Gordon County Commission approves variance for Pleasant Hill Extension gasification plan

The Gordon County Commission voted Oct. 1 to approve an appeal (application No. 24-13, related to application No. 24-06) to reduce an industrial setback at Pleasant Hill Extension to allow a proposed gasification facility to move forward.

Planning staff had recommended approval and the county planning commission voted 5-2 in favor of the variance. County staff identified the site as Gordon County Tax Parcel 096-0218 and said the request would reduce the required setback from 250 feet to 100 feet along the western property line bordering Pleasant Hill Road.

During the public hearing representatives for the applicant and for nearby property owners told the commission they had reached an agreement on revised boundaries. One representative said the change would “cut about 500 feet from the southern property line” while leaving the remainder of the parcel subject to the standard 250-foot offset. County staff said they had a map to document the agreed boundary adjustment.

Commissioners moved and seconded the motion to approve the appeal. The commission conducted a roll call for the public hearing; the roll-call responses recorded in the transcript were: "Mister Stewart: Yes; Mister Abernathy: Yes; Mister Sutherland: Yes; Mister Southerland: Yes; Mister Cunningham: Yes; Mister Owen: Yes." The chair declared the motion carried.

The county administrator noted the public hearing format and roll call were intended to create a clear record should the decision be appealed to superior court. The commission did not elaborate further on conditions attached to the approval during the meeting.

Next steps include filing the recorded plat and placing the agreement and map in the project file, per staff comments made during the hearing.