Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 | 9:39 p.m.
Site of proposed wind turbine
The Henderson Planning Commission voted Thursday night against a resident who wants to build at 45-foot-tall wind turbine in his backyard.
Kermitt L. Waters, a lawyer who works in Las Vegas, wants to build a freestanding, wind-energy system at his home on Crown Valley Drive in Henderson. The proposed site for the windmill is at the northeast corner of Crown Valley and Sapphire Valley Avenue, near I-215.
About 30 people showed up at Thursday’s meeting to express concerns about possible noise, safety hazards and the impact of the turbine on surrounding property values. The proposed tower for the windmill would stand nearly twice the height of many homes in the subdivision.
“My biggest concern is the value of our home,” said Cami Putnam, 40, who lives in a house behind Waters’ home. “Everything that I have is in my home.”
Putnam also said she feared the turbine would be unsafe. She has five children, ages 3 to 16 years old.
“I have issues with noise,” said Dan Shaw, chairman of the Planning Commission. “If it’s running 24/7, that’s going to be incredibly annoying.”
Commissioner Sam Bateman said he did not think that Waters provided enough evidence to show that the turbine would not be a safety or noise problem for the neighborhood.
“As we sit here today, we don’t have a heck of a lot to go on,” he said.
According to the agenda item, the windmill would be painted to match the colors in the neighborhood to create a continuity in appearance.
But Paula Clark, who has lived in the neighborhood for 19 years, said she thinks Waters wants to use their neighborhood as an experiment for wind energy. “It feels wrong that we had any chance to lose,” she said.
The commission voted unanimously against the project, with members George Bochanis and Terry Mannion having excused absences from the meeting.
Shaw said Waters has 10 days to appeal the decision to the Henderson City Council. If appealed, the ruling of the Planning Commission will be taken as advisory to the council, Shaw said.
Denna Woodbury, a consultant with G.C. Garcia Planning and Development, spoke on behalf of Waters, who was not at the meeting.
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