For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BUILDING-MOUNTED WIND TURBINE. A wind turbine mounted on an existing building.
FALL ZONE. The calculated area of the land surrounding a wind turbine that may be affected by debris should the supporting structure collapse or any component of the wind turbine or anything attached to it fall to the ground. The fall zone for all wind turbines shall be measured at ground level below the center of the wind turbine as a circular area with a radius of 175% of the height of the wind turbine.
HEIGHT. The height of a wind turbine measured from pre-development grade to the tip of the rotor blade at its highest point, or blade-tip height.
OCCUPIED BUILDING. Any building regularly occupied by one or more persons on a daily basis. Buildings ordinarily used for storage, such as garages, sheds, and the like, are not occupied buildings even though they may be entered for brief periods on a daily basis.
PROMINENT PUBLIC VANTAGE POINT. A location from which a significant number of the public views a scenic, natural or historic landscape in the Town of Middletown.
SETBACK. The setback requirements for wind turbines shall be those applicable to principal structures, as defined in Article 4.
TOWER-MOUNTED WIND TURBINE. A wind turbine mounted on a free-standing tower that does not exceed 120 feet in height.
WIND MONITORING or METEOROLOGICAL TOWER. A temporary tower equipped with devices to measure wind speeds and direction, used to determine how much wind power a site can be expected to generate.
WIND TURBINE. A device that converts kinetic wind energy into rotational energy that drives an electrical generator. A wind turbine typically consists of a tower, nacelle body, and a rotor with two or
more blades. Unless the wording or context indicates otherwise, a wind turbine for purposes of this article includes the tower and the base or foundation on which it is mounted (but not the building supporting a building-mounted wind turbine), and all equipment, machinery and structures on site utilized in connection with the collection, storage, and transmission of electricity from the wind turbine.
(Ord. passed 2-16-10; Am. Ord. 2010-28, passed 10-18-10; Am. Ord. 2012-14, passed 9-17-12)