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At last, Theiss zoning change approved

Council gives green light to duplexes; Halter switches vote

Construction of duplexes at the former Theiss farm property in Fort Dodge can begin as soon as contractors are ready thanks to City Council action Monday.

That action came as Councilman Jeff Halter changed his previous stance and voted in favor of a needed zoning change.

But a rezoning necessary to allow the construction of a 55-unit apartment complex there awaits final action by the council. That action is expected at the Oct. 23 meeting.

The former Theiss farm extends across both sides of Williams Drive between 20th and 25th avenues north. It was purchased last year by the city government and the Fort Dodge Betterment Foundation so that it could be developed as a housing area now being called Williams Bend.

The area on the east side of Williams Drive is the first target for developers.

One of those developers is Windstone Circle LLC, of Fort Dodge, which plans to build 12 duplexes.

To enable that to occur, the needed property had to be changed to a single-family zoning status that specifically includes duplexes.

The council approved the first reading of that measure on Oct. 9 on a 6-1 vote with Halter voting no.

When the measure came before the council Monday for its second reading, Halter said he would vote for it.

He said that when he talked to residents who live near the Theiss farm, he learned that the proposed apartment complex is what they are really opposed to.

Halter added that he wanted to avoid a mix of single-family houses and duplexes along Williams Drive. Five duplexes are being built at the intersection of Williams Drive and 20th Avenue North. Halter said he believes allowing those duplexes was a mistake, but he added that he believed voting against the Windstone Circle LLC proposal would essentially punish that firm for that mistake.

No one addressed the council regarding the proposed zoning change.

The second reading of the zoning change was approved unanimously.

A third reading would ordinarily have to be approved by the council to make the change final. However, Councilman Neven Conrad moved to set aside that usual procedure and make the change final on the second reading.

He tried to make the zoning change final after the first reading was approved on Oct. 9, but his proposal was defeated on a 5-2 vote, with Halter and Councilman Dean Hill voting no. Six affirmative votes were needed to waive the second and third readings of the proposal.

Hill said Monday that he would vote to waive the final reading.

“Last week I voted against waiving these readings” he said. “I thought it was important to give the people a chance to have their say, whether for or against. But this is the third time this has come before us and I feel like our commitment to the time frame has been fulfilled.”

The council then voted unanimously to waive the third reading and make the zoning change final.

After the council meeting, Jim Kesterson, a spokesman for Windstone Circle LLC, said the firm would order building supplies today and begin construction as soon as possible.

He said the first duplex to be built will be located north of The Station at 2320 N. 15th St.

The other duplexes will be built along a private road to be called 23rd Place North, which will extend east from Williams Drive.

Each unit in the duplexes will have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage. They will rent for $1,000 to $1,200 per month.

The second reading of the zoning change to allow the apartment complex was approved on a 6-1 vote with no discussion.

Councilmen Kim Alstott, Andy Fritz, Dave Flattery, Terry Moehnke, Conrad, and Hill voted yes. Halter voted no.

No one from the public addressed the council regarding that zoning change.

Northwest Iowa Building Co. LLC, of Ankeny, has proposed the apartment complex for an area just north of the Coachlight Apartments on 20th Avenue North. However, no details of the proposal have been revealed.

Northwest Iowa Building Co. LLC will also build 48 single-family houses on the Theiss farm property east of Williams Drive. No zoning changes are needed to allow the construction of those houses.

On the west side of Williams Drive, the company plans to build 74 single-family homes, 20 duplexes and 60 rowhomes in 10 buildings of six units each.

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