HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/7/2001 - STAFF REPORTS (11) DATE: March 7, 2001
TO: City Council
FROM: Director of Planning & Building
CASE NO. 20.144(COUNTY REFERRAL) FOR THE ADDITION OF 23 WIND TURBINES
TO WECS NO. 71 LOCATED NORTH OF 1-10 AND WEST OF WHITEWATER CANYON
ROAD, SECTION 3.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council not support WECS No. 71 due to its inconsistency with city policies.
A resolution recommending that the Riverside County Board of Supervisors deny WECS
71 as proposed and that existing WECS be replaced with larger more efficient WECS is
attached.
SUMMARY:
The applicant, Mark Technologies, is asking Riverside County for approval to add 23 new
wind turbines to WECS (Wind Energy Conversion System) No. 71. The height of the
proposed wind turbines is 270 feet. The project is located north of 1-10 and west of
Whitewater Canyon Road. The site currently consists of 208 approved and existing wind
turbines.
As part of this application, the applicant is requesting a modification of Riverside County
Ordinance No. 348(Land Use and Zoning)to allow for the reduction of the standard safety
setbacks from 1.1 total WECS height (297 feet in this case) to 0 feet along the west
property line.
ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION:
With the continued advances in technology in the field of wind energy, the Planning
Commission feels that the existing wind turbines should be replaced with larger and more
efficient WECS instead of adding more hillside WECS. Existing wind farms within the
county and City of Palm Springs have been upgraded successfully in recent years with
long-term financial benefits anticipated by the property owners. The retrofitting scenario
would have the least significant cumulative impact on the environment and minimal impacts
relative to the existing aesthetic quality of the environment. Therefore, the Planning
Commission is recommending that the City Council ask that the county require the applicant
to replace the existing turbines with larger and more efficient turbines to minimize any
possible changes
/too the visual quality of the Alta Mesa area.
Dir66tor of Planning & Building
APPROVEDN -� _
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ATTACHMENTS:
1. Vicinity Maps ��
2. Resolution
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RESOLUTION NO. 19998
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, NOT SUPPORTING THE ADDITION
OF 23 WIND TURBINES TO WECS NO. 71 LOCATED NORTH
OF 1-10 AND WEST OF WHITEWATER CANYON ROAD,
SECTION 3.
WHEREAS, Mark Technologies, the applicant, is asking Riverside County for approval to
add 23 new wind turbines to WECS No. 71; and
WHEREAS, the proposed wind turbines are 270 feet tall; and
WHEREAS, the site consists of 208 approved and existing wind turbines; and
WHEREAS, the site is located on a hillside which is visible from Interstate 10 and State
Highway 111; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Palm Springs has considered the
subject of the proposed wind turbines at its regular meeting of February 14, 2001 and
recommended denial; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence
presented in connection with the request, including but not limited to the staff report, and
all written and oral testimony presented.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, based upon the foregoing, the City Council
recommends that WECS 71 not be approved as proposed and that Riverside County direct
the applicant to replace existing WECS with larger and more efficient WECS.
ADOPTED this 7 day of March , 2001.
AYES: Councilmembers Hodges, Jones, Oden, Reller-Spurgin and Mayor Rleindienst
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
By
City Clerk City Manager
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REVIEWED & APPROVED AS TO FORM 71/ om