Commissioners approve fence and setback variances for three Idaho Power substations; one commissioner recuses

Valley County commissioners approved variances Oct. 22 for three Idaho Power projects that had conditional use permits with deviations from zoning standards, including fence-height and shoreline setback requests.

Planning staff summarized that the Planning and Zoning Commission had reviewed the three CUP applications on Sept. 11 and unanimously recommended approval of the specific variances. The three applications are: CUP 25-018 (Cascade switching station) — a variance to allow a fence greater than six feet (staff said the proposed fence would be 7 feet); CUP 25-019 (Scott Valley substation) — a similar fence-height variance; and CUP 25-020 (Stibnite substation) — a fence-height variance and a commercial-use setback from the high-water line where the fence would be about 78 feet from the high-water line.

Commissioner Caldwell stated she would recuse herself on CUP 25-018; the board proceeded with the Cascade item first and recorded the recusal in the public record. The board then moved and approved the Cascade switching station variance, with staff noting the action was limited to the fence variance and did not alter setbacks for electrical facilities themselves.

Commissioners discussed landscaping and visual mitigation along Warm Lake Highway and heard that applicants included a landscaping plan with trees and other plantings. Staff said the Cascade switching station landscaping plan includes trees along Warm Lake Road and additional planting where feasible; staff described site constraints and said the plan was “robust.” The Scott Valley substation will be placed near trees on the north end of a logistics facility site, and the Stibnite substation will be located on a mine site.

Officials described site access and gate design: each substation will have two entrance points with 30-foot double-swing gates and off-gate vehicle pull-off area for truck access. Fence construction discussed included chain-link topped with deterrent wire; staff said maximum fence height could be up to 8 feet with wire above, but the variance requests focused on fences 7–8 feet in height.

The board approved the variances by voice vote after staff confirmed the P&Z record and provided recommended motions. The approvals were limited to the variances as described in the staff reports; commissioners noted they expect the landscaping and review conditions in the P&Z approval to be enforced by county reviewers.

Commissioners asked that staff monitor landscaping replacement requirements and that existing native vegetation on the west side of the Stibnite site be maintained or replaced according to the approved plan.

No public hearing was required at the board level because the P&Z commission had already held public hearings and recommended approval.