package awaits Governor Jennifer Granholm's signature and calls for 10% of the state's energy to come from renewable sources by 2015.

Wind technology has advanced since the ordinance was written, said Planning Commission Chairman Art Underwood, and it is time to review and update the city's ordinance. Wind turbines, commonly thought to be tall windmills as used in Mackinaw City, now also can be designed to look like trees, or are small enough to go unnoticed and attach to a house, which makes the machines usable in residential areas.

"We were dealing with the different sizes when we wrote this" ordinance," he said. "Under the circumstances, we thought it might be wise to take a look at what we've got, try and anticipate what might happen, and see if we need any changes or revisions."

City Building Inspector Paul Sved, commission member and City Clerk Renee Vonderwerth, and City Manager Eric Dodson will work on suggested changes to the city's wind turbine ordinance using Huron County's wind energy conversion ordinance as a model.

Mr. Underwood also suggested they contact Edison Sault Electric to find out about the company's energy buy-back policy.

Mrs. Vonderwerth and Mr. Sved attended the local workshop presented by Dr. Mary Ann Heidermann of Lansing, a regional land use educator with Michigan State University Extension.

"The workshop was offered in St. Ignace, as I had had several calls and was aware of developers looking at commercial and industrial property, lease agents talking to individual property owners, and it being a general issue of concern from communities and planning commissions," said Michelle Walk, Mackinac County Extension director.

From the workshop, said Mrs. Vonderwerth, they learned that the city needs to consider the impact of all types of wind harvesting systems in its ordinance and it has to be able to enforce the standards that are set. Residential and commercial use has to be considered.

The city's ordinance also calls for a minimum site size of five acres, said Mr. Underwood, pointing out one section needing revision. That requirement no longer fits, he said, with what has been developed since the ordinance was written.

Mrs. Vonderwerth agreed, pointing out some residential wind turbines can fit on roofs.

The St. Ignace noise ordinance allows a maximum of 75 decibels, said Mr. Sved, and the recommendation from the state is 55 decibels audible from the property line.

Other impacts include tower collapse and ice throw, which would affect setback requirements. Shadow flicker is a problem of light reflected from the blades. Interference with television and radio reception, airport conflicts, and how the turbines affect the visual and aesthetic appearance of the environment can also be concerns, said Mrs. Vonderwerth.

"There's a lot of issues that we really have to address in the ordinance and update it," she said.

Current setback requirements are one-half the height of a turbine from the lot line, said Mr. Sved, although the recommendation now is for 1.5 times the height of the turbine from the top of a blade at its peak position.

The city's master plan also will require changes to include descriptions of land where the turbines would acceptable and where they would be excluded, and the reasons for the exclusions, said Mrs. Vonderwerth.

The planning commission is preparing to begin reviewing the plan within the next year. The last revision was adopted in 2005. The plan that guides community development is mandated by the state to be updated every five years.

In St. Ignace, the review process will begin in 2009 to meet the 2010 deadline.

New maps are needed for the St. Ignace Master Plan, say commissioners, who advised Mr. Dodson that funds for the map revisions would need to be included in the city budget.

The city's zoning map may be more relevant than some of maps currently included with the plan, Mr. Underwood told The St. Ignace News Monday, September 29. The maps in the master plan are inaccurate, out of date, and lack details, he said.

He also suggested that to review the plan, the commission divide the document into sections. One or two commissioners would cover the review of a section and present their findings to the entire board during a work session. All changes then would be compiled in preparation for adoption by 2010.

In the meantime, Mr. Underwood invited commissioners to review the document and begin thinking about the update.

Also during the meeting, Commissioner Fred Strich gave his report on church signs, recommending no ordinance is needed. When the commission met in July, Mr. Strich volunteered to research the issue to see if an amendment should be added to the ordinance regarding church signs.

Based on zoning, St. Ignace churches are limited to a ninesquare foot sign, if they decide to construct a new sign. Investigating other communities, he learned most do not have an ordinance that regulates church signs, rather they are considered on a case-by-case basis. A proposed off-premise sign already must come before the planning commission. A church seeking a new sign larger than nine square feet would go before the zoning board.

Planners agreed to support with a letter an affordable housing plan being developed by Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Mackinac County. HOME is seeking funding to assist up to five lower income families to become homeowners. The funding would come from the Home Purchase Rehabilitation Program through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

The program would assist the families with a down payment on homes already on the market, and help with rehabilitation costs.

A letter of support also will be drafted for the Rental Rehabilitation Program, which works with landlords to refurbish housing and offer it at affordable rates.

The master plan references the need for affordable housing in the community, Mr. Underwood pointed out.