Richardson County looks to regulate wind, solar
Updates underway to 25-year-old development plan
FALLS CITY – Richardson County commissioners told resident Alvin Simon Wednesday that they are updating the county’s comprehensive development plan as directed by state law, but hinted the plan need not be implemented.
Simon told commissioners he is concerned that a zoning ordinance will lead to code enforcement officers responding to complaints across the county. He said zoning regulations have a reputation for suffocating agricultural land uses.
Commissioner John Caverzagie, a former Falls City code enforcement officer, said the county is proud of its Livestock Friendly designation.
Richardson County is among a handful of Nebraska counties without zoning. The county adopted a comprehensive development plan in 2001, but never adopted a corresponding zoning ordinance.
Caverzagie said the county has no intention of regulating agricultural land uses and has only a slight interest in implementing zoning at all.
Caverzagie: “My thing is taking care of the county roads, taking care of the county bridges. If somebody comes in an wants to put up solar energy, or wind generating energy I’m not opposed to it, but let’s make sure it’s done properly.”
Commissioners said the state requires updates to comprehensive plans every 10 years, but Richardson County’s plan is 25 years old.
Caverzagie said an updated plan will include regulations on wind and solar energy.
Caverzagie: “The last we had -- at a meeting here open to the public -- we were going to update the plan, the zoning regulations. We’re going to update them, but not implement them.”
"Again, I'm interested in saving our county roads - taking care of our county roads - taking care of our county bridges and have some regulations in place in regard to solar energy and wind energy. I'm not opposed to those, it's just we need to regulate them so they don't put one in your back yard, or my back yard."
He said farmers are well represented on the county planning commission.