Supervisors reject rezoning of land along the Upper Iowa River

Winneshiek County supervisors have voted 3-1 against a request to rezone property along the Upper Iowa River northwest of Bluffton. 

Wayne Mashek asked that the property between 3294 Chimney Rock Road and 3306 Chimney Rock Road be changed from an agricultural zoning category to R-2 residential.

Supervisors Dean Thompson, Mark Kuhn and John Beard cited the county's bluffland protection policies as the reason for their vote to deny the rezoning.  Beard said he was worried about setting a precedent that would lead to other rezoning requests.  He said the county board had included bluffland protection policies in the county's comprehensive zoning plan for valid reason--and that those reasons are still valid.

County Board Chair John Logsdon was the lone "yes" vote.  County supervisor Floyd Ashbacher was absent.