Menard's rezoning application rejected by Planning & Zoning Commission

The Decorah Planning & Zoning Commission has voted 4-3 against a request by Menard's to rezone property along Old Stage Road from "floodplain" to "Shopping Center Commercial."

Menard, Inc. proposed building a 209,500 square foot store, with 140,000 square feet of the building to be dedicated to sales space and the rest to be dedicated to storage of large items, office space and other uses.  Menard's site plan calls for a 14 foot tall racking system on the edge of the yard that also serves as a fence around the property to limit noise and light and prevent theft.

Monday night's discussion featured a lengthy discussion between P & Z Chair Brian Cook, who supported the rezoning, and P & Z member Joel Zook, who opposed it.

Cook cited the Iowa Flood Center study of the impact of the proposed Menard's, which said it would increase water levels just an inch and a half.  But Zook worried about the cumulative effect of developing parcels of the floodplain one at a time.  Commission member Llew Jenkins, who cast the deciding vote, said "We created a business park located outside the floodplain--and that's where Menard's should build."

While the Planning & Zoning Commission voted down the rezoning, it approved the preliminary development agreement and preliminary site plan. 

The Decorah City Council will cast the deciding votes on the Menard's applications.

There will be three parts to Monday night's meeting at City Hall: a request from Menard's that the property be rezoned from F-1 Floodplain to either C-1 Highway Commercial or C-4 Shopping Center Commercial; a request from Menard's for preliminary approval of the development agreement; and a request from Menard's for preliminary site plan review.