Lake County approves zoning change to allow natural gas resiliency facilities in commercial, industrial zones

Lake County commissioners voted unanimously March 25 to adopt an amendment to Appendix C of the county’s Land Development Regulations to define and permit natural gas resiliency facilities in all commercial and industrial zoning districts.

County Attorney Melanie presented the ordinance as the board’s second and final reading and said the changes were required by state law. If approved, the ordinance becomes part of the county code and will be filed with the Department of State. The board opened and closed a public hearing with no public comment before recording the unanimous vote.

The ordinance amends Chapter 2 (Definitions) and Section 3.103 (Schedule of Permitted and Conditional Uses) to add a defined use category for “natural gas resiliency facilities,” and includes standard severability and filing provisions. The county attorney said the amendment was prepared to meet state statutory requirements; no members of the public offered comment during the hearing.

The measure passed on a voice vote with no recorded dissent and will be published as part of the county code. The board did not add additional conditions or amendments during the March 25 hearing.

The change was introduced by county legal staff and taken on second reading during the meeting; Melanie confirmed it would be recorded as an ordinance upon filing with state authorities.

The board’s action updates the land-development rules that determine what uses are allowed in commercial and industrial zoning districts and implements the defined permitting approach described during the hearing.

The county clerk will file the ordinance with the Department of State and place it in the code as required by statute.