Seed Today

Opposition Rises for Monsanto's Proposed Waterloo Seed Corn Facility

Waterloo, IA (Jan. 13/Cedar Falls Courier) A proposed $90 million Monsanto Co. seed corn production plant could face opposition when it goes before the Black Hawk County Planning and Zoning Commission this week.

The commission will hold a public hearing Tuesday on the company's request to rezone 153 acres of farmland on the southwest corner of West Washburn and Kimball roads, a mile south of the Waterloo limits, to a commercial-manufacturing district. A special permit and site plan for the project also are up for public hearing.

More than 100 people, representing 50 properties in the project vicinity, have signed a petition opposing the zoning change, citing traffic concerns, the cost of providing adequate roads to the site, runoff from additional grading, possible air pollution and taking prime agricultural land out of production.

"Why not locate such a business in an existing industrial park site, which is designated for this type of plant?" the petition states. "There are roads leading off major highways (at existing industrial parks), which state and county taxes have already developed. Why put a new tax burden back on the people?"

Local and state economic development officials have promoted the project, noting it will generate new tax base, result in full- and part-time job creation and help local corngrowers who will grow crops for the plant.

The Iowa Department of Economic Development board has approved a $10 million state incentive package for the project in Black Hawk County, which would be the centerpiece of a $231 million Monsanto expansion at four Iowa locations, also including expanded sites in Boone and Grinnell and reinvestment in a research center in Ankeny.

The company's zoning application indicates the site would include a seed corn production facility and research breeding station, all built in phases. Initially, the project includes bulk storage for 408,000 bushels of corn, 171,000 square feet of warehouse, 16,000 square feet of office, lab and breakroom space, a machine shop and two 24-bin grain dryers. Four more grain dryers would be added at the full buildout.

Initially, the company would have 37 full-time employees and, in season, would employ 150 temporary workers on site and another 800 temporary workers off site. At full buildout, there would be 57 full-time employees and the number of temporary workers would be 250 on site and 1,600 off site. The breeding facility would have 10 full-time workers and about 60 off-site temporary workers.

Construction would begin in March and the plant would open in June 2009 and be fully operational by August 2009.

The project would utilize private well water and a septic system. No temporary worker housing would be allowed. The site would require grading based on flood plain issues. While the project would require air quality permits from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, company officials have said emissions would be minor.

While county zoning policies generally frown on industrial development in the rural area, the zoning ordinance does provide an exception for projects tied to agriculture. It's one of the issues the zoning commission must address this week.

"Staff is concerned with the precedence of approval of such a large commercial development that would typically be more suited for the urban areas, where the needed services and infrastructure is available," county zoning administrator Aric Schroeder said in a staff report. "However, the request could be considered unique given its relation to agriculture."

Another key issue involves traffic.

Monsanto estimates the facility will draw 110 trucks per day at first, growing to 300 trucks per day at the full buildout. Another 50 daily trips from other vehicles are expected. The company anticipates most traffic will use Washburn Road between the plant entrance and Highway 21, which is currently gravel.

Black Hawk County Engineer Richard King said some $6.7 million in road improvements may be necessary to support the project, including the widening and paving of Washburn Road between Ansborough Avenue and Iowa Highway 21. While most of the road improvements, including paving Ansborough and Kimball avenues and resurfacing Schrock Road, are identified as county needs, funding currently is not identified for the work.

County Board of Supervisors Chairman John Miller said a development may need to be considered to address how to fund the roadway improvements. The supervisors must also consider the zoning question following a recommendation from the zoning commission.

The public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers on the second floor of Waterloo City Hall, 715 Mulberry St.

Author: Tim Jamison, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.

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