The Storm Lake City Council this week approved the first reading of a zoning amendment for the Gateway Overlay District in the southeast portion of town.
Gateway regulations were put in place years ago in hopes of guiding development of the area around King’s Pointe to be consistent with the resort. City officials believe some of the regulation that is stricter on business development than elsewhere in the community may be discouraging development in the area, which stretches from near Flindt Drive and Lakeshore Drive to near the Highway 71 entry. The Gateway policy and its goals would remain in place, but there would be some changes in requirements for layout of buildings, signage, landscaping, among other things.
Council member Kevin McKinney said easing restrictions in that area will be beneficial…(audio clip below)
Council member Tyson Rice agreed that’s it’s time to do something to help make that part of the community more attractive, but said that perhaps more restrictions need to be put in place in other areas of Storm Lake.
The Planning and Zoning Commission previously approved the amendments. The city council still needs to approve two more readings before the amendments are officially in place.
