WATERLOO - Cedar River flood waters destroyed two homes, a barn and lots of equipment on John Zeien's land.

Zeien is not leaving his rural Black Hawk County homestead on the river's east banks northeast of La Porte City. But he is going to raise up the ground before he rebuilds at 11537 Barnes Ferry Road.

"It's just not an option to pick up and move and leave 35 years of my life there," he said. "It's a place I dearly love. I don't intend on letting a flood discourage me."

Zeien became the first resident of the county's unincorporated area to seek and receive approval to rebuild a damaged home in the 100-year flood plain. Members of the Board of Adjustment voted unanimously Tuesday to grant his request, which includes adding 5 to 7 feet of fill to boost the first floor of his new home nearly 2 feet above where the early June floodwaters reached.

"I don't want to take a chance of ever going through a flood like this again," Zeien said. If the river gets him again at his new elevation, "most of La Porte City will be gone by then."

Aric Schroeder, the county's zoning administrator, said other flood victims may seek to follow Zeien's lead.

"I would anticipate this is going to be the first of many," he said.

The county's zoning ordinance includes the minimum standard required under the National Flood Insurance Program as it pertains to homes more than 50 percent damaged.

Such houses can't be rebuilt in a floodway, and they must be elevated 1 foot above the 100-year flood stage in a flood plain. Rebuilding in the flood plain requires a special permit, such as Zeien received, while attempts to rebuild in the floodway would require a variance to the county's ordinance and approval from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Schroeder, who is also the Waterloo city planner, noted the city has similar requirements. One exception, however, allows residents in the 100-year flood plain to rebuild without going to the Board of Adjustment for a special permit if they submit plans to elevate over the 100-year flood levels.

The Black Hawk County Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval of Zeien's request but had considerable debate about whether to allow any new homes to be erected in the flood plain.

"In general, encroaching in the flood plain can have negative effects," Schroeder said. But commission members felt Zeien's request to rebuild was substantially different than someone wanting to move out and build in a flood plain for the first time.

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.