Staff asks planning commission to draft zoning changes to allow on‑site power generation; includes small modular reactor language

County planning staff told supervisors on Feb. 10 that they had received inquiries about on‑site power generation and recommended the board direct the Planning Commission to prepare zoning text amendments for industrial districts.

Staff said industrially zoned areas are the most suitable locations for energy‑intensive development because they have existing infrastructure — access to transmission lines, water capacity and freight‑oriented transport — and are generally less densely populated than residential districts. Staff proposed a two‑track approach: (1) allow accessory, on‑site generation that primarily serves the industrial load as a permitted use up to defined capacity and export thresholds subject to performance standards; and (2) treat on‑site generation with export off‑site as a principal use allowed only by conditional use permit.

The staff recommendation also asked the Planning Commission to include clear definitions that recognize small modular reactors (SMRs) while otherwise remaining technology‑neutral. The board voted to send the matter to the Planning Commission to draft recommended zoning text amendments so the county will have regulatory language ready if developers submit projects.