BLOOMINGTON -- The McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals will meet Nov. 17 to discuss four days of testimony and public comments on Horizon Wind Energy's wind farm special use permit application.

"I want this board to have some time to review the documents that have been presented and think about the decision," said ZBA Chairwoman Sally Rudolph.

Closing arguments were presented Monday night on a proposed 333-turbine project in eastern McLean County in the Towanda, Blue Mound, Martin and Anchor townships. The area is north of the existing 240-turbine Twin Groves Wind Farm in rural Arrowsmith, Ellsworth and Saybrook.

"This should be a much easier decision then your board had in 2005 when you recommended approval of Twin Groves I and II," Horizon attorney Frank Miles said.

"At that time, you had never seen a wind farm, and never had to deal with wind farm issues. But now, you have lived through the construction of Twin Groves I and II and the projects are essentially the same size, just on opposite sides of Route 9. It's the same company and same management team."

While Miles was the only speaker to present closing arguments on behalf of Horizon Wind Energy, several residents opposed to the wind farm asked the board to deny the permit.

Rural Cooksville resident Aaron Wissmiller told the board that opponents of the wind farm are at a disadvantage because the wind farm company has legal assistance at its disposal.

"We have families, jobs and our lives going on, and I assume we are going to lose here, so why sink more money into it?" he asked. "No matter how much I oppose it, I will still wind up with three to four swooshing towers just 500 yards from my back door."

Lexington resident Brian Fisher asked members of the board to put themselves in the shoes of those who will be affected.

"Ask yourselves the questions that we are asking and think about how it would impact you if a turbine was going on a property next to you," Fisher said. "That's all we can ask."