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Resident urges Gage County supervisors to require tree buffers for livestock confinement facilities
Summary
At the May 13 Gage County Board meeting, resident Margaret Heath urged supervisors to impose perimeter tree requirements on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), citing research that buffers reduce odor and ammonia; board members said P&Z studied the issue and did not recommend mandatory tree plans, and discussion will continue.
Margaret Heath of Beatrice told the Gage County Board of Supervisors during public comment on May 13 that the board should reconsider its approach to tree buffers around livestock confinement facilities, arguing prior approvals lacked adequate conditions to protect neighbors.
"When you did the Hanover Township CAFO, you put on five conditions, one of them being to include trees around all the perimeter," Heath said. "Research shows properly designed tree buffers can reduce dust, which carries odor, by 35 to 56% and lower ammonia levels, significantly improving air quality for neighbors." Heath said she reviewed about 10 articles and urged the board to require tree plans and maintenance for future CAFO permits.
The recommendation was met with pushback from some supervisors and staff, who said planning and zoning (P&Z) reviewed tree-plan proposals and ultimately recommended not to require a mandatory tree plan. Chair (moderator) said P&Z’s review found tree plans are site-specific and that a required plan would also demand a maintenance agreement. "Recommendations are recommendations to take a look at," the chair said, noting the board asked P&Z to study possible changes and that the conversation will continue.
Board members discussed trade-offs: one supervisor said poorly planned trees can impede building ventilation if placed too close to ventilation fans, while another said carefully designed vegetative buffers can work when included in a comprehensive management plan. The board also noted prior CAFO permits had varied conditions and that the county will keep discussing how to balance agricultural operations with neighbor concerns.
The board did not take formal action on a tree-buffer mandate at the meeting; supervisors indicated the issue will remain under review by P&Z and return to the agenda for continued discussion.
The next procedural steps are continued review by planning and zoning and future board discussion; no ordinance or binding condition was adopted during the May 13 session.
