SCOTT COUNTY, Iowa — Robb Ewoldt's family has been farming for 5 generations in Iowa. His farm is on land currently zoned as Ag Preservation land. The Scott County Board of Supervisors is holding its first of three readings on Thursday, April 7 2016 to vote on whether or not to change all of Scott County's AP land to Industrial Floating.
The change would allow businesses interested in locating to land zoned as IF to discuss buying it from landowners. Current zoning ordinances prohibit this discussion. Over 75% of Scott County land is zoned Agriculture Preservation. With the proposed zoning change, all of it would turn into Industrial Floating.
Robb Ewoldt doesn't want to see the zoning laws changed.
"We're blessed to have this very fertile flat ground that we can grow crops on very efficiently," Ewoldt said. "Unfortunately, industry likes those sites because it's easier and cheaper for them to build on."
Ewoldt is concerned about the wording of the zoning ordinance. He says it leaves too much up to interpretation and wishes it wasn't an all or nothing proposal. Big money could be offered to landowners by perspective businesses, and while it's ultimately their decision to sell, Ewoldt argues anyone could put their land up for sale if the price is right.
"If they pass [the zoning change] like it is, and a company comes in and offers [a landowner] 5-10 times the value of that land it might be where two fools met if he turned it down," Ewoldt said. "So who is going to blame him for wanting to sell, you know? If enough money gets waved in front of your face."