Where will future growth occur in Decorah?

The Decorah Planning and Zoning Commission has been working on an update of the city's comprehensive plan for over two years now.  While the commission is getting close to wrapping up its work, it still faces what might be one of the toughest questions it will face--where should future growth in Decorah occur?

In the previous update of the comprehensive plan, the Planning & Zoning Commission created zoning maps which showed the commission's recommendations about where industrial development, resident development and commercial development should occur.  City officials say the development plan is based on the utility infrastructure, since facilities like wastewater treatment, street systems and water supply are important in determining where development can occur.

The issue will be raised again at the Planning & Zoning Commission's next meeting.  At this point, public input meetings on the suggested comprehensive plan are still on hold since the commission wants first to develop the zoning maps.