I am amazed at the issues coming up for county boards and city/township councils these days based on increased technology needs and opportunities. I’ve been writing a lot about local governments learning more data centers. Today, it’s a community that is talking about a satellite ground station facility in their community. Similar to the data center issue, elected officials are dealing with a topic that they might not know well. And as is often the case with technology, the parameters change, often more quickly that the regulations can keep up.
Wright County Commissioners are dealing with a satellite ground station facility. They have concerns, such a proximity to the local airport. They are grappling with understanding how a satellite ground station facility fits into existing plans and zoning as well as rules and ordinances.
I find it helpful to read the proposed resolution (text also pasted below) and then watch the watch the video from the Board meeting (from Sep 16, 2026) to understand the conundrum. There are differences in the understanding or interpretation of existing rules and ordinances how that guidance can help with satellites. You can see that board members are getting frustrated because they don’t have polices in place to help direct their actions.
In the end, the Board decided (3-2 vote) not to pass the resolution but then unanimously voted to send this to the revisor to follow up. Also, any action (from the satellite ground station) would be stopped if station moved more than 500 cubic yards of land alteration, which is the existing rule.
Here’s the Wright County meetings proposed resolution:
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR TO ISSUE A ZONING
ADMINISTRATOR’S OPINION REGARDING THE SATELLITE GROUND STATION FACILITY
UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN ROCKFORD TOWNSHIP
WHEREAS, the Wright County Board of Commissioners has identified concerns regarding public safety, aviation safety, consumer protection, and broadband grant eligibility associated with a satellite ground station facility under construction in Rockford Township, Wright County (the “Ground Station”); and WHEREAS, the Ground Station is located at 2337 5th St SE, Buffalo, Minnesota 55313, within Rockford Township, Wright County; and
WHEREAS, Wright County Zoning Ordinance § 155.025 vests the Zoning Administrator with authority to interpret the County’s zoning ordinance and to issue written opinions regarding the conformity of proposed and ongoing land uses and structures with the ordinance’s requirements;
WHEREAS, the Ground Station is located within the County’s Agricultural (AG) Zoning District, and Wright County Zoning Ordinance § 155.048 sets forth the conditional, interim and permitted uses within the AG District;
WHEREAS, a satellite ground station facility consisting of more than one satellite dish is not listed as a conditional, interim or permitted use under §§ 155.048 or 155.106; and
WHEREAS, the Agricultural (AG) Zoning District’s conditional, interim or permitted uses under Wright County Zoning Ordinance § 155.048 do not constitute a zoning district where commercial or industrial uses are generally permitted and of the installation, maintenance, or use of satellite earth station antennas within the meaning of 47 C.F.R. § 25.104, and the preemption set forth therein does not apply; and
WHEREAS, Wright County Zoning Ordinance § 155.106 permits one satellite dish per property as an accessory use, and the Ground Station, consisting of multiple satellite dishes and associated infrastructure exceeds the scope of the single-dish accessory use permitted under § 155.106; and
WHEREAS, Wright County Zoning Ordinance § 155.048(E) provides that any use not listed as a permitted, conditional, or interim use is prohibited; and
WHEREAS, the Board finds it necessary and appropriate to direct the Zoning Administrator to formally review the Ground Station and immediately issue a written Zoning Administrator’s Opinion addressing its compliance with the County’s zoning ordinance before construction proceeds further;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Wright County Board of Commissioners as follows:
-
The Board finds, based on Wright County Zoning Ordinance § 155.048 that a satellite ground station facility is not listed as a permitted, conditional, or interim use within the Agricultural (AG) Zoning District, and that the Ground Station is therefore a prohibited use within that zoning district.
-
The Zoning Administrator is directed to issue a written Zoning Administrator’s Opinion, consistent with the Board’s findings in this Resolution, determining that the Ground Station is a prohibited use under Wright County Zoning Ordinance § 155.048.
-
The Zoning Administrator is directed to issue, concurrent with or as part of the Zoning Administrator’s Opinion, a stop-work order halting further construction of the Ground Station pending compliance with the Wright County Zoning Ordinance.
-
The Zoning Administrator is directed to issue the Zoning Administrator’s Opinion and stop-work order within two business days of the adoption of this Resolution, and to promptly transmit copies to the Board, Rockford Township, the property owner, and to the company proposing to construct the Ground Station
