Three local businesses that want to showcase two wind turbines and one solar panel array on property in Bell Acres will have to wait at least a month before learning whether the controversial project can move forward.

After a public hearing last night at which several opponents asked council to vote down the project, Bell Acres council chose to wait before deciding whether to grant the alternative-energy consortium a conditional use permit for property located at the intersection of Turkeyfoot and Big Sewickley Creek roads.

Vox Energy Solutions of McCandless, Jet Industries of Ellwood City and Metal Foundations of Ambridge, want to sell wind turbines mostly for personal/residential use and offer solar panel arrays for larger clients like wind farms in Arizona, said Karen Foltz of Vox Energy.

To help show clients what the finished product looks like, the consortium wants to create a showroom of sorts in Bell Acres on an 80- by 80-foot piece of property owned by Metal Foundations owner Gary Reinert.

The property is zoned light industrial and is located near a concrete plant, junk yard and sewage treatment facility.

The demonstration area would include one 60-foot traditional wind turbine, a 15-foot helix turbine and a 15-panel solar array.

Opponents have voiced several concerns, including how much noise the largest wind turbine will make and the possible danger the turbines pose to a large colony of great blue herons that nest in the trees about a half a mile away from the proposed demonstration site.

Last month, the state Game Commission ruled the wind turbines pose no threat to the blue herons and suggested the consortium maintain a 100-foot buffer along Big Sewickley Creek to "protect quality of water in stream in order to maintain the wetlands and the foraging areas for herons."

The commission also suggested the group "avoid construction during nesting season, from about Feb. 15 to Aug. 15.

Addressing the noise issue, project manager Joseph Restelli said he monitored a similar 35-foot wind turbine in Economy and that unit generated a decibel level of 39.1. He later said he doesn't expect a the proposed 60-foot turbine to any louder than Econony's turbine.

Several visitors weren't convinced of the project's safety to humans or animals and asked council to, at the very least, consider putting restrictions on the demonstration area.

Resident Keelie Garbee said she'd like to see more research on low-level frequency sound emissions at the turbine site and asked council to consider the implications of allowing wind turbine construction without an ordinance governing such structures.

"You're setting a precedent," she said.

Council has 45 days to decide if it will approve the conditional use request and whether to impose restrictions on the project.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.