(Spirit Lake)– A proposed development on the northeast side of Big Spirit Lake reamins in limbo following a public hearing the board of supervisors held Tuesday evening on a rezoning request and preliminary plat for Sandbar Farm. Instead of taking action on the matter, the supervisors voted unanimously to continue the hearing to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 18th.
Kirk Qwinn, a Boone attorney representing the Yarns, told the crowd Don and Nancy Yarns have always been environmentalists, and that they’ve included rain gardens, bio cells and buffer strips in their plans, and would take steps to protect as much as possible one of the last remaining stands of bulrushes on the Iowa Great Lakes.
Opponents again argued that isn’t enough–saying the bulrushes need to stay just as they are…completely untouched.
Berkely Bedell of Spirit Lake suggested efforts be made to purchase the land in order to keep it from being developed. Marion Conover of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says that agency would be willing to work with other groups in making an offer. There was no indication Tuesday evening from the Yarns or their attorney if they’d be open to that.
