Paul Scott comment: "Monday night's Planning & Zoning Commission vote doesn't matter as much as you might think"

"Heading into Monday night's meeting of the Decorah Planning & Zoning Commission, there are a few things you should know, but none of them more important than the fact that it is the Decorah City Council, not the Decorah Planning & Zoning Commission, which will decide whether to allow Menard's to build a new store in the floodplain in Freeport.

There's a good chance there will be a big crowd at City Hall Monday night and lots of comments from the public (if public comments are allowed).  When it comes time for P & Z members to vote, I'm guessing that some of them will mention that the Iowa DNR has granted a permit to Menard's to proceed with filling in the floodplain.  In effect, the argument will be "It's out of our hands."  That statement is a way for P & Z Commission members to argue they're powerless to vote otherwise.  That's not the case, but it could provide cover for voting in favor of Menard's.  Also providing cover is the knowledge that the P & Z Commission makes a recommendation to the Decorah City Council and not a decision on whether Menard's builds in Freeport or doesn't.

Yes, the vote Monday night will be important and yes, decorahnews.com will report on the meeting.  But Monday night's vote won't be the end of the discussion of whether Menard's should be allowed to build where it has proposed building."