City Council Approves Businessman’s Rezoning Request
Oskaloosa City Hall
By Eduardo Zamarripa, CRI Weekly News
On Monday night, the Oskaloosa City Council unanimously approved all items on the agenda, including the third reading on a request from KB Auto Zone Owner Kelly Bryan to rezone the property at 214 Highway 432 from “mixed use urban corridor with a avenue commercial corridor overlay district” to “general commercial district.”
The current zoning ordinance was developed and adopted in the year 2000. Anytime ownership of a property changes, or a current owner wants to construct new business, they must comply with this zoning code. In an urban corridor district, businesses such as a hotel, food store, or car dealership are permitted to establish and operate in this zone. What’s not permitted is agricultural sales and services, which posed a problem for Bryan because he plans on building and operating a seed storage and delivery facility on the north part of his lot.
However, because City Council unanimously approved the third reading on the request, the property is now rezoned. Councilman Jason Van Zetten, who had voted against the ordinance in its second reading, did not attend the meeting.
The council unanimously approved the following items on the agenda:
- A resolution scheduling a public hearing for Nov. 4 to consider levying a special assessment against private property for weed cutting
- A motion approving pay request No. 1 to Delong Construction Inc. in the amount of $84,690.14 for work completed on the West Area Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project
- An ordinance to amend Chapter 17.28 of the city’s zoning ordinance for off-street parking for personal and recreational vehicles (2nd reading)
Some of the amendments in regards to the off-street parking ordinance include:
- Changing the allowed height of an RV on a property from eight feet to 13 feet and six inches
- Changing the allowed length of an RV on a property from 25 feet to no restriction
- Adding gravel and crushed stone as surfaces where an RV can be parked on a property
- This only applies to campers; heavy commercial vehicles can still only be parked on a property’s hard surface
The council also held a public hearing to consider an ordinance vacating the East-West public alley adjacent to 413 North A Street, and for the sale of that alley’s right of way. No comments were made.
City Manager Michael Schrock gave a 20-minute presentation on completed, on-going, and future infrastructure projects around the city.
Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt announced vacancies on the Building Code Board of Appeals (1), the Mahaska County Solid Waste Management Commission and Ad Hoc Recycling Committee (5), the Historic Preservation Commission (2) the Airport Commission (1), and the Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter Commission (1) .
Before adjourning, the council went into closed session under Iowa Code Section 20.17 (3) to discuss a collective bargaining strategy.
The next City Council meeting is on Oct. 21 at 6 p.m.
