Planning commission recommends conditional-use permits for two drilling pads with conditions on setbacks, sound walls and access

The New Castle Planning and Building Commission on Aug. 25, 2025, voted unanimously to recommend approval of two use-permit applications for new oil-and-gas pad sites (UPOR2025-005 and UPOR2025-006) on a 3.86-acre parcel south of NW 20 4th Street, subject to multiple conditions including sound-wall and access requirements and the securing of a setback waiver or affidavits from the property owner.

City staff presented the applications and site plans, and applicants described proposed mitigations for noise, traffic and dust. Commissioners required conditions addressing setbacks to nearby residences, a taller sound wall on the north side, entrance placement and traffic coordination with the New Castle Police Department; the commission recommended that city council consider a reduced setback once a waiver or affidavits addressing title issues are obtained.

Health planner Julia (City of Newcastle) summarized the two permit applications and explained ordinance setback standards. The pad site is a 3.86-acre portion of a larger parcel owned by Dolores Maddock; the pad edge measures about 336 feet from the nearest residence to the north while the city code cited a 460-foot pad-edge-to-protected-use standard. The ordinance allows city council to reduce the standard down to 250 feet with a proper waiver; staff said the applicant had not yet obtained a waiver from the record owner but had identified a possible personal representative and planned to continue outreach.

Applicant representative Jeff Clark described routing for heavy equipment and said the company had evaluated about five truck-route options and, in consultation with city staff, identified an I-44 bypass/bypass-road route as the least intrusive. Clark said the operator could shift the entrance east or west depending on the commission’s guidance. Commissioners and residents raised multiple concerns about the feasibility of the bypass route, steep or tight turns, visibility on rural roads and the potential need to close frontage-road segments while large equipment moves; commissioners required coordination with the New Castle Police Department for traffic management during heavy-haul moves.

Noise, sight and light mitigation were central issues during public comment. Staff said a noise study projected average levels below 75 decibels and that engines would have mufflers and electric motors would be used where possible. The applicants proposed a 24-foot sound wall along the north side of the pad (taller than the 16-foot minimum in the code) and a reduced or modified sound wall layout on other sides; commissioners included compliance with the ordinance’s screening and sound-wall requirements in their recommendation but noted the council can modify those requirements. Commissioners also asked the operator to shield rig lighting to limit overflow toward nearby residences.

The commission’s recommended approval included these conditions (summarized): obtain a setback waiver or recorded affidavits (or demonstrate reasonable efforts) before city council action or continue the item; install sound walls per code with a 24-foot north wall as proposed; move the working entrance to be directly south across from the frontage road intersection with a concrete apron; coordinate heavy-haul moves with the New Castle Police Department for temporary traffic control; require lighting be shielded to minimize spill; and require a closed flare system and other mitigation measures outlined in the permit application. Commissioners voted to recommend approval of both UPOR2025-005 and UPOR2025-006 unanimously.

The commission recorded the recommendation and transmitted both items to city council for final action.