The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors on July 15 moved to introduce and waive the first reading of an ordinance for a zone change on the Stanneger property, following a compromise between the property owner and neighbors that reduced the proposed farm-animal combining zone and its animal capacity. The board continued the public hearing and will consider adoption Aug. 5.

Tracy Ferguson, the county planning director, summarized the process and the changes since the item was last before the board. Planning staff said the item returned to the Planning Commission after supplementary notice and a June 12 site visit involving the owner and neighbors. The owner agreed to revised boundaries that include a 650-foot buffer on the southern boundary and a 100-foot buffer from certain parcels on Highway 147. Those changes reduced the combining-zone acreage to about 5.2 acres and a maximum of 10 hoofed animals, down from the earlier proposal of 9 acres and 18 hoofed animals.

Ferguson said the Planning Commission received public comment and then voted unanimously to forward the revised map and recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. At the July 15 meeting, several speakers — including neighbors and county staff — expressed that the negotiated buffers addressed the primary nuisance concerns raised at earlier hearings (odor, proximity to wellheads and animal density).

Board members praised the local compromise and the commissions handling of the technical issues. One board member said the outcome demonstrated "good government at work" and praised staff and the parties for resolving disputes without protracted litigation.

The board made a motion to introduce and waive the first reading and voted to continue the public hearing on the ordinance to the board's Aug. 5 meeting for final consideration and potential adoption. The Planning Commissions recommendation and Fergusons staff report remain the official record for technical findings and supporting material.

Why it matters: The item resolves a neighborhood land-use dispute by narrowing the scope of permitted animal density and adding buffer zones; the Aug. 5 adoption hearing will determine whether the county permanently changes zoning for the parcel.