Zoning board backs text amendment to streamline temporary meteorological tower permits

The Iroquois County Zoning Board of Appeals recommended Sept. 23 that the County Board amend the county zoning ordinance to make temporary meteorological towers a permitted use in the A‑1 Agricultural District, with a three‑year limit, required setbacks and building permit requirements.

The proposed change would move temporary meteorological towers — the short‑term lattice towers used to measure wind resources — out of a special‑use review process and into a permitted use category in the agricultural district. County staff told the board the amendment is intended to make the process more efficient and reduce public‑hearing costs while preserving safety controls through setbacks and a building permit requirement.

Staff explained the core elements of the draft amendment: add a definition for “temporary meteorological tower” in Section 15.2 of the zoning ordinance; allow towers as a permitted use in the A‑1 Agricultural District under Section 3.41(a); require that towers be set back from any adjacent parcel line or right of way by at least 1.1 times the tower’s height measured to the nearest portion of the base; and limit each tower’s duration to three years from the date of construction unless an extension is granted. To obtain a building permit, applicants must submit a complete application showing compliance with federal and state law and pay required fees; county staff estimated fees in discussion and mentioned a working figure close to $5,000 while noting the County Board would set final fees.

The board also discussed optional provisions the County Board could add, including fencing requirements to prevent climbing at tower bases; staff said most meteorological towers already install base fencing. One public comment submitted by a developer (Apex Energy) requested that rather than requiring a variance or new public hearing to extend a tower beyond three years, the zoning administrator be authorized to grant administrative extensions.

During the hearing, a resident, William Song of Milford, said he had received unsolicited offers and inquiries from developers and asked how landowners could stop unsolicited contacts; staff indicated that was a separate issue not decided at the zoning hearing. Staff and board members clarified repeatedly that the text amendment would cover only temporary meteorological towers and not wind‑turbine construction or permanent meteorological towers required as part of a wind farm special‑use permit.

After discussion the Zoning Board of Appeals voted to forward the proposed text amendment with its draft language and the noted recommendations to the County Board for its consideration. The County Board may adopt, modify or reject the language, set final fees and add conditions such as fencing or administrative extension authority.

Staff summarized the proposal to the board: "If we just make it a permitted use, we need to have to go to Julie's office, zone administrator, to obtain a building permit," the staff member said. The board left the hearing record open pending transcript preparation and public comment exhibit marking, then closed evidence on the item and forwarded the recommendation to the County Board.