By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioner Ron Sellers explained Monday the reasoning behind the commission sending proposed wind farm regulations back to an earlier point in the process.
"In August, it was apparent with only three votes on the commission, that wind would not pass in zoned areas of the county," Sellers said. "The commission was willing to not allow wind in the zoned area and allow in the unzoned area with regulations, per the planning commission's input. However, our legal counsel advised that we could not do this appropriately without going back to the planning commission. That's what we've asked the planning commission to do, is to hold limited public hearings yet this year and get back to us for a commission decision, hopefully yet this year."
Sellers noted what the commission means by the unzoned areas of the county.
"Most of the zoning in Reno County is either to the southeast or the northeast of Hutchinson," Sellers said. "Most all of the area to the west of Hutchinson is currently unzoned. If you look at a Reno County map, that's the majority of the Reno County area."
The proposal would put a zoning overlay solely for wind development in those unzoned areas.
"I'm pushing very hard to get this on the agenda in December, so that we can make some final decision on what wind is appropriate in Reno County," Sellers said. "In my opinion, the wind debate has gone on long enough and it's time to have Reno regulations. I think this is the opinion of all three Reno County commissioners."
A moratorium on wind development is in place until the public hearings at the planning level can be held.