Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rezoning Dreyhos topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning panel rezones Dreyhos property to RR2, approves three‑lot final plat to move buildable areas out of floodplain
Summary
The commission approved rezoning PR25-0002 and final plat PR25-0004 for James Dreyhos at Big Creek Road to consolidate split zoning and provide buildable area outside mapped floodplain; neighbor raised concerns about FEMA maps and flood behavior.
The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission on April 21 approved rezoning PR25-0002 and the associated three‑lot final plat PR25-0004 for property owned by James Dreyhos near the 1500 block of Big Creek Road. The commission recorded aye votes for approval on both motions.
Staff planner Brad Weiland told the commission the project covers 58.97 acres and proposed three lots: Lot 1 at 36.49 acres, Lot 2 at 14.31 acres and Lot 3 at 8.17 acres. Weiland said the rezoning would change two parcels currently split between RR1 (rural residential 1-acre) and AG (agricultural) to a single RR2 (two‑acre residential) zoning to avoid split districts on individual lots and to align with the county comprehensive plan and the city of Bertram’s future development guidance.
Weiland said the lot-line adjustments were intended to create more buildable area outside the mapped 100‑year floodplain; because the change does not increase the number of buildable lots, the plat is not required to meet the county’s minimum levels of service. He noted that there is no county‑maintained hard‑surface road within a quarter mile, which technically affects level‑of‑service calculations but was not a barrier to this rezoning.
A neighbor contacted staff before the hearing to say observed high water in past floods extended beyond the mapped floodplain. “We have to go by what the map says,” Weiland said in response to that concern. Surveyor and engineer Mike Brain of Brain Engineering told the commission that FEMA floodplain lines are based on available elevation and hydrologic data and represent a modeled estimate. “FEMA has made a guess of where they think it's at by where the lines are at,” Brain said, adding that additional site‑specific surveying and, if necessary, elevation or fill can be used to meet building rules. He said there is buildable ground on Lot 3 although the exact usable area will require further evaluation before development.
Staff also reported that county public health does not foresee septic limitations for the proposed build sites outside the 100‑year floodplain. With that context, commissioners moved and seconded approval of the rezoning and the final plat; the secretary recorded aye votes. The rezoning and final plat will proceed to the Linn County Board of Supervisors for the next step of review.
