Board denies request for second driveway access onto South Shore Drive

The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors voted to deny a developer request for a second driveway access onto South Shore Drive after hearing recommendations from planning and the county engineer.

Tom, speaking for the zoning department, told the board that planning and zoning reviewed a rezoning last year from single-family to multifamily and had recommended a single access point for the parcel. "We always want to limit conflict points on any busy road," Tom said, explaining why the planning office opposed the second access. County Engineer Brandon added that the county has consistently tried to consolidate driveways on South Shore to avoid vehicles backing into traffic and other hazards. He said the county has allowed two entrances only when a U-shaped driveway makes ingress and egress safer.

A supervisor moved to deny the request, citing the earlier public hearing and the planning and engineering recommendations; the motion was seconded and carried on aye votes. The board did not open the item as a public hearing at this meeting and relied on the prior zoning hearing record. The denial preserves the single-access recommendation from the earlier review and enforces the engineering concern about limiting conflict points on South Shore Drive.

The board's action ends the request as presented; staff were not directed to reopen the matter for additional public hearings at this meeting.