Commission to review Appendix A after public requests for tower in agricultural zone

Members of the Corinne Planning and Zoning Commission said the city has received multiple requests asking that a new cell tower be sited in an agricultural (AG) zone south of an existing tower. Commissioners said the current city code (Appendix A, "communication commercial") limits such facilities to the business zone and that the proposed site is not in the business district.

Kendra, city staff, advised the commission that it can place a review of Appendix A on a future agenda and that amending the code will require a public hearing. Commissioners discussed options including recommending that the applicant seek a variance or pursuing a code amendment to allow communication-commercial uses in specified AG locations.

Commissioners said the mayor has received calls and expressed no objection to reviewing the zoning provisions. The commission directed staff to add a review of Appendix A to the next meeting agenda so the commission can decide whether to recommend an amendment or other permitting pathway.

No formal ordinance change or variance was approved at the meeting; the commission’s action was limited to directing staff to return the issue for formal consideration with public notice.

Key points

- Multiple residents asked about siting a cell tower in an AG-zoned parcel south of the existing tower; the draft code currently lists communication-commercial uses under the business zone only. - Kendra said code amendments require a public hearing and that staff can place Appendix A on the next agenda for comprehensive review. - The commission suggested applicants could seek a variance in the short term; a code amendment would take several months and require public hearing procedures.