Linn County, Iowa

and protecting the site’s significant environmental features, respecting its agricultural heritage, and providing a mix of housing types with a thoughtful integration of commercial uses.“The Dows Farm project is certainly one that we think is a unique project in a number of ways,” says Beck.“It’s an eco- nomic development initiative, plus a quality of life initiative that will translate into business attraction and growing the population.” In 2016, Beck says the County acquired 485 acres of land in two different tracts.“The County really had its eye set on about a 306-acre tract for conserva- tion purposes, adjacent to an existing county park,” he recalls.“The intent was to expand the conserva- tion footprint through this additional acreage.The other chunk–179 acres–sort of came along for the ride. It was part of the package deal, and it was always the County’s intent to divest itself of that property for development purposes.Our Board of Supervisors chose to put together some develop- ment guidelines, or a vision for this property that, as it was developed,would be done in a manner that is in harmony with the Comprehensive Plan.” The County put together a concept plan that tar- geted half the tract for conservation open space, including a stream buffer along an existing creek. “25 percent is going to keep the old farmstead site and about 40 acres of farmland in a small working farm,with the intent to grow healthy foods using sustainable farming practices,”Beck explains.“The