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"Work Group" members sought to study zoning
The Lincoln County Planning Commission (right) deliberates over issuing a 3-month moratorium on updating the county zoning code Monday, April 8.
DAVENPORT - The Lincoln County Planning Commission placed a 3-month moratorium on updating the county zoning code to include provisions for wind and solar development at the Commission's regular meeting Monday, April 8.
Commission members expressed a desire to further study health-related concerns and reasonable turbine setbacks from residences before recommending code updates to the Lincoln County Commissioners for approval.
A draft code update has been written, based largely on language in Whitman County's current code. That draft was covered extensively in the March 21 issue of The Record-Times.
In the meantime, the Commission hopes to form a 10-person "working group" that includes the four Commission members and six other county residents with varied opinions and views on wind and solar development. The group would assist the Commission in researching the science behind turbines and helping the Commission reach a setback distance decision, among other code updates.
Commission Chair Sue Lani Madsen said prospective candidates interested in joining the group should contact Planner Courtney Thompson through the County by Thursday, April 18.
The group will also host a public meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, April 29.
Commission vice chair James Johnson said Tenaska and Triple Oak Power should be invited to participated in the working group. The Commission decided to extend the invitation, but not include company reps as part of the 10 members of the group.
Johnson said he still has "a lot of reserves" regarding health concerns around wind turbines.
"I want to dig into health more," Johnson said.
He touted Tenaska project manager Monte Ten Kley, who was one of three Tenaska/Cordelio representatives at the Commission meeting Monday, in answering questions he had surrounding turbines.
Tenaska/Cordelio is attempting to build two turbine projects in the Davenport, Reardan, Edwall and Harrington areas. Triple Oak Power is working on leasing land northeast and southeast of Davenport and wasn't represented at Monday's meeting.
"Based on information I've heard, setbacks should be further back," Johnson said.
Commission member Margie Hall said setbacks are "the most difficult thing to look at" and recommended the Commission speak to county planners in counties where turbines have been constructed to learn more.
"It's good to get experienced voices," Hall said.
Near the end of Monday's meeting, the Commission settled on a 3-month moratorium, but hope to have a zoning code update recommended to the County Commissioners sooner than that.
At the outset of the meeting, Madsen took time to respond to criticism over her appointment as Commission Chair given her personal opposition to turbine development in Lincoln County. Her biases were questioned by landowner John Zeimantz of Davenport at a public comment meeting held at the Fairgrounds Thursday, March 28.
"I don't think there's anyone left in the county who doesn't have an opinion," Madsen said. "I spent 30 years as an architect and am familiar with zoning codes and planning ordinances. I want one that works for the whole community."
After the working group's April 29 meeting, the Planning Commission will reconvene for its regular monthly meeting Monday, May 13.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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