Decorah City Council Revisits, Unanimously Approves Elementary School Site Plan

Be the reason future generations know what mattered in Decorah. Fund Decorah News today. DECORAH — The Decorah City Council approved the Decorah Community School District's revised site plan for the new John Cline Elementary School on Monday evening, clearing a major hurdle for the downtown project after weeks of technical review and negotiations between city and school officials. The council reached its decision only after voting to reconsider the earlier denial from its last meeting. Council Member Steve Zittergruen made the motion to reconsider, seconded by Randy Schissel. With the matter reopened, the council reviewed the amended site plan, which City Manager Travis Goedken emphasized was "the overall site plan" the council was voting on, even though several supporting sheets had not yet been updated to match the revised design. The revisions resulted from a joint work session with the school district held last Monday. Changes included eliminating many previously proposed parking stalls, widening the Claiborne Drive sidewalk to 10 feet, narrowing driveway widths, shifting the north parking lot south to create a grass buffer, switching the south lot to parallel parking, and enlarging the fenced west play area to create more contiguous green space. Approval, however, was contingent on multiple technical requirements, most outlined in City Engineer John Hjelle's Oct. 31 recommendation letter for the project. In that letter, Hjelle identified seven items that needed resolution, including a formal storm sewer easement, sidewalk easements, stormwater maintenance documentation and compliance with fire hydrant placement and state standards. Goedken read the items into the record: 1. Storm sewer easement The amended plan shows new linework for relocating the 54-inch public storm sewer. Hjelle wrote that although the district and city previously agreed in principle to an easement, it "was not legally formalized." The city will require a completed easement agreement that includes future responsibility for maintenance and replacement. During the discussion, Goedken noted the district's amended plan proposed high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, which "Iowa Department of Transportation standards only allow for diameters up to 48 inches," even though the existing pipe is 54 inches in diameter. Goedken said a local contractor had contacted the city with concerns. Council members asked about structural longevity and potential flooding effects. Hjelle said he believed "we're going to be having something that is a workable solution," but said the pipe material and calculations still needed detailed review. 2. Right-of-way conflicts Earlier drawings indicated the north parking lot extended into city right-of-way, but revised plans removed that parking. A small portion of the tennis courts still sits in the right-of-way. Hjelle's letter said conveyance of the affected right-of-way "would need further city action." Goedken and Hjelle recommended addressing the issue through replatting, a step Hjelle noted is already required by the state fire marshal before the district can obtain a building permit. 3. Sidewalk easements Sections of the frontage sidewalk cross the right-of-way line. Hjelle wrote that sidewalk easements "shall be conveyed to the city to allow public access," including areas where telecom lines run beneath the sidewalk. 4. Stormwater maintenance plan Hjelle wrote that the district's stormwater plan "does not include a description of maintenance for onsite detention or the high school pond," even though city code requires a maintenance schedule and inspection form for stormwater facilities. The plan must also include conveyance characteristics for the reconfigured 54-inch storm sewer. 5. Fire hydrants and utility standards Hydrants were not shown on the plan. Hjelle's letter said the district must comply with state fire marshal requirements and coordinate with the city to meet municipal water and sewer standards. The letter also included two other requirements: all signage must be approved by the zoning administrator, and the district is responsible for all necessary permits. Council weighs contingencies and revisions Goedken told the council that Planning and Zoning had recommended approval "contingent upon items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5." Council discussion focused on stormwater, right-of-way cleanup and ensuring the revised drawings matched what council members were seeing in their documents. Council Member Emily Neal asked, "If we don't accept the [stormwater] easement, what happens to the site plan?" Goedken responded, "It's listed in the contingencies, so they have to get that easement before they can move forward with the building permit. Going back to the joint work session, other things have to be worked out even once the site plan is approved, should the council approve it." Neal asked whether the council would be able to weigh in on whether the contingency meets "what the council would consider to be satisfactory." "As long as it's not 'arbitrary and capricious,'" Goedken said, jokingly pointing at City Attorney John Anderson. "John likes those words." Council members referred to last week's joint work session as "highly productive." Zittergruen cited safer pedestrian access and alignment with community use of the site, saying, "I think the changes that were made are minor and have created some really great improvements." Once discussion closed, the council unanimously approved the site plan with the listed contingencies. Mayor Lorraine Borowski called the approval "fantastic," adding, "On behalf of all the kiddos that are gonna be looking forward to even seeing a shovel put in the ground there … I agree with the sentiments that were put forth about the hard work that's been in this." With approval secured, the district can now proceed with finalizing easements, updating its drawings and submitting required stormwater and utility documentation before seeking building permits. Never a dull moment! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and stay one step ahead with local news and information you just can't get anywhere else.