In order to be given the right of first refusal on the former proposed Menards property, the City of Decorah would have to agree to rezone the property C-4 Shopping Center Commercial District

Members of the Decorah Planning & Zoning Commission will meet at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall to discuss the property in the Freeport floodplain which previously was proposed as the site of a new Menard's store.

The owners of the property--Allan and Patricia Dahlen--have proposed that they would give the City of Decorah the right to match any offer made for the property, a so-called "Right of First Refusal."

The Dahlens have submitted a proposed Right of First Refusal document to the City of Decorah, which is what the members of the city's Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss when they hold their working session Tuesday afternoon.  Because this meeting is labeled as a "work session," no action can be taken.

One part of the proposed legal agreement between the Dahlens and the City of Decorah which is likely to be discussed is that, in exchange for giving the City of Decorah a right of first refusal on the purchase of the property, the City of Decorah would have to approve rezoning the property from F-1 Floodplain to C-4 Shopping Center Commercial District.  That change would take the property out of the floodplain district and allow it to be developed commercially.  As part of the change, the city's Board of Adjustment would have to approve a special exception for placing fill on the property.

A proposed agreement between the Dahlens and the City of Decorah has been prepared by City Attorney John Anderson.  The document will be the focus of Tuesday afternoon's work session at City Hall.