The Duchesne County Planning Commission is scheduled to meet next week concerning the “Large Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Act” passed in 2021 during the Utah general legislative session and the proposal to amend Duchesne County’s zoning ordinance. The Act states that “The legislative body of a county desiring to restrict siting of large concentrated animal feeding operations shall adopt a county large concentrated animal feeding operation land use ordinance in accordance with this part by no later than February 1, 2022.” According to the planning commission’s proposal, “Duchesne County desires to regulate such operations due to the detrimental impacts such land uses can have on the community. The Act requires the County to establish geographic areas of sufficient size to support large concentrated animal feeding operations and establish procedures for an applicant to follow when seeking to site such a facility. The staff proposed a geographic area for consideration and has proposed that large concentrated animal feeding operations be processed as a conditionally permitted use in that area. The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on December 1st to consider the proposed ordinance. The ordinance has since been reviewed by the Utah Dept. of Agriculture and Food and found to be acceptable. The Planning Commission will meet on January 5th and the County Commissioners are scheduled to open their public hearing and receive the Planning Commission recommendation on January 10th at 1:30 PM.
