Iroquois County’s Policy and Procedure Committee reviewed a zoning text amendment at its Oct. 25 meeting that would let the county zoning administrator issue a building permit for a temporary meteorological (MET) tower for up to three years, with an annual fee of $5,000.

The county attorney, Adam Brando, urged limiting the permit to A1 agricultural ground and not to include A2 zoning because "we're really taking away adjacent property owners' rights when we give a building right out without their participation in the decision," which would be mitigated by requiring certain uses in A2 to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals. Brando said he "strongly agree[d]" with limiting the permit where adjacencies would reduce neighbors’ participation in land-use decisions.

Committee members discussed the duration and fee structure: the permit would be valid for up to three years and would require renewal each year with the $5,000 payment. Members indicated that if a MET tower were proposed near Belmont Acres — an example offered in committee discussion — the project should be referred to the Zoning Board of Appeals if adjacent property owners’ rights are implicated.

Committee members signaled they would forward the proposed text amendment to the full county board for a vote at the upcoming meeting. No full-board decision was made during the committee session.