(KNZA)--The Brown County Planning Commission has voted to recommend the adoption of a zoning regulation that would prohibit the development of commercial wind energy projects in unincorporated areas of the county.

The action came Friday on a 6-0 vote, with member Lafe Bailey absent, and followed a public hearing drawing comments from three county residents, with two voicing support for the zoning regulation.

The Planning Commission was appointed by resolution of the County Commission to develop a comprehensive plan for Brown County and make recommendations about what zoning regulations the county should adopt.

Planning Commission Chairman Bill Vonderschmidt said its was the consensus of the commission that the need for zoning regulations in Brown County is limited, as zoning by law cannot regulate the use of agriculture land. However, he said it has been validated by the comprehensive plan and a survey conducted when it was developed that the potential adverse impacts of utility scale wind energy projects justify zoning control.

Vonderschmidt said the Planning Commission feels the need to regulate such projects is an urgent one because once construction is underway it would be too late and difficult to avoid its adverse impact.

He said the Planning Commission is concerned about large scale wind energy projects because they would significantly change the character of areas in which they are built, adversely affect residential land use as a result of noise and visual impact, as well as pose a significant risk to road and bridge infrastructure during construction.

The Planning Commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the Brown County Commission for consideration.