Small Town News

Zoning process for resort begins

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Supervisors have final vote

The Lyon County Zoning Commission will recommend that the board of supervisors change the designation of almost 200 acres of agricultural land to highway commercial. That recommendation is another step in the process of constructing a resort/casino in the northwest corner of the county.

The zoning commission conducted a public hearing Aug. 26 prior to deciding on a recommendation. The board of supervisors will also take public comments prior to making a final decision. That hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Kehl Management is interested in constructing a $110 million resort area along Highway 9 where Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota abut. The facility would include a hotel, restaurants, event center, show lounge, casino and golf course. The company has a similar operation near Riverside, south of Iowa City.

Dan Kehl reported last week that his firm has secured options to purchase a total 187 acres from Severson and Christensen families. If the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission issues a casino license for the project, probably next spring, Kehl Management will exercise its options to purchase the properties. It's estimated the resort would open in April 2011.

The company is still negotiating with Joel Stevens on securing 10 acres which lies within the proposed site. Even if the two parties can not come to an agreement, accommodations will be made to build around the residential site and "no one will even know it's there," said Kehl.

Public input

Larry Landman of Doon reminded zoning commission members that they don't decide if the resort is going to be built but where it will be built. He claimed the goal of the county's zoning ordinance was to minimize the number of conflicts between rural and urban development and protect the county's natural resources including production agriculture.

"It would be a shame to take ag land out of production when there are so many people starving," Landman said. He urged the zoning commission preserve a good chunk of valuable ag land.

Landman said the use of highway commercial property, according to the ordinance, is to meet the needs of the traveling public. "I'm not sure a casino meets that need," he said.

He added that where there is a golf course, houses will follow. "Where will it stop?" he asked.

Bruce Bonander warned Dan Kehl that there are one to three feed lots near the proposed site. "We need to get along with the Kehls," he said, "but (the cattle) won't go away. Ag was there first."

"We're aware we're in ag country," responded Kehl. "We have a similar situation at Riverside with a hog confinement one-half mile away."

Amy Hildring added that there are many young farmers in the area so farming will continue nearby for some time.

"Will you meet with farmers in the area so we all know what's going on?" she asked Kehl.

"I'd welcome that opportunity," he said.

"Sure you're gonna take some ag land out of production, but that little bit isn't gonna matter much with yields per acre increasing all the time," stated Ralph Kock of Inwood. "We're not gonna run out of food."

He noted that donations from the casino would "be great" for such entities as the fair board and for such projects as a new swimming pool in Inwood.

"I would rather see this (resort) than another hog confinement," stated Betty Knobloch, rural Larchwood.

Kehl answered questions about:

Wastewater disposal -- either construct lagoons or hook into Larchwood's system.

Water -- working with Lyon-Sioux Rural Water System.

Access -- main entrance off Highway 9, working with Iowa Department of Transportation to determine need for adjusting speed limits/installation of traffic lights.



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© 2009 West Lyon Herald Inwood, Iowa. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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