Could Decorah Business Park parcel be used for a new Menards store?

Many speakers at public hearings into the proposed new Menards store in Decorah have suggested they'd rather see Menards build a new store on property in the Decorah Business Park instead.

Because of the discussion about the property, Winneshiek County Development Executive Director Stephanie Fromm has presented city officials with information about the property, which is owned by Decorah Jobs:

--SIZE: The parcel (outlined in light blue) is 27.2 acres.  Fromm says not all of the property could be developed, since there is an area of a few acres in the rear of the parcel which has a creek bed.  The parcel on Old Stage Road sought by Menards as the site of its new store is 24 acres, with part of that acreage needed for a retention pond.

--ACCESS: Fromm says WCDI has already had conversations with the Iowa Department of Transportation about the County W42/Millenium Road intersection with Highway 9 because of the traffic heading to Toppling Goliath and other businesses in the Decorah Business Park.  Any development of the 27.2 acre Decorah Business Park property would also require the purchase of around 2 acres of IDOT-owned property along the shoulder of Highway 9, to allow an access road to be build to serve the parcel.

--ANNEXATION:  Any retail development of the 27.2 acre parcel would require the property be annexed to the city in order to get city utilities to the parcel.  Fromm says work has already begun on an annexation petition.