Planning commission recommends conditional‑use permit for Arkalen Ethanol storage; three conditions attached

The Seward County / City of Kismet Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of conditional use permit CU2026‑1 for Arkalen Ethanol LLC after a public hearing and deliberation.

Applicant Tom Willis, who said he represents the ethanol plant operations and related entities, told the commission the project would provide covered storage to support export markets and an upcoming cellulosic fuel pilot. Willis said the initial plan is for about 2,000,000 bushels of covered storage on the site and that the company envisions future expansion to roughly 6,000,000 bushels; combined with existing ground piles the proposal could bring total storage near 8,000,000 bushels if fully built out.

Willis said covered hoop barns and contained operations should reduce dust and congestion compared with open ground piles and that the facility will be used to stage trucks, with a morning staging area for roughly 50 trucks and typical business hours beginning after 7:30 a.m. He also said the pilot plant would consume roughly five bales a day and that the project expects to store several hundred to a few thousand bales depending on harvest and operations.

Commission discussion focused on siting, traffic and road impacts, dust control, noise from dryer/exhaust fans, measurement of setbacks and the structure's height. Staff noted Road & Bridge is considering what it will require for maintenance of the segment of Road P that will serve the site and the county has proposed that a developer agreement or permit conditions set out road maintenance responsibilities.

After reading the 11 factors required for a conditional‑use finding, the commission adopted three conditions as part of its recommendation: a 1,000‑foot setback from the nearest occupiable dwelling to the hoop barn/fan locations; a road‑maintenance arrangement to be determined between the commission and the Road & Bridge department as stated in the development agreement; and an explicit allowance for the proposed building heights to exceed the 35‑foot limit in the ag zone because the structure fits an agricultural storage/exemption provision in the zoning regulations (Article 26). The motion to recommend approval passed by voice vote (motion by Commissioner Jeff Ladderback; second by Commissioner Kelly Ekes).

Chair read a notice that landowners within 1,000 feet who are not satisfied with the recommendation may file a protest petition with the Seward County Clerk within 14 days (deadline read in the hearing). Staff said engineering drawings, permits and agreed maintenance terms will be part of the final development agreement and conditions recommended to the county commissioners.