(Spirit Lake)– A controversial rezoning request on the northeast side of Big Spirit Lake is about to come to a head.
The Dickinson county board of supervisors Tuesday evening will hold a public hearing on a Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation to rezone land owend by Don and Nancy Yarns. The supervisors are expected to act on the recommendation following the hearing, which starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Dickinson County Community Building in Spirit Lake.
The rezoning, if approved, would pave the way for a residential development. Environmentalists fear it would destroy the last remaining stand of bulrushes in the Iowa Great Lakes…an aquatic plant known for its ability to filter water and provide fish habitat. The DNR has gone on record being opposed to any rezoning.
Kirk Qwinn, an attorney for the Yarns, says they’ve included low-impact development components in their plans to lessen any possible impact on the lake. Qwuinn added it isn’t fair to hold the Yarns’ responsible for protecting water quality in light of all the other developments that were allowed over the years on the shores of the Iowa Great Lakes.
Qwinn made his comments at a June 21st meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission. The P & Z voted six-to-one at that meeting to recommend the board of supervisors approve the rezoning proposal.
