The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Residents in Ottumwa are taking new measures against a requested zoning change in their neighborhood.

Owners of an empty lot on the west end of Ottumwa want to re-zone the spot from retail business to manufacturing. They believe it will bring more jobs to the city. The lot is located on the 1800 block of west Second Street.

But residents in the neighborhood are petitioning to keep the lot for commercial use only; concerned that manufacturing will bring more noise, garbage, and chemical storage.

A public hearing was held Monday night and residents voiced their opinion. That resulted in the denial of a zoning change.

However, the city council could overrule the decision in a few weeks.  So far there are 306 signatures on the petition and citizens like Lisa Aslesen believe that is enough to prove their point.

"I feel like the people of the west end and throughout Ottumwa have spoken on this issue. We in the name of economic development should not destroy neighborhoods by spot zoning. By letting that go to M-1, we open the door to development we may not want in the next 100 years. Noise 24 hours a day, seven days a week, chemical storage, garbage, that kind of thing."

The decision will be made on the June 21 city council meeting.