Notice of Public Hearings before the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors regarding Nuclear Energy related uses Ordinance Amendments on July 22, 29, and August 5

NOTICE REGARDING PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE THE WOODBURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS FOR THE INCLUSION OF NUCLEAR RELATED USES TO THE WOODBURY COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE NOT LIMITED TO NUCLEAR ENERGY FACILITIES, NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE, AND RELATED USES AND TO ADD PUBLIC NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, AND REORGANIZE THE ORDINANCE

The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings on the following item of business, described in detail below, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 4:40 PM, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 4:40 PM, and Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 4:40 PM, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be considered. Pursuant to Iowa Code Section 331.302, the Board of Supervisors may waive the second and third public hearings and readings if deemed appropriate.

Said hearings and readings will be held at the Woodbury County Courthouse, 620 Douglas Street, Sioux City, Iowa, in the Board of Supervisors’ meeting room in the basement. Persons wishing to participate in the public hearings may attend in person to provide comments.

Copies of the proposed amendments are available for review at the Woodbury County Auditor’s Office, located at the Woodbury County Courthouse, 620 Douglas Street, Sioux City, Iowa. Written comments may be submitted by mail or email to: Woodbury County Community and Economic Development, 6th Floor, Woodbury County Courthouse, 620 Douglas St., Sioux City, IA 51101, or to Daniel Priestley at dpriestley@woodburycountyiowa.gov. For questions, contact Daniel Priestley at 712-279-6609.

All persons wishing to be heard regarding this matter are encouraged to attend and participate in the aforesaid hearing(s).

Item One (1):

CONSIDERATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS FOR THE INCLUSION OF NUCLEAR RELATED USES TO THE WOODBURY COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE NOT LIMITED TO NUCLEAR ENERGY FACILITIES, NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE, AND RELATED USES AND TO ADD PUBLIC NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, AND REORGANIZE THE ORDINANCE

The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors will hold the said public hearings to discuss the potential inclusion of nuclear energy facilities, nuclear waste storage, and/or related uses as land use options in the Woodbury County Zoning Ordinance. The hearings will address various aspects of permitting these facilities, including and not limited to nuclear energy generation, modular nuclear energy systems, nuclear waste storage, and other related nuclear technologies. The Board of Supervisors will consider options such as amending the Land Use Summary Table of Allowed Uses (Section 3.03.4) to designate nuclear energy facilities, nuclear waste storage and/or related uses as either allowed or conditional uses in specific zoning districts such as the General Industrial (GI) Zoning District and prohibitions in others within Woodbury County. It will also address the public notification requirements including and not limited to appropriate notification distances for nuclear related public meetings and hearings.  Additionally, the discussions may include amendments to add new sections related to nuclear energy facilities and nuclear waste storage and/or related uses, add and/or update definitions, renumber articles, sections, and pages, and/or reorganize the content of the Zoning Ordinance as necessary. The goal of the hearings is to gather public input and determine the appropriate ways to address the potential inclusion of nuclear-related land uses in the Woodbury County Zoning Ordinance.