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Benton County approves three rural land‑use changes for property owners
Summary
The Board approved land‑use changes for three parcels — 5.47 acres (Noe), 1 acre (Haerther) and 2.5 acres (Grant) — finding each request consistent with Benton County’s Agricultural Land Use Preservation Ordinance; required driveway, septic and well permits were noted.
Benton County supervisors approved three separate land‑use change requests on June 2 that will allow non‑agricultural uses on small parcels in rural areas.
At 9:15 a.m. the board considered an application from Mark and Kimberly Noe to convert 5.47 acres in the SW¼ of the SE¼ of Section 7‑86‑10 from agricultural to non‑agricultural use. Presenter Matt Even said the parcel has a CSR (Corn Suitability Rating) of 73 but has not been in agricultural production since the 1930s. The board heard that Secondary Roads approved the existing driveway and that new septic and well permits will be required for the proposed shed and RV pad. The board closed the public hearing and voted to approve the change.
At 9:30 a.m. Jordan and Jana Haerther requested a change for one acre in the SW¼ of the NW¼ of Section 22‑83‑9 to allow a dog‑grooming shop. Even told the board the area’s CSR is 90 (high‑quality farmland) though historically only about one‑quarter of the area was used for crops. Secondary Roads approved the driveway; county staff noted that wastewater permitting for non‑domestic waste (dog‑grooming waste) would fall to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources if required. No public opposition was recorded and the board approved the land‑use change.
Later in the morning the board considered Ben Grant’s request to change 2.5 acres in the SE¼ of the NE¼ of Section 4‑84‑9 for a single‑family dwelling. The parcel’s CSR is 62; Secondary Roads approved the driveway and county staff confirmed septic and private‑well permits will be required. The board found the request consistent with applicable Benton County land‑preservation policies and approved the change.
Why it matters: Each approval removes a small acreage from agricultural designation, allowing residential or small commercial use and triggering requirements (driveway review, septic and well permits, and—if applicable—wastewater jurisdiction by the Iowa DNR). The decisions were administrative approvals after technical review; no contested public comment was recorded.
The board closed the hearings and approved all three requests; procedural approvals and permit requirements were noted on the record.
