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Woodbury County adopts zoning procedures for potential nuclear facilities after public hearing
Summary
The board approved a second reading of zoning-text amendments creating a conditional-use permitting framework for nuclear energy facilities in specified industrial areas; the hearing drew residents’ safety and cost concerns as well as supporters who said the rules protect local input.
The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors on July 29 approved a second reading of zoning-text amendments that establish a conditional-use permitting process for nuclear energy facilities and related uses limited to General Industrial zoning districts.
Daniel Priestley, the county’s zoning coordinator, told the board the change is procedural and not tied to any current project: "Just to be abundantly clear about this process, we don't have any specific projects. This is a permitting procedure that the county would have a framework in place should we ever get any potential future applications." Priestley said the recommended process routes conditional-use permit reviews through the zoning commission and board of adjustment so there is an opportunity for public input and review alongside state and federal oversight.
Several members of the public urged caution or urged denial. Maria Rehnquist of Sioux City listed multiple objections including waste storage, proliferation, and water use near the Missouri River and concluded, "I recommend to all of you to deny this nuclear power project." Rita Iverson and other residents highlighted long-term waste, high upfront costs and evacuation risks; Tom Stock asked the board to consider the county’s extreme-weather exposure.
Other commenters said a clear permit framework protects local control. Doyle Turner argued the ordinance lets the county set rules before an applicant arrives, and Kenneth Kroll said industry demand for reliable baseload power means the county should not preclude options.
After the public hearing the board voted unanimously to close the hearing and approved the text amendments clarifying that the conditional-use review applies only to specified General Industrial areas and removing unrelated utility-scale solar notice language. Chair (speaker 1) emphasized the county is not building a plant and that federal approvals would still apply.
