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Critical Natural Resource Areas Ordinance Update

The Planning and Development Department is proposing an amendment to the Story County Land Development Regulations (County code) with new protections for critical natural resource areas.

On This Webpage You Can Find:

  • A video and written summaries of the ordinance
  • An interactive map where you can post questions and view the following information:
    • Mapped natural resources
    • Your property
  • The glossary for key-terms in the ordinance can be found here.
  • The full ordinance can also be found here.
  • The DNR's invasive tree species guide can be found here.

Questions? 

Contact Andrea Wagner, Planner

515-382-7245 

awagner@storycountyiowa.gov

Ordinance Adoption Process and Public Meetings

The Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Supervisors will both hold public hearings on the ordinance

The meeting dates are:

Both meetings will also be held in the Public Meeting Room of the Administration Building, 900 6th Street. 
 

Purpose

The proposed update to the ordinance will protect Story County’s environmental resources—wetlands, remnant prairie and savanna, steep hillsides, trees, archaeological resources, lakes, streams, and rivers.   

We currently have protections for trees, steep slopes, rivers and streams in our code that apply to all permits and development. However, the ordinance clarifies these requirements to ensure they are applied appropriately and equally. For example:

  • All new lots have to be “properly related to topography” under our current code, but this term is not further defined. The proposed ordinance would define what is considered a steep slope (greater than 15%), maps these areas, and provides standards for building to ensure a site is suitable.
  • In the current code, replanting is required if more than 15% of trees are impacted on a property. The proposed ordinance would allow individual property owners to impact one acre of trees on their property, increasing flexibility while protecting more trees overall.
  • Existing stream buffers would be updated to better account for natural meandering or movement of streams, better protecting development and natural functions.

The standards for wetlands, prairies, savannas, and archaeological resources are proposed to only apply to larger developments: subdivisions of two or more lots and commercial development including conditional use permits. The current code has broad standards for environmental protection that these developments must meet. The proposed ordinance better defines those standards and expectations—when they apply, what impacts are allowed, and what mitigation measures are required.

Without these changes, the County could lose otherwise restorable wetlands, prairie or savanna remnants, and tree stands, as well as constrict natural floodplains that are necessary for carrying floodwaters and recharging our sources of drinking water.

What DOES the Ordinance Do:What DOESN'T the Ordinance Do:
  • Provides standards for evaluating impacts on critical natural resource areas
  • Provides clear, consistent thresholds for when mitigation is required
  • Promotes conservation design
  • Provides a path for preserving and restoring Story County’s natural habitats

  • Affect or regulate agricultural operations
  • Make a parcel “unbuildable” or prevent any development of a property in the County


Watch a Video about the Ordinance

How Will the Ordinance Affect Me?



Individual Landowners
Agricultural Operators
Commercial Development, including conditional use permits, and subdivisions of 2 or more lots

Steep hills, steep terrains, hillsides above creeks and streams

When disturbing slopes between 15-25%:

  • Plans from a licensed engineer required to confirm site can support building
  • Plan to re-vegetate disturbed hillside required

Not affected

Same as for Individual Landowners 

When disturbing slopes greater than 25% and less than 35%:

  • Disturbance restricted to utilities and drives to access the property
  • Plan to re-vegetate disturbed hillside required
  • Setback of 2 feet for every 1 foot of vertical rise required for development on new lots

Not affected

Same as for Individual Landowners

When disturbing slopes equal to or greater than 35%:

  • Disturbance restricted to essential utilities
  • Plan to re-vegetate disturbed hillside required
  • Setback of 2 feet for every 1 foot of vertical rise required for development on new lots

Not affected

Same as for Individual Landowners

Trees and shrubs part of a larger forested area

Less than one acre of area disturbed: 

  • No replanting requirements

Not affected

Any disturbance to protected trees and shrubs requires replacement at least one-for-one and a mitigation plan from qualified professional

Over one acre disturbed:

  • One-for-one replanting required

Not affected

Any disturbance to protected trees and shrubs requires replacement at least one-for-one and a mitigation plan from qualified professional

Rivers, Streams and Creeks

Setback for building may range between 50-100 feet, depending on size of river, stream, or creek, downstream land uses, and if it is mapped in a Special Flood Hazard Area

Not affected

Same as for Individual Landowners

Easements to the County required when stream or watercourse located in an area being subdivided

Prairie and Savanna Remnants

Not affected

Not affected

May be required to hire a qualified professional to provide a survey of plant material to identify remnants

150-foot buffer required from remnants. Impact to remnants will be limited to public utilities and County Engineering projects

Mitigation required if impacts allowed

Wetlands

Not affected

Not affected

May be required to hire a qualified professional to provide a survey of plant material or soils to identify 

Wetlands required to be buffered from development

Mitigation required if impacts over 0.1 acre allowed

Archaeological Resources

Not affected

Not affected

Within 650 feet of a stream, applications will need to include information from the Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) that no archaeological resources are suspected/found.  If found, then a minimum 100-foot, undisturbed buffer is required around site.  

 

 

View the Map of Natural Resources and Leave Questions

View the Full Ordinance and Summaries

Steep Slopes

Significant Slopes

Rivers, Streams, and Creeks

Watercourses and Waterbodies

Significant Trees and Shrubs

Significant Trees and Native Woodland Shrubs

Wetlands

Wetlands

Prairie and Savanna Remnants

Prairie Remnants and Savanna Remnants

Archaeological Resources

Archaeological Resources

Full Ordinance

Code Icon
 
 

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