Williams County commissioners on Sept. 2 approved a slate of planning and zoning requests that included a conditional use permit to construct a freshwater holding pond for oil production, a zone change and conditional use permit for a propane business, and several minor subdivisions and zone changes, including a request to create a 3.57-acre heavy industrial lot for expansion of a compression facility. The actions were taken during the board’s planning and zoning agenda and carried on unanimous motions.

County Planning and Zoning staff said the freshwater pond (LU-65-25) would sit in Blue Ridge Township on a 155-acre parcel’s northeast-southeast quarter and be used to store fresh water for nearby oil well production. Planning staff described the pond as roughly 49.9 acre-feet, approximately 500 by 235 feet, lined with a plastic liner, fully fenced and seeded on berms for erosion control; pumping equipment and diesel pumps would transfer water to a nearby production pad. Access is from U.S. Highway 85. Planning and Zoning recommended approval at its August hearing.

The board also approved a zone change to rural commercial and a conditional use permit for a Roughrider Propane facility (LU-67-25) on an about 5-acre parcel accessed from U.S. Highway 2; the applicant plans a 30,000-gallon tank and later conversion of an on-site house to office space. East Fork Township recommended approval and the Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended the change 5–1.

Commissioners approved several minor subdivisions and associated zone changes or variances. One minor subdivision (MS19-0042 → MS20-539/540) would split a roughly 40-acre agricultural parent parcel into a 20.02-acre lot (requested rural residential zoning) and a 19.79-acre lot to remain agricultural because it contains an oil well site. Another minor subdivision would split a roughly 160-acre parcel into a 15-acre lot and a 146.25-acre lot, with the smaller lot requested for rural residential zoning and the larger remaining agricultural. Planning and Zoning recommended approval on both items.

A separate request (LU-0072-25) sought a zone change to heavy industrial for a newly created 3.57-acre parcel from a 119-acre agricultural parent parcel; the smaller lot would support expansion of an existing compression facility adjacent to the site. That item was reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and recommended 6–0 for approval.

Board members moved and seconded approval of the staff recommendations for each item and carried the motions by roll call. No conditions or substantive amendments to the staff recommendations were recorded in the meeting transcript. Planning and Zoning’s recommendation votes and township recommendations were noted in staff summaries presented to the board.