Reno County planning staff presents broad zoning text amendments on cell towers, ADUs, manufactured homes and shipping containers

Reno County planning staff on Thursday presented a first-reading draft of zoning text amendments that would change how the county regulates telecommunication towers, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), manufactured homes and shipping containers.

The presentation, given to the Reno County Planning Commission by planning staffer Mark, focused on four topics that staff has grouped for revision. "Last month we had a discussion about future text amendments, and the board directed staff really to bring forth some further text amendments on cell towers, accessory dwelling units, manufactured homes," Mark said, and added that he included shipping-container language after finding inconsistent rules in the code.

Why it matters: the changes would alter how rural property owners and developers obtain permits for towers and related equipment, how and where a second dwelling can be located on a parcel, and how freight containers are treated in residential and agricultural districts. Several proposed changes are driven by state statute and federal rules that, according to staff, constrain local review of telecommunications projects.

Cell towers: staff summarized limits in state law on what counties may require for private telecommunication towers on private property, saying that many common review criteria have been precluded. "Reading this led me to the conclusion to perimeter our rights. I come up with essentially about 13 things that now we cannot review with cell towers," Mark told the commission. He said the county can still require certain technical, site-plan items including a 1:1 setback (the tower base must be at least the tower height from property lines), survey verification of distances, limited lighting (not exceeding FAA minimums), fencing around the lease area or tower base, driveway/safety location, and restrictions triggered by wetlands or floodplains.

Staff proposed permitting…