Suggestion made to change the way the County Planning & Zoning Commission operates

Decorah area resident Bob Watson and Steve Mc Carger have presented county officials with proposed revisions to Winneshiek County's Zoning Ordinance.

There are two major changes proposed.  The first would set term limits for Planning & Zoning Commission members of "not more than two consecutive five-year terms."  The second change involves giving public notice of hearings on any conditional use permit application to property owners within a one mile radius of the proposed project.  Currently notices are mailed letters if they are within 500 feet of the proposed project if the project is in a rural area and within 100 feet of the proposed project if the project is in a "developed area."

Watson told supervisors Monday the proposals are being made in the interested of "fairness and balance and public input."  He said the proposed new language would "make the requirements clear, explcit and mandatory."

The proposed language will now be sent on to the County Planning & Zoning Commission for their discussion.