KALONA Meeting Oct. 27, the Kalona Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission recommended to the Kalona City Council that it approve a rezoning from A-1 agriculture to R-1 residential six additional large acreage lots in Part 2 and 3 of Incline Grove of Southtown Subdivision as requested by Moyna Holdings, Elkader.

The rezoning requests includes Incline Grove Part 2, lots 9 and 10, which are 1.70 acreage lots west of Incline Grove Lot 8 north of Vista Drive.

Part 3 includes lots 11-14 (2.5 acres each) south of Vista Drive.

All six lots will have city water but will not have city sewer service.

The P&Z Commission tabled a rezoning request by Lynn Helmuth for rezoning 411 E (Highway 22) Avenue from R-3 residential to C-2 Commercial until Helmuth submitted a site plan for that lot and three other lots. Helmuth plans to build a 120 ft. x 60 ft. NAPA auto parts store.

About a dozen residents from that neighborhood appeared before the commission expressing concern about truck traffic in the alley and truck parking on 6th Street. One person suggested it would be better if Helmuth built low-rent apartments and construct the auto parts store elsewhere.

Helmuth was not at the meeting.

The P&Z will continue the hearing at their next meeting and requested that Helmuth submit a site plan and wishes to hear further details before recommending action to the council on the rezoning.

City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh explained to the group that Helmuth has sufficient property to construct the new building on the three lots, but the additional lot would give more space. Also, he noted that the IDOT would not allow much wider driveway space then what is already there.

Comprehensive Plan

The commission did recommend that the city move forward with hiring Impact 7G/Confluence to jointly collaborate on a new comprehensive plan for the city at a cost of $46,300. The commissioners suggested that the city administrator check with work done by Impact 7G, Coralville, and Confluence, Des Moines, in developing comprehensive plans in other cities.

Schlabaugh said Ben Curtis would be the lead contact with Impact 7G and the city has worked with Curtis on other projects. Curtis also previously served as director of the Kalona Chamber of Commerce.

Others submitting bids included ECICOG, $27,500; RDG (who did the last City Comprehensive Plan), $80,000; and MSA, $80,000. Impact 7G/Confluence plans to start the project as soon as the City Council approves their contract and expects to have the plan completed in six to 12 months. The process would include community meetings and working with stakeholders.

Curtis of Impact 7 and representatives of Confluence will meet with P&Z commission, hold public meetings, work with regional housing and business trends, etc. There will be a digital website that can be updated as needed.

Schlabaugh also related that there are about three different developers interested in designing a plan for use of the northwest former Yoder property. He related he would have to go back to the developers as the DOT has changed the proposed street entrance onto Highway 1. However, that development should move forward in 2024.

Since this was the first meeting of 2023, the commission held their organizational meeting re-electing Larry Christenson chair, Chris Swart vice chair and Cooper Tonning secretary.

Other members of the commission are Larry Geno, Andrae Naraine, Sylvan Schlabach and Ron Slechta.