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Worth County approves rezoning of parcel near casino; commission flags ordinance discrepancy
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Summary
The Worth County Board accepted a zoning commission recommendation to rezone Parcel 0229376013 (Juleseth property) from agricultural to light industrial to accommodate an auction yard, while the commission warned the county about conflicting ordinance language that could allow salvage operations without conditions.
The Worth County Board of Supervisors voted to accept the Zoning Commission’s recommendation to rezone Parcel 0229376013 (the Juleseth property, north of the casino) from agricultural to light industrial, a change the petitioner said would allow an auction yard and related uses.
Jeff Gorbble, presenting the Zoning Commission’s report, told the board the commission held a public hearing on April 6 and recommended light-industrial designation to give the petitioner flexibility for auction-related uses. Gorbble said the commission advised the petitioner to coordinate with the county health department and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on water, sewer and stormwater issues and to provide site plans before parking requirements are finalized.
Gorbble also called attention to conflicting language in the county zoning ordinance: one section appears to prohibit junk, salvage and scrap metal yards in the light-industrial district while another allows parts wrecking and storage. “There’s kind of a discrepancy of language in the ordinance,” he said, and recommended the board consider conditions to prevent salvage operations if it approves the rezoning.
The petitioner and an associated speaker told the board the parcel has about 25 acres and asserted there would be ample room for parking and staging for auctions. One speaker stated, “I assure you there will be no salvage yard,” and described plans to use overflow space across the road if needed.
Board members discussed access, existing county right-of-way and likely permitting steps; the zoning commission and staff said specific parking and site requirements would be addressed when the petitioner submits site plans. The board approved the rezoning by voice vote and asked staff to follow up on recommended conditions that would explicitly prohibit parts wrecking and storage if the board wants to prevent salvage-yard uses.
The rezoning will take effect under the county’s normal ordinance implementation procedures; the zoning commission said it plans to reconvene separately to address the ordinance language discrepancy more broadly.
