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Planning commission approves conditional-use floodplain permit for Buffalo Creek bridge replacement
Summary
The Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission approved conditional-use permit PC25-nine for a Buffalo Creek bridge replacement on Burlingham Road, noting DNR approval and an Army Corps condition requiring purchase of 0.48 wetland credits before construction.
At its meeting, the Linn County Planning and Zoning Commission approved conditional-use floodplain permit PC25-nine for a bridge replacement on Buffalo Creek at Burlingham Road.
Staff presenter Mike Turtinger told the commission the project, owned by Linn County, involves roughly 3 acres of excavation in FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area and replaces a 14-by-110-foot iron truss with a 30-by-150-foot concrete slab and a slight realignment of the roadway. “We are recommending approval, subject to conditions,” Turtinger said during the presentation.
Turtinger said DNR approval and an engineer’s no-rise certificate have been obtained. He explained an engineer’s no-rise certificate “confirms that the project proposed is not going to raise, elevate the waters, the hundred year, probably the 1% … their base flood elevation upstream,” meaning the work is not expected to increase upstream flood levels.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the project with one condition: Linn County must purchase 0.48 compensatory wetland credits from an approved mitigation bank before construction begins. Turtinger said that requirement addresses the project’s impact to adjacent wetland areas.
The chair opened and closed public comment without speakers. A motion to approve the conditional-use floodplain case PC25-nine was made, seconded and carried by roll call: DuBois — aye; Coontz — aye; Sadler — aye; Kratz — aye. The transcript indicates the motion and second were recorded in the meeting audio but does not clearly identify the mover and seconder in the minutes.
Turtinger noted the project will not alter the river channel and said the new bridge will have a slightly higher deck for improved flood protection. He also compared the work to a prior Mattsville bridge project and said the current structure was not listed on the National Register, so no historic mitigation was required.
Next steps recorded in the meeting: Linn County must secure the mitigation credits before construction, and the conditional-use case was listed to go before the Board of Adjustment on 2025-09-24 (as noted earlier in the agenda).
