Public Meetings Scheduled for Linn County Zoning Related to Nuclear Energy

Public meetings have been scheduled to discuss Linn County’s proposed zoning regulations for nuclear energy generation and nuclear waste storage facilities.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors will hold the first reading of the proposed ordinance on Monday, with the second reading scheduled for next Wednesday. The third and final reading is scheduled for September 3rd. All meetings will take place at 10 a.m. at the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center, 935 2nd St. SW in Cedar Rapids. 

Each meeting will have an opportunity for public comment at the beginning and end of the meeting. Monday’s meeting will also include a public hearing, which allows the public to provide comments. During these meetings, the Board of Supervisors will consider the updated draft utility-scale ordinance. 

The proposed zoning code outlines application requirements, review procedures, and host community agreement requirements. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) sets and enforces nationwide standards for designing, constructing, and operating nuclear facilities safely. However, local governments retain authority over land-use issues, such as where a facility may be sited, how it fits into surrounding neighborhoods, and what community benefits or impact-mitigation measures are required. The proposed Linn County zoning code focuses on these local considerations while leaving radiological safety to the NRC. The Board of Supervisors has the final decision on zoning regulations for nuclear energy generation and nuclear waste storage facilities in unincorporated Linn County. 

Linn County residents are encouraged to review the draft zoning code on the Linn County website before Monday’s meeting and send their feedback, questions, or concerns to Linn County Planning & Development Director Charlie Nichols by email at Charlie.Nichols@LinnCountyIowa.gov. The feedback received will be presented to the Board of Supervisors at Monday’s meeting.