PC 012203 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Iserson noted that a connection to a maintenance operation, a lot size, or a zoning district may be made. Commissioner Roberts noted that the rural lot size was five acres and above, which would be an appropriate use. Commissioner Sullivan noted that he was fairly satisfied with the ordinance, and supported it as a member of the Committee. He was uncomfortable with the medium facility category, specifically in the single-family residential and multi-family residential zoning districts. He did want to see a facility up to 50 megawatts in either district, although there were protections through noise limits, conditional use permits, and architectural and visual standards. He noted that the St_ Augustine's facility would be a good site for a small co- generational plant, but did not wish to see a 50 megawatt plant. He supported the uses in commercial and industrial parks, but believed that the medium facilities should be limited to 10 megawatts. Commissioner Roberts concurred with the 1 O megawatt limit. Commissioner Sedlak. noted that with regard to facility size, there was a wide range of choices, and compared it to his choice to walk, ride a bicycle, or drive a car or an 18- wheeler truck to work. He expressed concern about the noise impacts of a facility that was just under the limit, and believed that there should be more clariF cation of those impacts. Commissioner Sullivan stated that the facility noise limit was 45 decibels at residential property boundaries, which was 20 decibels less than the City noise limits. He noted that the fuel use was regulated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and that natural gas or diesel could not be used. Commissioner Sullivan noted that simple cycle generators were 30% efficient from afuel- to-kilowatts standpoint, and were fairly clean because of the strict limits. He added that they could be improved by the use of co-generation, where the hot exhaust gas was converted to steam for heating or other uses. He noted that could be 50% to 70% efficiency by the use of combined cycling, or co-generation. Commissioner Sullivan noted that the ordinance covered electrical generators, and that other typES of engines created the same amount of noise, pollution, and visual impacts. The l=:AG evaluaied these uses, and heat recovery/co-gen was ranaced highly in terms o£ heat recovery. A discussion about co-generation and noise ixripacts ensued. Mr. Iserson advised that the discussion may exceed the scope of the advertised item. Commissioner Roberts inquired whether the item should be readvertised with regard to the noise issue- PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES January 22, 2003 Page 8