Public weighs in on wind

The Amherst County Board of Supervisors was to seek public opinion Tuesday night on whether to allow wind turbines.

A zoning public hearing on the subject of small wind energy systems was among the agenda items slated for a regular scheduled meeting.

The planning commission has proposed that a zoning text amendment be added to the current zoning code to allow for wind turbines as a special exception use in areas zoned as agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial, the agenda states.

Among the regulations cited for wind turbines, which produce electricity as wind rotates them, are that they not exceed 100 feet in height and adhere to a 200-foot setback requirement.

The wind systems will also be subject to the county’s noise ordinance.

If the planning commission and board were to adopt the amendment, then Amherst would join other counties in the region that have adopted wind energy ordinances. The list includes Rockbridge, Rockingham, Augusta and Nelson counties.

Bedford County is also in the process of considering whether to add an amendment concerning wind energy to its zoning code.

Other business that was to be discussed:

- Supervisors were scheduled to hold public hearing on a zoning test amendment to allow above ground liquefied petroleum containers in areas zoned commercial (B-2) or village (V-1).

- The Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail Foundation was to ask the board to apply for additional grant funds to continue work on the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail. The foundation has requested the county apply to the Virginia Department of Transportation for roughly $325,000 to go towards trail improvements. The grant money would be used to renovate the Piney River Depot as a museum, restore a historic weigh station and build a covered bridge over Naked Creek, along with several other improvements.

- The board was also to receive an update on the status of the $1.1 million Old Madison Heights Community Development Block Grant awarded to the county in July to help restore homes in the Old Madison Heights neighborhood.