Commission remands Schneider propane storage permit back to Planning & Zoning for more safety and procedural review

Valley County commissioners remanded the Schneider Propane Storage conditional-use permit (CUP 26-012) back to Planning & Zoning on July 7 for additional review after extended testimony from appellants and the applicant, and substantial public comment.

Appellants representing Saddle Rock property owners asked the board to reverse P&Z’s approval, arguing the record lacked substantial evidence on comprehensive-plan consistency, impacts to adjoining residential properties, wildfire risk, private-road use, and insurance consequences. Brandon Fiscus, representing appellants, told the board the record contained unresolved questions about emergency response, the feasibility of moving a 30,000-gallon tank in a wildfire, and whether ITD and Cascade Fire had been adequately engaged. Opponents presented insurance denial letters and described high wildfire-risk mapping for Saddle Rock.

Applicant Heidi Schneider and Borealis Fuels (proposed operator) argued the site is not visible from most Saddle Rock lots, that Cascade Fire set mitigation standards they will meet, and that the tank is on a chassis and the tenant can offload fuel into bobtail trucks if necessary. Commissioners nevertheless concluded substantial technical clarifications are needed: whether the on-site truck or vendor bobtails can practically relocate the tank during fire season; a detailed site plan showing fencing, bollards and emergency access; clarity about who provides firefighting resources and what protections exist for adjacent residents; precise ITD review of hazardous-material access and turning movements; and clear limits on hours/operations or other conditions. The board voted to remand the matter to P&Z for those items to be addressed.