Emmons County to review Dunn County zoning language as starting point for energy and industrial updates

The Emmons County Board discussed updates to the county zoning ordinance’s conditional-use and energy-related provisions and directed staff and commissioners to review Dunn County’s land development code as a possible model.

Board members said Dunn County’s zoning code contains a substantial, detailed section on energy development and conditional uses, and that reviewing it could be more efficient than drafting new language from scratch. Commissioners noted Dunn County’s work reflects a county that has actively dealt with industrial-scale energy projects and suggested borrowing or adapting relevant sections rather than beginning anew.

The planning discussion covered the value of an iterative approach: identify the specific pages and sections tailored to energy/industrial conditional uses and adapt them to Emmons County’s context. Commissioners asked staff to print or circulate 10–20 pages of the most relevant sections for commissioner review and to return with suggested edits at a future meeting. The board did not adopt any ordinance changes at this meeting; it agreed to pause more extensive local drafting while members study the Dunn County model and report back next month.

Commissioners said the goal is to address wind-energy and large-battery conditional-use standards with clearer responsibilities and procedures for the county, the planning board and applicants, while ensuring the ordinance fits Emmons County’s rural circumstances.

No formal vote was taken to adopt Dunn County language; the board’s direction was to review and return with proposed edits and options.