Planning commission recommends adoption of Lincoln County's 2026 Comprehensive Plan

The Lincoln County Planning Commission on Feb. 10 voted unanimously to recommend adoption of the county's 2026 Comprehensive Plan, approving Resolution AM26-001 "A" on a 7-0 roll call with four members absent.

The vote followed a public hearing on the draft plan. Judy Clark, Lincoln County planner, told the commission consultant Keith Marvin was present to answer commissioners' questions. Clark said the commission has worked on the plan for nearly three years and reviewed the document at its prior meeting.

The plan drew public comment on energy and infrastructure issues. Resident Tory Copeland urged the commission to require developers proposing solar or wind farms to secure access easements to existing transmission lines before applying, saying he "would hate to see eminent domain used to get access across other people's property." Peggy Pape, a general partner of Prairie Creek Ranch Partnership, said she would welcome a wind farm to help with taxes and noted existing transmission towers on her property.

Why it matters: The comprehensive plan provides the county's broad policy framework for land use and informs the zoning updates under consideration. Planning staff said updating zoning regulations is necessary to bring the code into conformance with the new plan and to make county review more efficient.

What's next: The commission attached its recommendation to a formal resolution and will forward that recommendation to the county board for consideration. Commissioners moved quickly to the separate public hearing on proposed zoning regulations later the same evening, where many speakers focused on specific technical rules for wind and solar projects.

The commission's vote was 7 in favor, 0 opposed; members absent were Zak Eickhoff, Marlene Flaming, Mitch Moorhead and Russ Miller.