August 1, 2015
Nebraska

Buchanan County Supervisor deny rezoning request

Independence Bulletin Journal | July 30, 2015 | www.communitynewspapergroup.com

INDEPENDENCE –Buchanan County Supervisors met in regular session, Monday, with all board members present.

At 9:30 a.m. the public hearing regarding the Thomas and Kimberly Rourke rezoning request was held, to rezone 89 acres in Sections 6 & 7, Fairbank Township from A1 agricultural to A2 agricultural for the purpose of constructing three small wind turbines for a small wind energy development. Approximately 28 residents from the area, including Tom and Kim Rourke were present for the hearing.

Upon a motion to suspend the requirement for three successive reading and votes, members of the Board unanimously voted in favor of the motion.

As the hearing commenced Zoning Administrator Chad Beatty reported that the request for rezoning of the property was denied in a 7-0 vote during the July 7 meeting of the Buchanan County Zoning Commission, mostly due to the fact of the high CSR rating of the site.

At Monday’s meeting, most residents that were present for the hearing agreed with the zoning commission’s decision, to deny the request, citing health concerns, concerns for livestock and that fact that the site was too close to town. After an hour of discussion, supervisors upheld the Commission’s July 7 decision to deny the request.

Earlier in the morning a public hearing regarding the Ken and Kathy Cole preliminary plat of the Walnut Grove addition was called to order at 9:15 a.m. Supervisors subsequently approved the plat in a unanimous vote.

In addition to being present for the 9:30 a.m. Zoning Hearing, Administrator Chad Beatty presented the monthly report for his department, saying “ the Grant to Counties was awarded in the amount of $26,350. According to Beatty, the grant amount was down from previous years. Beatty also shared that floodplain maps had been released, prior to announcing his resignation from his administrative position, effective Aug. 14th. No further details about the announcement are available at this time.

In other business, Supervisors met with County Engineer Brian Keierleber who presented information on the diamond grinding on Highway V-62. Motion carried to authorize Keierleber to proceed with the project, which includes the first 2.6 miles north of Jesup. Keierleber also presented information regarding replacement of the “Sand Road” Bridge on 305th St. in Homer Township. No action taken.

Minutes from the July 20 meeting and claims filed with the County Auditor for payment in the amount of $414,007.07 were both approved.

The resignation of Jerry Furness, Lieutenant and a 28-year veteran of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office was accepted, effective Sept. 24.

A fireworks permit for Randy Bast of Jesup and the appointment of Ben Lange, a non-resident member of the Independence Library Board was approved.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/08/01/buchanan-county-supervisor-deny-rezoning-request/