After a number of lengthy discussions and proposed legal action, official rezoning regarding a rural area north of Iowa City for a housing development was approved Thursday morning by the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. 

Approximately 91 acres of land on Newport Road from Agricultural to Rural Cluster — could result in the development of approximately 70 units by local real-estate developer Bill Young of Lepic-Kroeger Realtors.

“I’ve changed my mind [on the rezoning] about 150 times over the past few weeks,” Supervisor Pat Harney told the DI on March 13. “It’s a cherished area that provides solitude for many. I don’t mind revisiting the land-use plan, but right now, I’m going to go along with what it allows.”

Nearly all of the two dozen citizens of Johnson County, most of them residents of Newport Township, had opposed the rezoning.

County officials have estimated the proposed development would add 560 vehicles per day onto the road. Currently between 1,030 and 1,120 vehicles travel the road daily. The threshold identified for the safety of the road is 2,000 vehicles per day.