Land use, small-farm food production, and transportation are three of the important environmental issues voters should consider when choosing candidates to support in the June 7 Democratic primary election for Johnson County supervisor.

Several Johnson County environmental groups are joining to make presentations and discuss these and other issues Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St. Please join us then or watch the program on community television.

The Johnson County Land Use Plan will soon be reviewed for updates. Should the plan continue to include the North Corridor Development Area that, like the Dooley Farm rezoning in 2013, permits numerous acres of active farmland to be rezoned into residential rural development, miles from infrastructure and creating incompatible uses with farmers who want to continue their livelihood? With 1,600 residential zoned lots in the county, 800 of which are in the development area, and hundreds more in our cities, should county policy be revised to encourage infill growth in and near our cities? Can the Sensitive Areas Ordinance be strengthened to encourage more on site woodland and wetland mitigation? Is land use a local climate-change issue?

The Board of Supervisors has taken some action to help farmers produce food on small lots, but should it do more to encourage local and organic food production? Can the plans for the County Poor Farm include incubator projects to help small farmers? What can the supervisors do to promote better access to farmland, especially for plots fewer than 40 acres? 

Road plans, bike trails, new light rail and bus routes are important transportation issues for Johnson County, both for commuter routes and recreational use. How can these projects be completed in a manner that helps reduce carbon emissions and serve the needs of a growing county? Are road extensions or improvements being placed in areas where we want growth to occur and avoided in areas we want to preserve for rural uses? How has the county’s $20 million bond issue been used to date and how might it be used in the future for land preservation and recreational uses?

There are other environmental issues for the county to consider such as clean water. Bring your ideas to this meeting and the candidates for county supervisor may respond to these questions as we approach the June 7 primary election. A discussion of environmental issues is good for citizens and good for candidates.

Tom Carsner