Reno County planners review zoning, cite parking, home-occupation and battery-storage as next priorities

Reno County planning officials on Dec. 18 reviewed their annual list of possible updates to zoning and subdivision regulations and agreed to ask staff to prepare proposals on recurring issues such as parking and paving requirements, home-occupation rules and potential standards for battery storage projects.

The commission’s chair opened the discussion after the body approved its 2026 meeting calendar. Staff said the county has made extensive text amendments this year and proposed next steps including clarification of definitions, parking and loading-space rules, and distinctions between public and private roads in subdivisions. "Every time we have a case, it seems like we're doing waivers on parking requirements and loading space requirements," Staff (Speaker 2) said, noting frequent waiver requests have prompted the review.

Commissioners emphasized three priority areas. Parking and paving requirements prompted repeated waivers that staff said may be better handled by revised thresholds or administrative processes. On home occupations, staff said past cases—such as a small construction business that outgrew its residential status—show the need for clearer standards and an administrative filing form so staff can document approved uses.

Battery storage emerged as an upcoming issue. "We did a little bit with the solar regulations about battery storage," Chair (Speaker 1) said, and Commissioner (Speaker 4) warned of safety risks, saying lithium batteries "get catch on fire. It's bad news." Staff (Speaker 2) described battery storage as an undefined land use now addressed through the conditional-use permit process and suggested the county could adapt elements of the wind and solar rules and rely on input from emergency management and the fire department if applications are filed.

Agricultural uses and grain storage were discussed for clarification: staff said ordinary on-farm storage is typically treated as an agricultural use and generally exempt, while a commercial grain elevator or a commercial storage operation would be subject to review. Staff also recommended planning for a comprehensive plan update within the county’s typical 10-year review cycle; the county is roughly seven years into its current plan.

After the discussion, the commission voted to accept staff’s recommended topics for future text amendments and training, directing staff to prepare drafts and to consult other county departments when needed. The commission recessed for an annual training session and later reconvened to complete other business.