Wind ordinance waits in wings

By :JON DUVAL

Blaine County's proposed wind ordinance will have to wait for approval for nearly another month because of the County Commission's decision to afford the public more time to read through the most recent changes to the draft.

At a commission meeting on Tuesday at the Old County Courthouse in Hailey, it was decided that the changes made at last week's meeting were significant enough to warrant the mandatory two-week notice.

Specifically, Commission Chairman Larry Schoen said the public should have time to read over changes that allow wind turbines of up to 120 feet to be erected on parcels of at least 20 acres without a conditional use permit as long as they are not within the scenic corridor, which runs north from Bellevue along state Highway 75.

Schoen said that deliberation on the ordinance is currently slated to resume at a regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12, and that members of the public will have the opportunity to once again make comments on the issue.