Cattle feeder seeks Doniphan zoning change

Unless changes are made, a new livestock waste control facility will be built along village limits on the north side of Doniphan.

The Environmental Protection Agency has mandated an upgraded waste facility for the Robb Feedyard. The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has approved the design.

But regulations, including local zoning regulations, dictate where the facility can be located.

"Our hands are tied on where we can put this thing," Robb said. "Now we're forced to put this on the city limits."

But Robb wants the waste facility to be moved away from Doniphan. He's seeking a zoning change to make it happen. The Regional Planning Commission will consider the proposal during a 6 p.m. meeting Wednesday at Grand Island City Hall, 100 E. First St.

"We want a change that allows the city to give us a conditional use permit to move this thing farther away -- really where it should be -- as long as it doesn't encroach on other houses."

Robb's proposal is for the Village of Doniphan to amend its zoning regulations to allow existing livestock waste control facilities to be relocated in TA transitional agricultural zoned land by conditional use permit.

Allowing the waste control facilities by conditional use, allows the village board to put conditions on the permit, said Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity.

Those conditions could include a limit on the size of the operation or the number of animals allowed to utilize the facility. There could also be a condition that makes the permit null and void if the operation expands.

Doniphan village limits are surrounded by TA transitional ag land, Nabity said. It was approved in 2004 when the village updated its comprehensive plan and wanted to protect the village from land uses on surrounding undeveloped farmland one mile outside of village limits.

Nabity supports the proposed change.

"He wants to go farther away from town," Nabity saidl, noting that separation from a waste facility and village limits is a good thing.

"These changes would not permit new operations to be developed, or give the village board an additional ability to permit new or expanded new livestock operations in zoning districts that don't allow them," he said.

The planning commission's recommendation will advance to the Doniphan Village Board on Aug.18.

In other action Wednesday, the planning commission will consider boundaries and a budget for the newly-created Second Street Business Improvement District.

It will also review the five-year budget for the re-created South Locust Business Improvement District from Highway 34 north to Stolley Park Road.