Commission approves intensive-agriculture rezone for Escalante Farms; neighbors expressed odor concerns

The Iron County Commission approved a zone change from Agricultural 20‑acre to Intensive Agriculture for about 87.58 acres near 1600 South and 500 West in the Burrell area, allowing Escalante Farms to locate a staging lagoon and associated animal operation infrastructure.

Reed, planning staff presenting the proposal, told commissioners the owner’s broader dairy operation is already operating nearby and the new lagoon is intended as a “staging” facility to hold and dilute effluent after it passes through a planned digester. Reed said the lagoon and working process, combined with drag‑line/LES A drip application, is intended to cut the total number of land‑application days roughly in half and reduce odors by diluting and targeting application to triticale fields that better take up nitrates. Reed said the planning commission recommended approval and that DEQ and NRCS oversight and nutrient‑management plans apply.

Neighbors and attendees at the planning commission stage and in follow‑up calls raised concerns about recurring odors in the area and the history of land application practices. Reed acknowledged those concerns, noted that DEQ (air and water quality divisions) administers permits for lagoon and treatment facilities and that NRCS provided the nutrient‑management guidance recommending a staging lagoon. Reed also said the applicant will include backflow prevention and other controls in the system.

Commissioners approved the rezoning and the planning commission’s conditional use recommendation; staff were instructed to confirm required DEQ and NRCS permits and backflow controls before construction proceeds. The county’s record shows testing and monitoring will be required by state agencies; the commission emphasized that any land‑application must comply with state nutrient‑management rules.

Why it matters: The action allows a large animal‑waste staging facility on land already used for intensive agriculture and is intended by operators to reduce long‑term odor impacts by changing how and when effluent is handled and applied. Residents immediately adjacent to the proposed site will remain subject to odorous events if mitigation measures are insufficient; commissioners required staff to verify regulatory permits and mitigation commitments as part of implementation.

What’s next: Planning staff will seek evidence of DEQ/NRCS approvals and verify operational controls before issuing final site clearances; the commission asked staff to report back to the board on monitoring measures and complaint handling.