Dubuque County zoning commission unanimously recommends two rezones and two plats

The Dubuque County Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of two rezoning requests and two minor plats at its meeting, forwarding those recommendations to the Board of Supervisors where applicable.

Staff presented zoning case 01-01-26, in which applicants Julie Casey Revocable Trust and Luke Casey sought to rezone about 1.99 acres from A1 agricultural to A2 agricultural/residential to separate the farmhouse and farm buildings from the larger cultivated acreage. After a staff presentation and comments from surveyor Dave Schneider, the commission moved and voted to recommend approval. No public opposition was recorded.

The commission also recommended approval of zoning case 01-02-26, filed by Ronald Parker Jr., to rezone 15.115 acres from R1 rural residential to R2 single-family residential to allow a two-lot minor subdivision (Parker Addition). Staff noted Lot 2 is positioned outside the mapped 100-year floodplain while access to Lot 2 would cross an area identified on county floodplain maps and could require a floodplain development permit handled by the Watershed Department. The commission voted to forward a recommendation of approval to the supervisors.

As part of the same meeting the commission approved two minor plats. Parker Addition (15.115 acres along Massey Station Road) will create Lot 1 (12.26 acres, existing dwelling) and Lot 2 (2.85 acres, proposed future home). The commission also approved the Hirsch Place 2nd Edition plat (about 4.44 acres along North Cascade Road) with staff noting Lot 1 will remain managed timber and is not currently buildable for a new residence until a required 66-foot access easement can be secured; the applicant requested retaining a 30-foot ingress/egress easement for the existing lane and asked for a variance.

All recorded motions passed by unanimous roll call (commissioners present voted yes). Staff repeatedly emphasized that any work within the mapped floodplain — including grading, filling or adding an access across the 100-year floodplain — may require a floodplain development permit administered by the county Watershed Department and that building permits will be checked to ensure structures are not placed inside regulated flood hazard areas. Staff also noted the county's low-volume local roads ordinance could be triggered when a common access serves three or more homes, which may require a named road, a minimum easement width and an appropriate surfacing standard.

Next steps: the commission's approvals are advisory recommendations to the Board of Supervisors (for rezoning matters) or procedural approvals for minor plats; affected applicants will proceed to the supervisors or apply for any required floodplain development permits or building permits as necessary.