Council Approves Bass Pro Wetland Area

TIM ROHWER

Officials of Bass Pro Shops will be allowed to build a large wetland area at its new store now under construction in Council Bluffs.

The wetlands, which was approved by the city's Planning Commission earlier this month, was given the final nod Monday night by the City Council.

It would cover more than two acres on the southeast corner of the store.
Native grasses would be planted there and fallen dead trees would be laid there also, said a landscaping consultant.

"(The plan is) to make it look as natural as possible," said Ted Spaid. Migratory birds would be attracted to the site, he added.

The council's vote was not unanimous.

Councilman Dave Tobias expressed concern that the original plan to build a two-acre lake was washed away.

"People were excited about Bass Pro, and now it's changing," he said during the discussion. "We had a business agreement. We had a vision, and now it's going to change. I don't think it's proper."

Spaid said that water management issues made the lake impractical to build.