At the conclusion of this year’s legislative session, as President of the Nebraska Association of County Officials, I established a working committee to develop a Land Use Permitting Toolkit and GIS Dashboard aimed at supporting county board members as they navigate land use development considerations related to energy, livestock, and broadband projects. In response to legislative changes — including new permit approval “shot clock” timelines and expanded education requirements for county boards, planning commissions, and county attorneys — the committee has been meeting regularly to shape toolkit content, build datasets for the GIS dashboard, and provide recommendations for education platforms and certification tracking.
To continue these conversations and support county officials across Nebraska, NACO will host a Land Use Permitting Forum on June 3. The forum will provide an interactive discussion focused on updates to LB 663, while also exploring best practices and highlighting the challenges and successes counties are experiencing throughout the permitting process.
