decorahnews.com exclusive: Is Menard's heading up the hill??

The acreage purchased by Decorah Jobs is highlighted with a red border (Photo courtesy of Beacon Software)

(News analysis by decorahnews.com's Paul Scott):

You won't hear anything on this topic from Menard's officials and local officials in Decorah are wisely keeping quiet as well.  But the news that Decorah Jobs has purchased 27 acres of land from Larry Orvella that are right across from the Decorah Airport probably means Menard's will be interested in using the property for its new Decorah store.

Here are the signs that this is the case:

• Sources tell decorahnews.com this was one of the parcels of land Menard's realty department staffers looked at before they announced they would build in the Freeport floodplain.
• In order to build in the Freeport floodplain, Menard's would have to get permissions from the Iowa DNR and from the US Army Corps of Engineers.  DNR sources this week told decorahnews.com they have not received a joint floodplain fill application.
• The news from Decorah Jobs mentioned that the property had traffic counts ranging from 5,000-7,000 vehicles per day--something that would be important information for Menard's
• Sources tell decorahnews.com that the Orvella property has enough room that development could include an access road off Highway 9 that would separate Menard's traffic from other traffic.
• By using the Orvella property, Menard's would avoid public protests about floodplain development and would instead be able to open a new store on schedule.
• Finally, it is likely that a site plan from Menard's that called for their store to be located across from the Decorah Airport instead of in the Freeport floodplain would win quick approval from the Decorah Planning & Zoning Commission and the Decorah City Council.  An informal count of the probable votes by members of these governmental groups prior to the November election showed approval of a site on the flood plain was unlikely."