News Summary

UNION TWP. — Township voters will have a choice in November decide to decide on zoning restrictions regarding wind turbines.

A referendum to retain or remove amendments in the zoning regulation will be on the Nov. 4 ballot.

A citizens group called Union Neighbors United have collected more than double the 97 signatures needed on a petition for the referendum.

The residents recently submitted the petition for referendum to Union Twp. Trustees and the Champaign County Board of Elections verified the signatures at its Tuesday, Feb. 12, meeting.

Regulations in the amendment include:

• A wind turbine must be at least 1,000 feet from a primary structure.

• Turbines must be set back at least 1.2 times the height of the tower from an adjacent property line or road rights of way.

• A turbine cannot be more than 500 feet tall.

"The ordinance that was passed is not based on science," said Julie Johnson, Union Neighbors United member. "It is arbitrary, and we do not believe that it adequately protects people or property."

Union Twp. Trustees stand by their Jan. 17 decision to accept the regulations, according to Trustee Howard Peters. He added that the zoning commission put more than a year's work into preparing the amendment containing wind turbine regulations.

However, the amendment will be on hold until the Nov. 4 vote, Champaign County Assistant Prosecutor Scott Shockling said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0226 or nmorales@coxohio.com.