County to Establish New Industrial Zoning Districts

Churchill County is poised to overhaul its industrial zoning code with an amended ordinance aimed at providing clearer development standards and guiding future growth.

The Planning and Public Works Department began work on the ordinance in March, collaborating with the Churchill County Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners. Joint workshops in April and June helped refine the proposal. Officials said the update is designed to simplify the zoning code, support economic development, and create a more structured approach to managing industrial activity countywide.

Under the revised ordinance, the county’s single industrial zoning designation would be replaced with three distinct categories: I-1 (light industrial), I-2 (medium industrial), and I-3 (heavy industrial). Each district reflects the intensity of allowed uses, helping planners and property owners better align projects with surrounding land uses.

In addition to restructuring the zoning districts, the ordinance introduces new tools and procedures. Key changes include:

• Conditional Zoning Permits: These permits allow property owners to pursue uses under certain conditions, with public hearings and neighbor notifications required.
• Power Generation Facilities: The code now encompasses all types of power generation—renewable and non-renewable—classified as either minor or major generators.
• Hazardous Materials: Properties handling explosives or highly hazardous substances must now secure a Conditional Use Permit.
• Administrative Processes: The ordinance standardizes notice procedures, requiring notifications to be sent to at least 30 neighboring properties. It also eliminates administrative special use permits in favor of more transparent public processes.
• Zoning Review: A new process authorizes uses that already comply with ordinance standards without requiring a full public hearing.

The ordinance also clarifies definitions for chemical manufacturing, explosive testing, and other industrial activities. Several new land-use tables spell out what uses are permitted or restricted within each district.

Planning commissioners unanimously approved the ordinance during their Aug. 13 meeting. It now moves to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration, with a first reading set for Sept. 4 and a second reading and possible adoption scheduled for Sept. 17.

The proposal is formally titled Ordinance Bill 2025-A, Ordinance 32 Amending Title 16 of the Churchill County Code.