On the recommendation of the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission, on Monday night the Clear Lake City Council unanimously approved a rezoning request to allow for a significant housing development on South Shore Drive.
Approximately seven and one-half acres of land located at 2605 South Shore Drive will be rezoned from low density single family residential (RS-5) to medium-density single family residential (RS-8).
Brian Ridge, of Ridge Development, met with homeowners from the adjoining neighborhood prior to submitting his plans. The meeting was successful in laying any fears to rest about the development. There were no objectors to the plan at Monday’s public hearing.
Chad Schreck, from the North Iowa Economic Development Corridor, spoke in support of the project, saying the housing is not only needed, but will provide a good price point for families to locate here.
Clear Lake Schools Superintendent Doug Gee called the development “a fantastic opportunity” to provide housing for many families who would like to live in Clear Lake. According to Gee, open enrollment into the district is what is keeping Clear Lake’s enrollment rising.
“I estimate our enrollment would be up 150 to 200 students K-12 if we had the housing for it. People want to come to our community and be in our school district,” said Gee. He noted that less than 5 percent of school districts in the Central Rivers Area Education Agency serving North Iowa are seeing increased enrollment; Clear Lake is one of the rare districts with growth.
The developer plans to use a blend of single family and twin homes in the area.
“This community will be a market-rate high quality housing project that will open up new opportunities for the growing need for housing in Clear Lake,” Ridge stated in a letter to neighbors. “This development will establish a home owners association that will ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the homes and landscaping, making sure the development maintains the beauty we set out for. Traffic will only have a single way in and out of the development, alleviating any through traffic concerns.”
Preliminary designs identify 27 lots in the new area. Five of those lots would
