Newton, IA "Paintball Rezoning Effort In Need of a Tie Breaker"

ScrapIron · 07-09-2008, 11:35 AM

Action Jacks Paintball of Colfax is Iowa's oldest operating paintball field. Over the last few years Shawn Risseeuw, the owner and operator of Action Jacks (AJ's), has been searching the state for a new location for the business. Most recently this desire to relocate has been driven by changes in leasing agreements that have since removed a large amount of space from AJ's existing field in Colfax.

At long last, Risseeuw has found a viable 25 acres in the town of Newton, but the question of rezoning the new location still remains.

Recently Risseeuw's request to rezone the land was brought before the Newton City Council where it was shot down in a 3-3 tie vote.

However, the determined Risseeuw isn't giving up.
Risseeuw says, “I’m probably going to go to the zoning board of adjustment next, and I can also come back to the city council.”

It is with high hopes that the local paintball community supports Risseeuw in the pursuit of a larger playing field able to handle bigger events.
But only time will tell if a new city council vote will favor the Iowa Paintball Icon.

the local news story along with comments is available at the link below.

Newton, IA
July 8th 2008
"Splat! Newton City Council guns down paintball business rezoning"

protocoach · 07-09-2008, 01:19 PM

When did AJs get rezoned? Man, I don't want to have to drive out to Newton to play ball. Des Moines is the biggest city in this stupid state, why don't we have a closer field?

ScrapIron · 07-09-2008, 01:53 PM

Read the article

AJs didn't get rezoned, they want to move to Newton to get a bigger field, but Newton City Council isn't passing their request to re-zone the new 25acres from residential use.

AJs wants to relocate because when the lease came up on the property that they had been using in Colfax the owner decided to cut out a portion of the property in order to put an RV park in. So in the last two years Action Jacks had lost their outdoor hyperball field and one of the grassy bunker fields. Now they are just down to the 2 wooded stretches with the towers and a short speedball field.

wolf13 · 07-09-2008, 01:56 PM

Good luck to them, I miss Aj's having moved back to IL.

protocoach · 07-09-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScrapIron

Read the article

AJs didn't get rezoned, they want to move to Newton to get a bigger field, but Newton City Council isn't passing their request to re-zone the new 25acres from residential use.

AJs wants to relocate because when the lease came up on the property that they had been using in Colfax the owner decided to cut out a portion of the property in order to put an RV park in. So in the last two years Action Jacks had lost their outdoor hyperball field and one of the grassy bunker fields. Now they are just down to the 2 wooded stretches with the towers and a short speedball field.

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough. When did this business with the lease happen?

ScrapIron · 07-09-2008, 02:46 PM

It was just over a year ago. We figure the owner of the land thought he could make more $$$ off of people parking their RVs for the weekends when the Speedway has a race or something booked.

And I agree with you 100%, I wish this were closer to Des Moines.

But, the biggest trouble business owners have is finding land that is suitable for paintball but also within a reasonable price.
Sure, we have plenty of great looking land in IA, but the trouble is price since almost every real estate listing for acreages tends to either list it as:
1 enrolled in CRP, and getting decent return from it, so they want 7k an acre.
2 the greatest hunting land populated by 30pt bucks, so they want 10k an acre.
and
3 Prime farm land kicking out a mutha-load of beans or corn so they want 12k/acre

burscott · 07-09-2008, 02:55 PM

I miss the original AJ's that was in DSM. Anybody know what happened to that land?

ScrapIron · 07-09-2008, 03:02 PM

not sure but I might look for it on the Polk county assessor's website

chairman_mao · 07-09-2008, 03:41 PM

The best thing anyone can do is appeal to the City Council's greed. I know NOTHING about Newton, IA but I have a feeling that if one can convince them of the positive economic benefits the field will bring (i.e. increased hotel and restaurant usage) to the area they may be a bit more welcoming.

protocoach · 07-09-2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chairman_mao

The best thing anyone can do is appeal to the City Council's greed. I know NOTHING about Newton, IA but I have a feeling that if one can convince them of the positive economic benefits the field will bring (i.e. increased hotel and restaurant usage) to the area they may be a bit more welcoming.

Well, after Maytag closed their factory there, Newton's looking for all the economic help it can get. Unfortunately, a field like Action Jack's that runs few big games or tournaments isn't going to make a big impact economically.

I really wish that Lookout had stayed in business. They had a nice field that was fairly close and the prices were good. the land there is still available; it probably flooded, but it should be down by now. The place is a mess, but somebody could clean it up and start a field there if they wanted to.

07-09-2008, 11:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
ScrapIron Cobra Paintball Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central Iowa	Newton, IA "Paintball Rezoning Effort In Need of a Tie Breaker" Action Jacks Paintball of Colfax is Iowa's oldest operating paintball field. Over the last few years Shawn Risseeuw, the owner and operator of Action Jacks (AJ's), has been searching the state for a new location for the business. Most recently this desire to relocate has been driven by changes in leasing agreements that have since removed a large amount of space from AJ's existing field in Colfax. At long last, Risseeuw has found a viable 25 acres in the town of Newton, but the question of rezoning the new location still remains. Recently Risseeuw's request to rezone the land was brought before the Newton City Council where it was shot down in a 3-3 tie vote. However, the determined Risseeuw isn't giving up. Risseeuw says, “I’m probably going to go to the zoning board of adjustment next, and I can also come back to the city council.” It is with high hopes that the local paintball community supports Risseeuw in the pursuit of a larger playing field able to handle bigger events. But only time will tell if a new city council vote will favor the Iowa Paintball Icon. the local news story along with comments is available at the link below. Newton, IA July 8th 2008 "Splat! Newton City Council guns down paintball business rezoning" Last edited by ScrapIron; 07-09-2008 at 11:36 AM.. Reason: fixed link

07-09-2008, 01:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
ScrapIron Cobra Paintball Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central Iowa	Read the article AJs didn't get rezoned, they want to move to Newton to get a bigger field, but Newton City Council isn't passing their request to re-zone the new 25acres from residential use. AJs wants to relocate because when the lease came up on the property that they had been using in Colfax the owner decided to cut out a portion of the property in order to put an RV park in. So in the last two years Action Jacks had lost their outdoor hyperball field and one of the grassy bunker fields. Now they are just down to the 2 wooded stretches with the towers and a short speedball field. __________________ Shoot first, check armband tape later. Proud to play Lucky 7 and Fledgling scenario games. member #190 of LPPC, Cobra Paintball Fanatic & Purple Foot Indian Tribe My Feedback

07-09-2008, 01:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
wolf13 MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006	Good luck to them, I miss Aj's having moved back to IL. __________________ looking for interesting cockers. especially AKA Black Widow, Slide trigger bonebrake, predators and other nice customs as well as perhaps an eclipse sovereign. CustomCockers.com Forum for Sniper 1's to MQ and anything autococking welcome. Pics of some of My Collection of 50+ rare and oddball cockers and other oddities

07-09-2008, 02:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
ScrapIron Cobra Paintball Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central Iowa	It was just over a year ago. We figure the owner of the land thought he could make more $$$ off of people parking their RVs for the weekends when the Speedway has a race or something booked. And I agree with you 100%, I wish this were closer to Des Moines. But, the biggest trouble business owners have is finding land that is suitable for paintball but also within a reasonable price. Sure, we have plenty of great looking land in IA, but the trouble is price since almost every real estate listing for acreages tends to either list it as: 1 enrolled in CRP, and getting decent return from it, so they want 7k an acre. 2 the greatest hunting land populated by 30pt bucks, so they want 10k an acre. and 3 Prime farm land kicking out a mutha-load of beans or corn so they want 12k/acre __________________ Shoot first, check armband tape later. Proud to play Lucky 7 and Fledgling scenario games. member #190 of LPPC, Cobra Paintball Fanatic & Purple Foot Indian Tribe My Feedback

07-09-2008, 02:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
burscott Active Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Omaha, NE	yo I miss the original AJ's that was in DSM. Anybody know what happened to that land? __________________ For sales: Palmer Nasty Typhoon#9: http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/m...phoon-9-a.html Palmer Stroker 468: http://<br /> http://www.mcarterbro...ker-468-a.html PTP Micrococker: http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/m...crococker.html Tipp F/A: http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/m...391-400-a.html Rainmaker S/F: http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/e...lect-fire.html mcb feedback http://www.mcarterbrown.com/forums/f...-feedback.html

07-09-2008, 01:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
protocoach Newbie Join Date: Jul 2006	When did AJs get rezoned? Man, I don't want to have to drive out to Newton to play ball. Des Moines is the biggest city in this stupid state, why don't we have a closer field?

07-09-2008, 03:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
ScrapIron Cobra Paintball Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central Iowa	not sure but I might look for it on the Polk county assessor's website __________________ Shoot first, check armband tape later. Proud to play Lucky 7 and Fledgling scenario games. member #190 of LPPC, Cobra Paintball Fanatic & Purple Foot Indian Tribe My Feedback

07-09-2008, 03:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
chairman_mao Rec Poster Join Date: Jun 2007	The best thing anyone can do is appeal to the City Council's greed. I know NOTHING about Newton, IA but I have a feeling that if one can convince them of the positive economic benefits the field will bring (i.e. increased hotel and restaurant usage) to the area they may be a bit more welcoming.