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Woodbury County adopts zoning framework for potential nuclear facilities after public hearing
Summary
The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors approved text amendments establishing a conditional-use permitting process for nuclear energy and related uses limited to the General Industrial district, following a public hearing with broad public comment and a 4-0 vote on the second reading.
WOODBURY COUNTY, Iowa — The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a zoning text amendment that creates a permitting framework for nuclear energy facilities and related uses, restricting consideration to the county's General Industrial (GI) zoning district and clarifying notification and definition language.
The amendment, approved on second reading by a 4-0 vote, does not authorize construction but establishes a conditional-use permit (CUP) process so the county and public would have a procedure to review any future application. “We don't have any specific projects. This is a permitting procedure that the county would have a, framework in place, should we ever get any potential future applications,” Daniel Priestley, zoning coordinator, told the board.
The change follows a recommendation from the county's zoning commission to treat nuclear energy facilities as conditional uses in GI areas, with review by the zoning commission and the board of adjustment. Priestley said the language was drafted to align the county review process with oversight by other levels of government “including the NRC and the state,” while retaining a local public-notice and review mechanism. “So this is our process about having a framework. It's not about a nuclear plant application,” he said.
Public comment at the hearing ran more than an hour and included residents who urged denial and residents who urged a clear regulatory path. Maria Rehnquist and Rita Iverson urged rejection, citing long-term radioactive waste, national-security and accident concerns. Rehnquist said, “I went against these applications, and I will like you to deny the application,” and Iverson said radioactive waste “remains for hundreds and hundreds and thousands of years.” Several speakers pointed to meteorological and water-supply risks in the region; Tom Stock noted that local high-wind events and past derecho damage should be considered in any risk assessment.
Other speakers urged the board to adopt the procedural language so the county would have legal tools if an applicant arrives. Doyle Turner described the amendment as “a way to give the public the ability to address those concerns if and when an applicant shows up,” and warned that denying a local process could leave the county with less influence if federal or state actors act later.
The board also approved a minor housekeeping edit to remove a cross-reference to utility-scale solar notification distances that the zoning commission said was outside the scope of the nuclear language.
Action and next steps: The board voted 4-0 on the second reading to adopt the ordinance text amendments; supervisors said a third and final public hearing will be scheduled next week. The adopted language restricts CUP consideration to properties zoned GI (south of the airport, west of Interstate 29 and east of the Missouri River as described in the record) and clarifies that the county’s process is procedural, not an affirmative development commitment.
