1333.12 NOISE.

   (a)   Audible sound from a wind energy facility or wind turbine shall not exceed limits set forth by Chapter 649 of the Codified Ordinances.

   (b)   Audible sound due to wind turbine or wind energy facility operations shall not exceed 5dba increase over existing background noise level (L90) or exceed 40dba for any period of time, when measured at any structure used as a residence, school, church, place of employment, or public library existing on the date of application for a wind turbine or a wind energy facility. All measurements should be taken using American National Standard Procedures. Measurements must be taken with qualified acoustical testing instruments meeting ANSI 1 standards.

   (c)   A Pre-construction Background Noise Survey shall be conducted at the applicant's sole expense by an independent noise consultant contractor approved by the City. Measurements shall be sampled for each residence, school, church, place of employment, or public library within 1 mile of proposed siting.

   (d)   A Sound Impact Study shall be made available prior to approval of a wind turbine or wind energy facility. The Sound Impact Study could be made by a computer modeling using data specific to the wind turbine make and model. The Sound Impact Study will be conducted at the Applicant's expense by an independent noise consultant contractor approved by the City.

   The Planning Commission may evaluate noise studies when ruling on applications for conditional use of wind generation facilities.

(Ord. 2009-30. Passed 8-11-09.)