Board approves amendments to Dows Farm AgriCommunity governing plan, including wider garages and driveway change

Cedar Rapids — The Linn County Board of Supervisors on March 26 approved amendments to the governing plan for the Dows Farm AgriCommunity, a developer-led residential project, after staff summarized the changes and supervisors discussed several design details.

Charlie Daniels, planning and development staff, told the board the amendments respond to the project’s move from a conceptual master plan to specific lots. Key changes include increasing maximum garage width from 22 feet to 24 feet and increasing maximum driveway width from 18 feet to 22 feet for affected parcels. Daniels also noted proposed adjustments to roof-pitch requirements for certain roof elements and a change that would allow three types of vinyl siding in addition to engineered wood siding.

Daniels said he estimated most amendments carried low potential impact but highlighted the roof-pitch and siding changes as having larger visual or design implications. Supervisors discussed the changes and several said they were persuaded the adjustments were reasonable given current construction realities; one supervisor noted that larger garages and driveways reflect residents’ need for more storage and vehicles.

After brief discussion, a supervisor moved to approve the amendments and a second was given. The motion passed by voice vote. “Motion carries,” the chair said.

Daniels told the board the developer had refined lot-level design and cost estimates and had consulted county staff in drafting the amendments. The board did not amend the developers’ proposals during the meeting.

The planning office will issue documents implementing the amended governing plan and the chair was authorized to sign the accompanying resolution.