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Committee approves sending wind/solar/storage, campgrounds and fee changes to ZBA for hearing
Summary
The committee voted to send zoning text amendments (wind, solar, energy storage, campgrounds, guest accommodations and fee updates) to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a public hearing, and discussed revocation procedures, road-district notification and state fee limits.
Chair Doug Stockley opened the ordinance section by asking the committee to finish text amendments that exclude data centers and to send the rest to a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing. "This is everything except for data centers," he said, referring to prior work on solar, wind and energy storage.
Staff told the committee that references to battery energy storage have been removed and noted campground special-use conditions proposed by staff: marked property boundaries, limits on excessive stays (not to exceed 30 days), emergency contacts, on-site storm shelters for campgrounds, and hotel/motel tax for permanent accommodations. "For permanent type accommodations, they'd be required to pay hotel motel tax," staff said.
The committee discussed moving guest-accommodation (Airbnb-style) language from the A-1 district into the rural residence district, and clarified a process for revoking a special use. One member urged the revocation clause be softened so the County Board "shall consider the recommendation of the Land Use Committee" rather than being required to revoke based solely on the committee's recommendation.
An explanation of fees: staff said the draft reflects state statute limits on maximum fees for wind, solar and energy storage systems; in practice some zoning fees may increase while building permit fees for larger projects could be reduced.
Vote and next steps: Tom Miller moved and Kathy seconded the motion to send the proposed text amendments (wind, solar, energy storage systems, fees, and campgrounds) to a ZBA hearing; the committee approved by voice vote. The ordinance will proceed to a public hearing, then to the county board for placement on file for 30 days before final vote.
