The zone variance request put forward by the University of Guam for its wind turbine project was approved with conditions during a meeting convened by the Guam Land Use Commission yesterday.
The University of Guam-Center for Island Sustainability, applied for a request for zone variance of height so that two wind turbine towers, with heights of 70 and more than 100 feet, respectively, could be constructed on an R-1 lot within the campus in Mangilao.
Yesterday, only the installation of the 70-foot tower near House 32 – presently housing the offices of UOG-CIS – was approved.
A three-year permit was also granted, which required UOG to collect and submit data and reports to the commission every year.
Last June 2011, at least 70 petitioners lodged a complaint against the proposal to construct the two wind turbines. The petitioners cited the lack of information about the project and the attending maintenance, health and noise issues that can possibly occur once the turbines are in full operation.
After receiving word about the petition put forward by the residents, an earlier zoning application for height variance submitted by UOG to the GLUC was taken out of the agenda upon UOG’s request
In July, a public hearing was convened to encourage dialogue between UOG and the petitioners.
