Mantorville Township: Give non-tillable landowners rights too

To the Editor:

Quarter-section housing density numbers in Mantorville Township need to change. Allow non-tillable land owners the option to divide their land for housing. SOME landowners may choose to divide/develop their property, SOME may not. Give them a choice.

Mantorville Township is located on the east side of Dodge County. Due to the Zumbro River, the topography of the township makes farming portions of it unfeasible. Forests, valleys and poor soil composition hinders agricultural practices. Unfortunately, a large portion of Mantorville Township is located in the Agricultural District. This designation makes development in the township nearly impossible.

The eastern side of the county is experiencing tremendous growth due to the increasing populations of Mantorville and Kasson, as well as being in close proximity to Rochester.

Our neighboring tillable land owners enjoy multiple income generating options for their land: traditional farming practices, government programs, housing, and energy production. Non-tillable landowners are more restricted in their ability to generate revenue from their property.

Mantorville Township can control housing density by enforcing the Open Space requirement.

A portion of the requirement:

“Each subdivision shall have dedicated land for open space that will be secured by permanent conservation easements, deed restrictions, or deed covenants... At least 40% of the plat in a Rural Residential Subdivision outside of the required buildable area shall be open space. The open space shall be one contiguous lot which is designated as an Outlot with restrictions which provide for open space public uses...”

Limit multiple home developments to hard surfaced roads designed for higher levels of traffic. This will keep traffic off low-traveled, township roads, often used by our farming neighbors.

The tillable portions of the Township Agricultural District need to be protected. Establish minimum years between crop planting/harvesting and possible conversion to non-ag uses. Example: If you stop actively farming your property, you’ll have to wait 50 (open to debate) years to sell/develop tillable land for non-ag uses. Tillable properties near city limits would operate on a separate timetable.

Additional property tax revenue from the increase in housing density will help fund programs that “protect and promote public health, safety, general welfare and morals of the citizens of Dodge County.”

Jay Highum

Frustrated Dodge County
land owner

Rochester resident