Residents and conservation group urge changes as Planning Commission previews draft industrial corridors in Imagine 2040 plan

Planning staff presented a draft industrial-corridor overlay for the Imagine 2040 comprehensive plan and invited public comment during a 30-day public-comment period that remains open through July 2.

Julian (planning staff) summarized survey results and staff's suitability model: staff weighted wetlands and flood zones highest, proximity to roads and distance from residences next, and identified inland rural and western portions of the county as most suitable for industrial uses if infrastructure is available. Staff emphasized that corridors are draft overlays, not zoning maps, and said heavy industrial would not be supported in an area until infrastructure such as I-73 is in place.

Becky Ryan, North Coast office director for the Coastal Conservation League, urged more outreach and said 97 responses are "not adequate for a county of more than 400,000," recommended clearer protections for scenic and conservation-designated lands and asked that scenic and conservation designations be excluded from industrial corridors. Ryan said data centers and large-footprint industrial uses raise concerns about impervious surface and wetland/flood impacts.

Multiple residents (including Deiva Chestnut and Michael and Devorah Harrelson) echoed requests for better outreach and expressed anxiety about loss of farmland, flood impacts, potential industrial pollution, and unclear definitions of what industrial entails. Staff noted two public open houses and said wetland delineations will be required on rezoned scenic/conservation parcels larger than 2 acres to verify constrained areas.

Staff said the draft overlay and maps are posted on the county website and will be considered for a Planning Commission recommendation after the public-input period; next steps include IN R (INR?) in August and three readings at County Council.