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Okoboji commissioners split on lakeshore stone at 5209 Lake Shore Drive; vote recommends approval
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a lakeshore landscaping plan at 5209 Lake Shore Drive despite objections from one commissioner who said limestone is not native and does not reflect the ordinance's original intent; the motion passed 3-1 with one abstention.
The City of Okoboji Planning and Zoning Commission on March 30 recommended approval of a lakeshore landscaping application at 5209 Lake Shore Drive after a contentious discussion over whether limestone meets the city's definition of acceptable stone.
City Administrator Michael Meyers told the commission that the City Engineer’s only comment was that a wall behind the existing boathouse exceeds four feet in height; Mat Hanson said part of that wall is buried and that the boathouse itself was not part of the permit application. Commissioner Barb Mendenhall objected to the use of limestone, saying the ordinance calls for native stone and that she did not consider limestone native to the area: “I do not care for the use of limestone,” she said, adding that she believes the proposal does not reflect the intent of Okoboji’s lakeshore ordinances.
Mendenhall asked why manufactured systems such as geoweb were acceptable elsewhere but not in this case; Hanson said it was the property owner’s preference and emphasized engineering constraints, and Commissioner Barry Nadler noted that similar stone types have been approved previously. Meyers read the municipal code definitions for stone aloud to provide context, including the passage that describes stone as “boulders, cobbles or pebbles native to the region of northwest Iowa” and that manufactured stone may be permitted if made to resemble native stone.
After debate, Commissioner Nadler moved to recommend approval and Commissioner John McMahon seconded. Commissioners McMahon, Nadler and Chairperson Doris Welle voted AYE; Commissioner Mendenhall voted NAY and Commissioner Matt Lanfear abstained. The motion passed 3-1 with one abstention.
Commissioners discussed whether the ordinance language should be amended to clarify allowable materials; Michael Meyers said the city has revised definitions in the past to accommodate engineerable solutions and that an ordinance amendment would be needed if the commission wanted to restrict materials further. The commission did not adopt an amendment at the meeting.
