Commissioners favor review for controversial industrial uses; some want cannery permitted outright

Siskiyou County planning commissioners debated how the draft zoning code should treat certain industrial activities, with disagreement about whether canneries should be permitted outright or subject to review.

"The cannery, personally, I think it should flat out just be permitted," said Committee member (S3), arguing that some canneries are clearly industrial in nature. Staff member (S1) responded that while canneries are industrial, the planning commission should have an opportunity to weigh in for large-scale operations and recommended listing certain uses as subject to an administrative use permit so the county can review location and scale. Commissioners agreed that slaughterhouses and tanneries likely warrant AUPs because of the regional and state permits they require and because they tend to generate public controversy.

The commission discussed a practical test: allow processing and typical industrial accessory uses by right in industrial zones but route high-impact or novel operations (large slaughterhouses, tanning at scale) through an AUP so staff and the commission can impose conditions or require public notice. Commissioners also suggested the county examine development standards (setbacks, screening, odor/air controls) that would apply to any permitted or AUP-listed facility.

Next steps: staff will adjust the use table language to reflect the commission's preference for AUP status on slaughterhouses and tanneries and will present revised wording showing which industrial activities are permitted versus discretionary.