Re-zoning request brings about questions

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     The Jones County Board of Supervisors approved a re-zoning request during their May 9 meeting, but had some second thoughts after visiting with the neighboring landowner following their decision.

     Ronald “Dean” Wood owns a parcel in Fairview Township where the former Anamosa Furniture Mart sits on County Road E-34. Wood requested the property, 1.17 acres, be re-zoned from R-Residential to C1- Commercial.

     The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the re-zoning.

     Wood is turning the facility into 80-100 indoor, climate-controlled storage units. He explained to the board that the facility would be heated in the winter and air conditioned in the summer.

     “It’s a first for Anamosa,” he said of the indoor storage units. “I have great interest, and a lot of them are already spoken for.”

     Land Use Administrator Michele Lubben said there were no objections to the re-zoning at the April 10 P&Z meeting; however, following that meeting Wood’s neighbor, Tom Byrne, had some questions regarding to the project. Byrne’s property butts up against the storage units. He said due to the change in elevation and drainage, he would like to see a retaining wall built between the two properties. Lubben said that is on the list of work remaining, as well as drainage and grading issues.

     “The drop-off is a concern for me,” said Byrne.

     Wood agreed to the installation of a retaining wall, but said it was not high on his immediate list of priorities.

     The board approved the re-zoning, waiving the stipulation for three readings. Lubben said the property has been used and taxed as commercial since the 1940s.

     “This (the re-zoning) should have been done a long time ago,” she said. “It needs to get done before the project gets going further.”

     With the approval out of the way, though, the board raised a concern with not setting a timeline in which Wood would have to install a retaining wall.

     “It did not come up at P&Z,” remarked Lubben. “It came up over the weekend.”

     The board and Lubben urged Byrne to contact the DNR on the issue to enforce that the installation take place to prevent soil erosion and wash-aways.

     “I’d feel more comfortable with that,” said Byrne.

     “It’s not really fair if he’s (Wood) affecting the land values of his neighbors,” commented Supervisor Wayne Manternach. “They didn’t need protection until he started his work.”

     Lubben explained that as Wood has been working on the parcel, he’s been moving dirt back and forth, changing the grade.

     “At the P&Z meeting,” she said, “he (Wood) didn’t say anything about changing the grade. I don’t think he realized he’d have to add material. (This issue) wasn’t intentional.”

In other county business:

     • The board set a public hearing to amend the Fiscal Year 2017 county budget. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 30, at 9:15 a.m.

     The board approved an Employer of Record contract with Sherri Hunt, the Cedar/Jones ECI (Early Childhood Iowa) director. The approval also designates a member of the ECI Board as a liaison to Jones County, reporting to the board of supervisors.

     The board approved a Secondary Road setback variance request from Garry Nissen for his property located on Washington Street in Fairview. Nissen requested a variance for an addition he plans to build into his garage.

     County Engineer Derek Snead told the board that he recommended approval of the variance because the addition would not affect sight distance or pose as a traffic hazard.

     The board approved the plans, notice to bidders, and a landowner agreement for the upcoming Dales Ford Road grading project.

     Snead said Secondary Roads is working with three different landowners for permission to utilize their property throughout the course of the project.

     Aside from grading the roadway, the ditches on both sides of the road will be improved as well.

     “When all is said and done, Jones County will have nice ditches and nice roadway,” commented Snead. “We are not changing the alignment of the roadway.”

     The engineer’s estimate for the project is $55,000 to $60,000. Snead said he budgeted $75,000 for the project to be on the safe side. The project will go out for bids.

     Dales Ford Road is a dead-end road, so Snead said they do not plan on establishing a detour. The project is expected to be let during the first week in June, with a late start date of early in August and 20 working days.

     “It’ll be done over the summer before school starts,” advised Snead.

     The board approved seeking quotes to prepare a plat of survey on property located on John Drive in Monticello for the proposed new JETS facility. Sealed proposals are due to the board of supervisors no later than Monday, May 22, at 4:30 p.m.

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