Woodbury County approves first readings and recommendations for multiple zoning ordinance amendments and a rezone

Woodbury County supervisors on a routine agenda morning received final recommendations from the county Zoning Commission and approved first readings or accepted reports for a package of zoning changes affecting rural land use and ordinance housekeeping.

The package included a proposed rezone of a parcel (ending in 0004) owned by the LaFebri Family Trust from Agricultural Preservation (AP) to Agricultural Estate (AE) to allow a future house lot; final recommendation came from the zoning commission and the board approved the first reading after a public hearing that recorded no public comment.

The commission also recommended and the board accepted or approved first readings for text amendments to the county zoning ordinance to: establish minimum and maximum dimensions for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) so they may align with primary dwellings in counties lacking building codes; add utility‑scale energy systems to the public notification subsection; correct references to telecommunications towers; remove co‑location requirements to conform with state changes; and update the road‑use and repair agreement referenced in the solar energy section. The changes also include routine reclassification of page numbers and section locations within the ordinance.

Daniel Priestley, planning staff, told the board the commission carried out the review "to align it up as a county without building codes to include the enumerated dimensions" and to perform "housekeeping measures" after solar provisions were added last year. He said the commission held the required hearings and recommended approval.

The board also received a recommendation to revise the land‑use summary table (section 3.03.04) to classify public service garages as a conditional use in AP and AE districts. The zoning commission held a public hearing on that item with no comments in opposition and forwarded a positive recommendation.

All hearings on the package were opened for public comment; no members of the public spoke. Motions to receive the zoning commission reports, to conduct the public hearings, and to approve first readings were moved and seconded by supervisors, and each motion passed by roll call voice vote recorded as "aye" with motion results noted as 5‑0 on the record.

The board treated these actions as first readings or receipt of final recommendations; further proceedings (additional readings, final votes, or plat approvals) were indicated as forthcoming where required by county ordinance for rezones and subdivision plats.

Speakers and attributions in this report come from planning staff and the board during the zoning agenda items; no public commenters addressed these items during the hearings.