Scott County panel approves rezoning to allow farmstead split while retaining agricultural density

The Scott County Planning Advisory Commission on March 10 approved a rezoning that will let the owner split the existing farmstead from a larger agricultural parcel while keeping the property’s agricultural density limits.

Nathan Haller, associate planner for Scott County, told commissioners the applicant sought to rezone roughly 129.03 acres in Section 23 of Belle Plaine Township from A1 Agricultural Preservation to A3 Agricultural Preservation Density so the existing homestead could be separated by administrative subdivision. Haller said the change would allow the homestead to be split while the remaining acreage would continue to be limited to the county’s one-home-per-40-acres density rule.

The rezoning matters to neighbors because A3 permits smaller parcel sizes for homesteads in some circumstances; however, Haller emphasized the rezoning does not increase the total number of building eligibilities on the property. "You’ll still be limited to three building eligibilities across the entirety of this 129 acres—the farmstead plus two additional building eligibilities," Haller said.

Jim Peterson, a real estate broker representing the buyer David Westrom, told the commission the buyer’s immediate intent is to maintain the land in agriculture and to split off the existing homesite (about 4.5 acres) for resale and rehabilitation. "His intent at this time is not to develop the property further but to have the option to sell the homestead later without redoing rezoning," Peterson said.

County staff recorded an email from a nearby resident, Nick Fowler, opposing rezoning because he understood it could lead to smaller lots; Haller said that under A3 rules future smaller lots would still be limited by the property’s existing building eligibilities and that any smaller-lot proposals would return to the commission for public review.

The Scott County Highway Department advised that the administrative subdivision will require dedicating additional right-of-way on Church Avenue (County Highway 7) from 50 feet to 75 feet for the homestead parcel and warned that any future subdivisions must take access from local roads rather than the county highway.

Commissioner Watson made the motion to approve the rezoning; the motion carried with a second and with all commissioners present voting in favor. The commission noted the Belle Plaine Township board recommended approval on March 4.

The decision preserves the property’s agricultural density while allowing the current homesite to be separated administratively; any future proposals to create additional sub-40-acre parcels must come back to the county for review and public notice.