Winneshiek County Iowa
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Winneshiek County Iowa Comprehensive Smart Plan, 2012 Prepared By: Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission 325 Washington Street, Decorah, IA 52101 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS County Supervisors: Floyd Ashbacher Dennis Karlsbroten Mark Kuhn John Logsdon Dean Thompson City Council and Mayor City Council and Mayor City Council and Mayor City Council and Mayor City of Calmar City of Castalia City of Decorah City of Fort Atkinson Corey Meyer, Mayor Margaret Jones, Mayor Don Arendt, Mayor Paul Herold, Mayor Larry Huinker Larry Brockway John Franzen Michele Elsbernd Dennis Kleve Wayne Corlett Carolyn Corbin Robert Glass Isaac Phillips Joe Moellers Gary Rustad Kevin Karnik Linus Sabelka Jamie Smith Randy Schissel Kay Schmitt Dave Zweibahmer Dennis Wilkins Julie Fischer David Schneiter City Clerk: City Clerk: Rachel Vagts City Clerk: Michele Elsbernd Chris Bodensteiner Paul Wanless Joyce Bakewell City Administrator: Chad Bird City Council and Mayor City Council and Mayor City Council and Mayor City Council and Mayor City of Jackson Junction City of Ossian City of Ridgeway City of Spillville Mae Schmitt, Mayor Chuck Covell, Mayor David Brenno, Mayor Michael Klimesh, Mayor Jamie DeSloover Thomas Bushman Robert Freidhof Manian Murphy Daniel Kime Ryan Becker Allyn Linderbaum Dave Timp Art Perry Scott Meyer Pam Rasmussen Jeff Ira Richard Vrzak Dan Langreck Paul Stevens Ed Klimesh Leon Warnke Mike Meyer Rosemary Vopava Darrell Schmitt City Clerk: City Clerk: City Clerk: City Clerk: Sue Cutsforth Joyce Bakewell Sharla Berns Joane Kulish Additional Steering Committee Members Lee Bjerke Bob Hemesath Bill Ibanez Benji Nichols Ferneva Brimacomb Ron Hemesath Tade Kerndt Tony Phillips Bruce Goetsch Maryann Humpal Lee Zieke Lee Randy Uhl Mike Walton Winneshiek County Planning and Zoning John Berlage Doug Egeland Steve Langland Mike McGee Leslie Cook Mary Hoffman Dan Langreck Donna Rasmussen Wendy Stevens With special thanks to: The Iowa Economic Development Authority* Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) UERPC was created to promote regional cooperation and meet the planning and economic development needs of local governments in the five Northeast Iowa counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek. *A portion of this project was paid for through a Supplemental Community Development Block Grant for disaster recovery planning. These funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development were distributed through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Winneshiek County Comprehensive Smart Plan, 2012 1 ADOPTION RESOLUTION Winneshiek County Comprehensive Smart Plan, 2012 2 Adoption Resolution ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Table Of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Table of Tables ............................................................................................................................................ 10 Table of Charts ............................................................................................................................................ 12 Table of Photographs .................................................................................................................................. 15 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 16 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Public Participation ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Chapter 1: County Overview ................................................................................................................ 19 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 19 Location ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Brief History of Winneshiek County ........................................................................................................ 20 Population Characteristics ...................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 2: Community Character and Culture .................................................................................... 27 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 27 Events and Activities ............................................................................................................................... 27 Recreation and Natural Resources ......................................................................................................... 28 Arts and Culture ...................................................................................................................................... 29 Historic Preservation ............................................................................................................................... 32 Character and Culture Summary ............................................................................................................ 41 Character and Culture Goals, Strategies and Actions ............................................................................. 41 Chapter 3: Housing .............................................................................................................................. 44 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 44 Existing Housing Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 44 Housing Projections ................................................................................................................................ 50 Housing Programs ................................................................................................................................... 50 Affordable and Accessible Housing ......................................................................................................... 52 Housing Summary ................................................................................................................................... 53 Housing Goals, Strategies and Actions.................................................................................................... 54 Chapter 4: Economic Development ..................................................................................................... 57 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 57 Educational Attainment .......................................................................................................................... 57 Winneshiek County Comprehensive Smart Plan, 2012 3 Labor Force ............................................................................................................................................. 59 Unemployment Rates ............................................................................................................................. 60 Commuting.............................................................................................................................................. 61 Economic Base ........................................................................................................................................ 63 Economic Development Programs and Organizations ........................................................................... 68 Economic Development Summary .......................................................................................................... 69 Economic Development Goals, Strategies and Actions .......................................................................... 70 Chapter 5: Transportation ................................................................................................................... 74 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 74 Inventory of Existing Transportation Facilities ....................................................................................... 74 Functional Classification System ............................................................................................................. 75 Traffic Volumes ....................................................................................................................................... 77 Alternate Modes of Transportation ........................................................................................................ 77 Transportation Summary ........................................................................................................................ 78 Transportation Goals, Strategies and Actions .......................................................................................