After a tumultuous ride so far, the issue of whether to allow wind turbines in Austin city limits — and in residential areas — is back on the table and headed to City Council.

On Tuesday, the Austin Planning Commission by a 5-2 vote voiced their support of a revised version of an ordinance that would permit the structures throughout the city on a case-by-case basis, given certain height, noise and distance restrictions were met.

The ordinance will go to Austin City Council for approval on Monday.

It won’t be the first time council has had a wind turbine ordinance in front of them — in February, council voted to table the ordinance so that the planning commission could clear up some confusion regarding the proposed law. That vote came several weeks after a wind turbine ordinance actually passed council, but not by the required unanimous vote on an ordinance’s first reading.

All told, a wind turbine ordinance, in one form or another, has been the subject of nine different city meetings since last July, according to city zoning and planning administrator Craig Hoium’s count.

During that time, the proposed ordinance has gone through its share of changes. Originally, the draft prohibited wind towers in residential areas. However, that provision has since been lifted, and the ordinance approved by the commission Tuesday would allow wind turbines in residential areas — provided that they are no more than 75-feet tall and meet other restrictions provided, including a maximum decibel output of 50, and a specific distance from property lines and other houses.

Another change recommended Tuesday was to allow the structures in all business districts in town, including the downtown area. Previously, certain business areas would have been prohibited from having the towers.

If the proposed ordinance does pass council, there likely will be plenty of opposition from a group of residents at Oak Park Village. The residents have previously expressed concern over a proposal by Jim Stiles, owner of nearby Super Fresh Produce, to build a structure on his property.

No Oak Park Village residents were present Tuesday, but the decision to allow turbines in residential areas would seemingly raise the same concerns with the group down the road.

However, several people in attendance Tuesday said that it’s important for Austin to be a progressive city and not restrict an emerging, “green” technology.

This crowd included city councilman Jeff Austin, who moved to table the ordinance back in February. He said the decision he made then was to allow more time for the issue to be discussed, not to hold wind turbines back altogether.

On Tuesday, Austin seemed pleased with the current draft of the ordinance, noting that he’s in favor of allowing people the opportunity to build turbines on their property, but requiring them to obtain what are known as conditional-use permits. He said this process will advance green energy locally but will also keep towers from popping up at an alarmingly fast rate.

Council members Janet Anderson and Dick Pacholl echoed Austin’s sentiments, with all three noting the positive environmental benefits the structures could bring.

Added Anderson: “The conditional-use approach seems very viable. I just hope we keep an open mind to this kind of thing.”

However, it does not appear as if the proposed ordinance will receive unanimous council support. Councilman Brian McAlister expressed his concerns Tuesday, claiming that discussion by the commission over noise, height and size was missing the point.

“This is about aesthetics,” he said. “This is about people’s properties. People want to see trees, not wind turbines.”