Flushing Borough Board to Consider Wind Energy and Livestock Regulations

FLUSHING TWP, MI — Flushing TWP plans to clarify livestock laws and establish new regulations for commercial and industrial wind energy.

Public hearings on both proposed ordinances will be held during the Flushing Township Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m.

There are currently no provisions in the Flushing Borough Zoning Ordinance that regulate commercial or industrial wind generators.

“Right now we have nothing,” Flushing Borough Supervisor Fred Thorsby said Wednesday, Aug. 14.

According to Thorsby, at least one company is already thinking about installing wind turbines in the area in the future.

Thorsby explained that the proposed regulations are, at least in part, intended to address any potential problems wind turbines could cause, such as loud noise and flicker.

“There are people who have concerns about birds flying into wind turbines, so we just wanted to put it in the land use plan where a study can be done to assess the environmental issues, how it might affect water runoff and animals,” he said. “Some people are bothered by the flickering blades.”

The maximum decibel level allowed under the ordinance for commercial and industrial wind energy systems will be 55, if approved by council.

“You can’t exceed that limit,” Thorsby said.

The proposed change to the city’s livestock and horse regulations is intended to answer questions the municipality has received from some residents living on smaller plots of land who wish to keep livestock on their properties.

Thorsby said the issue has been an “ongoing concern” for the borough for several years.

If council approves the amendment, a minimum of two acres would be required for each horse, cow or 20 chickens.

Thorsby noted that residents with lots of one acre or more would still be allowed to own a maximum of 10 chickens under the proposed ordinance.

“It defined it a little better than our previous zoning restrictions,” Thorsby said. “People ask us about it all the time, especially larger animals.”

Other local municipalities, including the city of Flushing, have also recently discussed similar regulations regarding farm animals, such as chickens, on certain properties.

Related: Flint Municipal Ordinance Changes Open Doors to Some Backyard Chickens

However, Thorsby claims that he only found out about it when the municipality started dealing with the problem itself.

If approved, the new ordinances will become effective 15 days after they are published by the clerk of the borough following the second reading of the ordinance scheduled for Thursday, August 15.

“It should be pretty straightforward,” Thorsby said, regarding the potential implementation of the proposed regulations.

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