New zoning set for Electric car charging

A proposed section for county’s zoning ordinance which deals with infrastructure for electric vehicles will go before the county planning commission next Wednesday. County planner Alan Thomson said the proposed ordinance has been drafted in response to a 2009 bill passed by the legislature which mandates counties and other entities to develop zoning regulations to accommodate the advance and development of electric vehicles.

Thomson Monday advised county commissioners the ordinance was in the works.

The legislature approved the 2009 bill to encourage a transition to use of electric vehicles. It was passed after the legislature agreed development of an infrastructure to recharge the electrics is essential to increase consumer acceptance.

Thomson told the Gazette Tuesday the 2009 bill out of the legislature included a deadline for entities around the state to plug the section into their zoning codes. He added the deadline has now passed with many counties and cities still without the required zoning provisions.

Public Works Director Mark Story explained to commissioners the intent of the ordinance section was not to compel use of electric vehicles. He said the intent was to get the ordinance on the books before the demand for the electrics, and the required infrastucture developed.

Thomson noted most of the demand for infrastucture will probably be in towns which will also have to accommodate the 2009 state ordinance in their own zoning codes.

The draft slated to go before the planning commission carries a grid for three levels of charging stations with their standing in the county’s zones.

The draft includes provisions for battery charging stations and battery exchange stations.

“This is something that’s happening at other places around the state,” Thomson commented. He noted Walgren’s has recently announced they plan to add charging stations outside their stores.

Among electric cars marketed now are the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Tesla models. Thomson said the cars are intended for short range driving with a range of around 60 miles with most of the charging done with home plug-ins on 220 outlets.

Commissoner Greg Patch Monday said he was concerned about how a conversion to electric cars would impact gas tax revenue for the county. Less cars burning gas would mean less revenue for government agencies under the present tax format, he noted.

If the ordinace gets approval next week from the county planning commission, it will advance to the county commissioners for consideraton.

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