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Kossuth County opens public hearing and gives first reading of utility‑scale solar ordinance
Summary
The board opened a public hearing and completed the first reading of an ordinance to regulate utility‑scale solar projects in unincorporated Kossuth County, covering special‑use permitting, setbacks, decommissioning plans and fees; no public comments were offered at the hearing.
The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors opened a public hearing and completed the first reading of a proposed ordinance to regulate the siting, construction, operation and discontinuance of utility‑scale solar energy systems in unincorporated areas of the county.
Reading the ordinance aloud, the chair explained the measure applies to projects with 10 megawatts or more or projects that span at least 30 contiguous acres and establishes application requirements, setbacks, ancillary agreements, decommissioning plans and permit fees. As the ordinance states, “This ordinance shall be construed and implemented consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan and all applicable state and federal laws.” The board also recited provisions requiring security to guarantee decommissioning and set civil penalties for uncured violations.
The zoning administrator and planning commission recommended the standards on special exceptions, site plan content, drainage and emergency response plans. The ordinance requires applicants to show proof of legal control of all properties in the project area, list owners and provide a development plan certified by an Iowa‑licensed engineer or architect. Permit issuance would be conditioned on road‑use and drainage‑protection agreements, proof of insurance and a decommissioning fund or bond sized to the estimated net cost of removal and restoration.
No members of the public in the room spoke during the allotted public‑comment period. The board voted to approve consideration of the first reading; members indicated the second reading would be scheduled for the following week and that staff may provide clarifications and edits prior to further readings.
If adopted after the required readings and publication, the ordinance will require a special‑use permit and additional ancillary agreements before a utility‑scale solar project could be sited in the unincorporated county.
