Gage County Planning and Zoning Commission okays commercial greenhouse project

BEATRICE - The Gage County Planning Commission is recommending permit approval for a commercial greenhouse operation, east of Beatrice.
The commission held a short public hearing Thursday night on the permit application sought by Eric Jobman….section 28 of Logan Township along East Hoyt Road.

"We're going to come off our main driveway at 66th and Hoyt Road. Since I'm on the township board, I talked to my other two township members and they signed a paper saying it would not be an issue, because I didn't want to override them. It wouldn't be an issue to use our driveway as an entrance for it."

The operation would be about five miles east of Beatrice. Jobman and his wife have purchased a 96-by-28 greenhouse for the enterprise….starting with a single unit but perhaps expanding later on. He spoke about what would be raised there.

"Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers....might even start in with some watermelons. We'll start them as seed and raise them. We might also buy some from a company that has already started them...and later resell them."

The operation required a permit because county regulations require one in the Ag-one zone in which the property is located. The commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of the permit, which now goes to the Gage County Board for a public hearing, March 22nd.  There was no other public comment during the commission hearing on the project, Thursday night. 

Gage County Zoning Administrator Lisa Wiegand says another special use permit application will be coming before the commission, soon. That’s a proposed addition to the anhydrous operation at the agronomy site near Filley. That will be considered by the commission, March 28th.