The Gloucester Planning Commission held a public hearing about small wind energy facilities on June 2, in the colonial courthouse. Only one person from the audience spoke regarding the matter, which the commission voted to pass on with a favorable recommendation to supervisors for that board’s consideration.

Planner Tripp Little said that the proposed changes to the county’s zoning ordinance would add small wind energy facilities as a specifically defined accessory use, permitted in the C-1, C-2, PUD-1, RC-1, RC-2, SC-1 and SF-1 districts. Such structures would not be allowed in the B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, HC-1, MF-1 and MH-1 districts.

The change provides for small wind energy facilities as permitted uses in the stated districts limiting the maximum height of such facilities. Little said the property line setbacks for these facilities are to be based on their height and zoning district, and can be 110 percent of system height or that required by the zoning district, whic...