A. Purpose: It is the intent of this section to provide for the delivery of electrical power in an efficient and effective manner to the utility's customers allowing for an expedited review process for new power transmission lines to be located within designated transmission corridors within the County's master plan while requiring approval of a conditional use permit for new transmission lines located outside of designated transmission corridors as per Nevada Revised Statutes 278.26503. Power transmission lines are permitted in all zoning districts due to the linear nature of transmission lines either through the design review process if located within a designated utility corridor in the County's master plan or as a conditional use permit.
B. Other Permits: Typically transmission lines cross through a combination of private and public lands in order to tie into other existing or proposed utility infrastructure (e.g., substations or switching stations, connecting transmission lines). If the aboveground utility project is located on land administered by any agency of the Federal government the applicant shall notify the County of its intent to submit an application concurrent with the Federal review and permit application process, and attend a pre-submittal conference with County staff to discuss the project and specific application requirements. Subsequent to the pre-application meeting, the applicant shall submit as the application the appropriate documents related to the environmental review by State and Federal land management agencies. If the applicant is required to apply for a permit to construct under the Utility Environmental Protection Act from the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, then the applicant's NEPA application shall constitute the environmental review documents for the conditional use permit application.
C. Conditional Use Permit: A conditional use permit shall be required for a power transmission line project that is located outside a designated aboveground utility corridor as identified in the public facilities/services component of the Lyon County comprehensive master plan. In addition to the requirements of this chapter the applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed project meets the following criteria:
1. Corridors must not conflict with any existing or planned infrastructure or utility projects;
2. Proximity of the proposed corridor to any school, hospital, or urban residential area with a dwelling density greater than two (2) units per acre must be taken into consideration and setbacks conforming to the requirements of the National Electric Safety Code (NESC) established by easement; and
3. The proposed aboveground utility corridor is in conformance with the goals and policies of the public utilities/services component of the Lyon County comprehensive master plan. (Ord. 603, 11-1-2018)