Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-24 ResolutionItem Number: 6.a. CITY OF IOWA CITY � - 1 �r ;�&% COUNCIL ACTION REPORT January 24, 2023 Resolution amending the budgeted positions in the Fire Department adding two full-time Firefighter positions, grade 35. Prepared By: Scott Lyon, Fire Chief Reviewed By: Geoff Fruin, City Manager Fiscal Impact: $178,914.25 Recommendations: Staff: Approval Commission: N/A Attachments: Resolution Executive Summary: The City has completed a successful recruitment and testing process for the position of Firefighter. On Thursday, January 18th the Civil Service Commission approved a new hiring list. The Iowa City Fire Department currently has three vacant Firefighter positions. In the the proposed FY24 Budget, the City Manager has recommended adding two positions to help with current staffing needs and prepare for the planned opening of Station 5 a few years down the road. In order to capitalize on the new hiring list and streamline training opportunities, the Fire Department is requesting the two Firefighter positions proposed in FY 24 be filled in the current fiscal year. Background /Analysis: In the summer of 2022 an analysis of the testing process for the position of Firefighter was conducted with significant changes implemented. The Fire Department established an internal Recruitment Committee charged with the task of active recruitment in our community. Secondly, the physical ability examination process was changed to the same testing process that the Iowa City Police Department utilizes. Lastly, the knowledge exam was modified to remove barriers to participation with the implementation of secure web based testing or an option to participate in person. The results from the above modifications achieved a high level of success and quality candidates were successful as reflected on the hiring list approved by the Civil Service Commission. The proposed FY 24 budget contains a recommendation to hire two additional Firefighters utilizing funding that has been identified for the staffing of Fire Station 5. Allowing for the immediate hiring of two Firefighters in this fiscal year allows for the immediate onboarding of highly qualified candidates. As detailed in the FY 24 Budget proposal, the two additional firefighter positions will be utilized at existing stations until such time Station 5 is constructed. The two positions will ultimately count toward the minimum staffing numbers for that new station. ATTACHMENTS: Description Resolution Prepared by: Scott Lyon, Fire Chief, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 356-5256 Resolution Number. 23-20 Resolution amending budgeted positions in the Fire Department, adding two full-time Firefighter positions, grade 35. Whereas, Resolution No. 22-76, adopted by the City Council on March 22, 2022 authorized budgeted positions in the Fire Department for Fiscal Year 2023; and Whereas, the Iowa City Fire Department desires to hire two additional Firefighters to augment current staffing as part of the Fire Station 5 staffing plan; and Whereas, significant modifications were implemented in the recruitment of potential Firefighter applicants, which has resulted in quality candidates on the hiring list approved by the Civil Service Commission. Now Therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa that the budgeted positions in the Fire Department be amended by adding two full-time Firefighters, grade 35. Passed and approved this 24th day of January 20 23 Ma o I _ Attest: ity Clerk It was moved by Dunn and upon roll call there were: AYES: Appr ved by 7 City At o i e (Jennif r Schwickerath - 01/18/2023) and seconded by NAYS: Bergus ABSENT: the Resolution be adopted, Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas Item Number: 6.b. CITY OF IOWA CITY � - 1 �r ;�* COUNCIL ACTION REPORT January 24, 2023 Resolution amending the budgeted positions in the Neighborhood Services Division of the Neighborhood and Development Services Department by adding one full-time, permanent Family Self -Sufficiency position. Prepared By: Rachel Carter, Housing Administrator Reviewed By: Erika Kubly, Neighborhood Services Coordinator Tracy Hightshoe, Neighborhood and Development Services Director Fiscal Impact: The annual cost of the position including salary and benefits is expected to be $112,294. Federal HUD FSS and Housing Choice Voucher Program administrative funds will cover the increased staffing costs. Recommendations: Staff: Approval Commission: N/A Attachments: Resolution Executive Summary: The City has been awarded an increase in Family Self -Sufficiency (FSS) Program funds to expand the supportive services and case management provided to FSS participants. The current and historical FSS caseload requires staff time that cannot be absorbed at current staffing levels. Neighborhood Services is requesting a permanent 1.0 FTE Family Self -Sufficiency Coordinator to administer the FSS program. Background /Analysis: The Family Self -Sufficiency Program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides funding for FSS Coordinators to promote the development of local strategies to assist Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) and Public Housing participants through case management and provision of resources. HUD also provides approximately $600,000 annually in escrow savings for Iowa City Housing Authority FSS participants to promote their self-sufficiency goals. The City of Iowa City's FSS Program currently has 185 participants. These participants are active HCVP clients who are working toward self-sufficiency goals such as completing higher education or job training, purchasing a home or vehicle, and other goals set with the FSS Coordinator annually. As their income increases, HUD matches the amount they pay for rent and that match is placed in a savings account. Participants can access those savings accounts once they meet their case management goals, and in some instances, during participation to remove barriers to achieving these goals for expenses such as car repairs, tuition, or employment costs. The FSS Coordinator provides resource referral and case management support in navigating the barriers participants may face. The City of Iowa City has historically received funding for one FSS Coordinator. In recent years, the FSS program participation rates have been two to three times higher than are typical for one FSS Coordinator. HUD has recommended expansion to two Coordinators and accordingly increased the administrative funding available. This funding is not eligible to be used for any other purpose. The annual budget increase for this staffing change is expected to be $112,294. The position will be funded through FSS and HCVP administrative funds. ATTACHMENTS: Description Resolution Prepared by Rachel Carter, Housing Administrator., 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 RESOLUTION NO. 23-21 Resolution amending budgeted positions in the Neighborhood Services Division of the Neighborhood and Development Services Department by adding one full-time, permanent Family Self - Sufficiency position. Whereas, Resolution No. 22-76 approved by the City Council on March 22, 2022 authorized budgeted positions in the Neighborhood and Development Services Department for Fiscal Year 2023; and Whereas, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides funding for Family Self -Sufficiency Coordinators to promote the development of local strategies to assist Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) and Public Housing participants through case management and provision of resources; and Whereas, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has recommended expansion to two Family Self -Sufficiency Coordinators; and Whereas, an additional staff position is necessary to administer this funding in accordance with federal rules and regulations; and Whereas, administrative fees are included in the city's FSS and HCVP allocations to cover the increased cost of an additional position; Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that The budgeted positions in the Neighborhood Services Division of the Neighborhood and Development Services Department be amended by adding one full-time permanent Family Self - Sufficiency Coordinator position. Passed and approved this 24thday of January . MAYO _ ( App/ro d by ATTEST: City Clerk City Attor ey's Office (Jennifer Schwickerath — 01/18/2023) AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: X Alter X Bergus X Dunn X Harmsen X Taylor X Teague X Thomas It was moved by Dunn and seconded by Bergus the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Item Number: 6.c. A CITY OF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 24, 2023 Resolution approving Final Plat of Chickadee Subdivision Iowa City, Iowa. (SUB22-0016) ATTACHMENTS: Description Staff Report Final Plat Resolution STAFF REPORT To: City Council Item: SUB22-0016 Chickadee Final Plat GENERAL INFORMATION: Applicant and Owner: Contact Person: Requested Action: Purpose: Location: Location Map: Size: Existing Land Use and Zoning: Surrounding Land Use and Zoning Prepared by: Parker Walsh, Associate Planner and Anne Russett, Senior Planner Date: January 24, 2023 George E. Knorr Trust Christof Knorr 1812 S. East 46'" Avenue Portland, OR 97215 Sandy Steil Bishop Engineering ssteil(cDbishopengr.com Jon Marner MMS Consultants j. marner(cilmmsconsultants.net Approval of final plat Chickadee Subdivision a resubdivision of the southeast quarter, SEC. 3, R6W to create 3 residential lots 330 Kimball Rd, Iowa City, Iowa 2.0 Acres Undeveloped/Vacant Open Space, and Existing 330 Kimball Rd Home, Low Density Single Family Residential (RS -5) North: Low Density Single Family Residential (RS -5) South: Low Density Single Family Residential (RS -5) East: Medium Density Single -Family Residential Zone (RS -8) Comprehensive Plan: District Plan: Neighborhood Open Space District: File Date: 60 Day Limitation Period: BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The applicant, Christof Knorr, has submitted a development plan for Chickadee Subdivision, West: Low Density Single Family Residential (RS -5) 2-8 Dwelling Units Per Acre North C1 October 17, 2022 Applicant waived the 60 -day limitation period. final plat and preliminary and final sensitive areas a three lot 2 -acre residential subdivision located at 330 Kimball Rd, Iowa City, Iowa. One house currently exists at 330 Kimball Rd and approval of the subdivisions will result in the creation of two additional infill lots that could accommodate single- family homes. ANALYSIS: The final plat is in general compliance with the subdivision regulations. Legal documents are currently being reviewed by staff. It is anticipated that the legal documents will be approved prior to the December 6, 2022 Council meeting. At the recommendation of staff, no construction drawings were submitted since no public improvements are required for this subdivision. Environmentally Sensitive Areas: The application includes a preliminary and final sensitive areas development plan since the site includes regulated sensitive features. The site includes critical slopes and protected slopes. Twenty-eight percent of the critical slopes will be impacted, which is below the base requirement of 35%. No protected slopes or protected slope buffers will be impacted. Since the sensitive areas development plan meets the base requirements of the sensitive areas ordinance it will be reviewed and approved by staff. The final plat includes a conservation easement area to protect those sensitive features that will not be impacted. Neighborhood Open Space: According to section 14-5K of the City code, dedication of public open space or fee in lieu of land dedication is addressed at the time of final platting for residential subdivisions. Based on the 1.12 acres of undeveloped land in a RS -5 zone, the developer would be required to dedicate 0.024 acres of land or pay a fee in -lieu. The applicant intends to pay a fee in lieu. Transportation & Infrastructure: The Kimball Rd right-of-way is currently 30' at this location and there is an existing 3' wide sidewalk that runs along the back of the curb. Per staff's request, the final plat shows an additional 5 feet of public right-of-way along Kimball Rd that will be dedicated to the City. Sanitary services for Lot 1 and Lot 3 will be installed at the time a building permit application is submitted to the City. Stormwater management improvements are not required since the area of the final plat is less than 3 acres. 3 NEXT STEPS: Once the final plat is approved, the applicant can submit building permit applications for development of the lots. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of SUB22-0016, an application submitted by Christof Knorr for a Final Plat and Final Sensitive Areas Development Plan for Chickadee Subdivision, a resubdivision of the southeast quarter, SEC. 3, R6W to create 3 residential lots located at 330 Kimball Rd, Iowa City, Iowa. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Location Map Approved by: a�nieTTe Sitzman, AICP, Development Services Coordinator Department of Neighborhood and Development Services > T 3�4fi U9 � gg C/I W rc ppmii�� �3�Ritl r 0 f a o E U� a O a5 V/� w d i 4 s 'S E J z LLwoQ moo g a dada ppb Q Y�'� 3U0 UZ:l AM,�Qz3=Q dpd ti 0 4 Y` o NNU =�rcm �� C.)c) U0 �p M `s oa as 9 a > T 3�4fi U9 � gg C/I W rc ppmii�� �3�Ritl r 4`4444 a o F �./� Q W go a5 V/� w d i z e� d PIP R98ss4ws: fid; `eNOZE ffi mit t'b i-6Cw4Ww�e o z SSS&=�•�&SpC9�50p�� g Y tea. o I 3 s � C/I W rc ppmii�� �3�Ritl g5 k�„�E 4`4444 \ F �./� Q W go a5 V/� w d i Q F zov \ LLwoQ moo Vii; \ \� ti Y` o U0 w `s oa as 9 a z e� d PIP R98ss4ws: fid; `eNOZE ffi mit t'b i-6Cw4Ww�e o z SSS&=�•�&SpC9�50p�� g Y tea. o I 3 s � �sg 3 4`4444 \ Vii; a 4s°; `s oa as 9 a Mh A 3 I 8X3it� �moto oto 4 Q � 1 1 1 � 1 1 I 4`4444 \ �moto oto 4 Q � 1 1 1 � 1 1 I Fee Doc ID: 032046930023 Type: GEN Kind: SUBDIVISION Recorded: 03/10/2023 at 10:13:27 AM — — Fee Amt: $117.00 Page 1 of 23 Ampy® Johnson County Iowa +rll1.;Nxl Kim Painter County Recorders!! BK6462 PG773-795 CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 (3 19) 356-5000 (319) 356-5009 FAX STATE OF IOWA ww W.IcgoV_org ) SS JOHNSON COUNTY ) I, Kellie K. Fruehling, City Clerk of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby certify that the Resolution attached hereto is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 23-22, which was passed by the City Council of Iowa City, Iowa, 1 at a regular meeting held on the 24th day of January 2023, all as the same appears of record in my office. 4J Also attached are the final legal documents for Chickadee Subdivision, Iowa City, Iowa. � l Dated at Iowa City, Iowa, this CV4day of �� LCi~ir'�.�. L 2023. Kellie . Fruehling CID City Clerk \res subdivision Prepared by: Anne Russett, Senior Planner, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (SUB22-0016) Resolution No. 23-22 Resolution Approving Final Plat of Chickadee Subdivision Iowa City, Iowa. (SUB22-0016) Whereas, the owner, George E. Knorr Trust, filed with the City Clerk the final plat of Chickadee Subdivision, Iowa City, Iowa, Johnson County, Iowa; and Whereas, said subdivision is located on the following -described real estate in Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa, to wit: BEGINNING at the Southwest Corner of Auditor's Parcel 2022048, in accordance with the Plat thereof Recorded in Plat Book 66 at Page 60 of the Records of the Johnson County Recorder's Office; Thence S89°55'04"W, along the South Line of Lot 24 A Subdivision of the Southeast Quarter of Section 3, Township 79 North, Range 6 West, of the Fifth Principal Meridian, in accordance with the Plat thereof Recorded in Plat Book 1 at Page 1 of the Records of the Johnson County Recorder's Office, a distance of 202.53 feet to a point on the West Line of said Lot 24; Thence N00°37'50"W, along the West Line of said Lot 24, a distance of 98.86 feet; Thence N53030'20"E, along the Southeasterly Right -of -Way line of Kimball Road, a distance of 395.43 feet to a Point on the Northwest Line of said Lot 24, 8.00 feet normally distant Southwesterly from the Northeasterly Line of said Lot 24; Thence S37°29'53"E, along a line 8.00 feet normally distant Southwesterly from the Northeasterly line of said Lot 24, a distance of 215.23 feet to the Northern most corner of said Auditor's Parcel 2022048; Thence S30°02'41 "W, along a Northwesterly line of said Auditor's Parcel 2022048, a distance of 51.58 feet; Thence S42°10'28"W, along a Northwesterly line of said Auditor's Parcel 2022048, a distance of 41.26 feet; Thence S48'03'1 8"W, along a Northwesterly line of said Auditor's Parcel 2022048, a distance of 47.70 feet; Thence S29°35'15"W, along a Northwesterly line of said Auditor's Parcel 2022048, a distance of 22.50 feet; Thence N89°53'11 "W, along a Northwesterly line of said Auditor's Parcel 2022048, a distance of 52.53 feet; Thence S72°32'29"W, along a Northwesterly line of said Auditor's Parcel 2022048, a distance of 28.13 feet; Thence N34°42'19"W, along a Northwesterly line of said Auditor's Parcel 2022048, a distance of 27.06 feet; Thence S45°06'40"W, along a Northwesterly line of said Auditor's Parcel 2022048, a distance of 71.16 feet, to the said POINT OF BEGINNING. Said Tract of Land contains 2.00 acres and is subject to easements and restrictions of record. Whereas, the Neighborhood and Development Services Department and the Public Works Department examined the proposed final plat and subdivision, and recommended approval; and Whereas, a dedication has been made to the public, and the subdivision has been made with the free consent and in accordance with the desires of the owners and proprietors; and Whereas, the preliminary and final sensitive areas development plan is subject to a Level I review and has been reviewed and approved by staff per Title 14, Article I of the municipal code; and Whereas, said final plat and subdivision are found to conform with Chapter 354, Code of Iowa (2022) and all other state and local requirements. Resolution No. 23-22 Page 2 Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: 1 The said final plat and subdivision located on the above-described real estate be and the same are hereby approved. 2. The City accepts the dedication of the easements as provided by law. 3. The Mayor and City Clerk of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, are hereby authorized and directed, upon approval by the City Attorney, to execute all legal documents relating to said subdivision, and to certify a copy of this resolution, which shall be affixed to the final plat after passage and approval by law. The City Clerk shall record the legal documents and the plat at the office of the County Recorder of Johnson County, Iowa at the expense of the owner. Passed and approved this 9/,t], - day of d_@4:„�z�r 2023. Mayo Approved by Attest: }II kke _ ty Clerk City Attorn 's Office (Sara Hektoen — 01 /19/2023) It was moved by Dunn and seconded by Bogus the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: Nays: Absent: X Alter X Bergus X_ Dunn X _ Harmsen X Taylor X_ Teague X Thomas pcd/templates/Final_Plal -_Resolution (4).doc.doc Item Number: 7.a. CITY OF IOWA CITY � - 1 �r ;�&% COUNCIL ACTION REPORT January 24, 2023 Resolution setting a public hearing on February 7, 2023 on project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Gilbert Street Bridge Replacement Project, directing City Clerk to publish notice of said hearing, and directing the City Engineer to place said project manual on file for public inspection. Prepared By: Melissa Clow, Special Projects Administrator Reviewed By: Jason Havel, City Engineer Ron Knoche, Public Works Director Geoff Fruin, City Manager Fiscal Impact: $2,900,000 available in the Gilbert Street Replacement Project account #S3956 Recommendations: Staff: Approval Commission: N/A Attachments: Location Map Resolution Executive Summary: This project generally includes the removal and replacement of the existing four -lane concrete bridge with a new continuous concrete slab bridge over Ralston Creek, designed to meet local and state guidelines for traffic and pedestrians, six-foot sidewalks on both sides, and aesthetic improvements to enhance the neighborhood and views of the creek. Streambank stabilization will occur upstream and downstream of the new bridge with the addition of fabric formed concrete revetment and Class E revetment. Storm sewer will also be upsized from 15" to 30" diameter RCP pipe to provide additional capacity from Court Street to Ralston Creek where localized flooding during heavy rainstorms has been reported. Water main improvements will occur immediately north of the bridge to prepare for a future project. In addition, the project will include the undergrounding of overhead utilities within the project corridor. Background /Analysis: The 2019 Biennial Bridge Inspection Program identified advanced deterioration of the bridge deck and super structure on the Gilbert Street bridge, which was constructed in 1972. There is also significant cracking and spalling at the north bridge approach that currently requires frequent maintenance. Widespread minor damage and bank slump is noted in the channel and there is no traffic barrier separating pedestrians from vehicles. The Program recommends the bridge to be scheduled for significant repairs or full replacement. The I owa Department of Transportation awarded the City funds for the replacement of the Gilbert Street Bridge over Ralston Creek through the City Bridge Program. Federally funded projects can receive reimbursement of eligible project costs, up to a limit of $1,000,000. This project is expected to be let through the Iowa DOT in March for a Spring 2023 construction start date. Project Timeline: Hold Public Hearing and Approve Project Manual: February 7, 2023 Bid Letting Date: March 21, 2023 Contract Award Council Meeting Date: April 4, 2023 Construction Dates: April 2023 — October 2023 ATTACHMENTS: Description Location Map Resolution z W 5 W U a J d w w m F - w LU U) ry W 00 J U- -WON Fav F f 10,01-4 r� % T AL- OV- 14 - Prepared by: Melissa Clow, Engineering Division, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240, (319)356-5413 Resolution No. 9-1_23 Resolution setting a public hearing on February 7, 2023 on project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Gilbert Street Bridge Replacement Project, directing City Clerk to publish notice of said hearing, and directing the City Engineer to place said project manual on file for public inspection. Whereas, funds for this project are available in the Gilbert Street Bridge Replacement account # S3956. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: 1. A public hearing on the project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the above-mentioned project is to be held on the 711 day of February, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall, Iowa City, Iowa, or if said meeting is cancelled, at the next meeting of the City Council thereafter as posted by the City Clerk. 2. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish notice of the public hearing for the above-named project in a newspaper published at least once weekly and having a general circulation in the City, not less than four (4) nor more than twenty (20) days before said hearing. 3. A copy of the project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the above-named project is hereby ordered placed on file by the City Engineer in the office of the City Clerk for public inspection. Passed and approved this 24Th day of January 2023 Mayor Approved by Attest: V City Clerk City Attorney' Office — 12/27/2022 It was moved by Dunn and seconded by Bergus the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: X X X X Nays: Absent: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas Item Number: 7.b. CITY OF IOWA CITY � - 1 �r ;�&% COUNCIL ACTION REPORT January 24, 2023 Resolution setting a public hearing on February 7, 2023 on project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the J Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project, directing City Clerk to publish notice of said hearing, and directing the City Engineer to place said project manual on file for public inspection. Prepared By: Joe Welter, Senior Engineer Reviewed By: Jason Havel, City Engineer Ron Knoche, Public Works Director Geoff Fruin, City Manager Fiscal Impact: $530,000 available in the Annual Sewer Main Replacement, Account #V3101 Recommendations: Staff: Approval Commission: N/A Attachments: Location Map Resolution Executive Summary: This agenda item sets the public hearing, which begins the bidding process for the J Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project. The project corridor is along J Street between First and Third Avenues. The project generally includes: sanitary sewer manholes, sanitary sewer pipes, sanitary sewer service reconnection, water main valves, street pavement, driveways, seeding/sodding, and sidewalk. Background /Analysis: The existing sanitary sewer system along J Street has a variety of deficiencies and needs to be replaced, as rehabilitation of the existing pipes is not possible. Approximately 350 linear feet of new eight -inch main will be installed to replace the existing deficient pipe, and sanitary sewer services will be reconnected to the new main. Minor water main improvements will be made along the corridor and sidewalk infill will occur, making a connection between First and Third Avenues. This is particularly important given the proximity of the junior high and recreation center. The areas excavated for sewer and water main installation will be restored with pavement, seeding, or sodding. ATTACHMENTS: Description Location Map Resolution and IST dome a -J C N, E R N V f0 Q i N UN end puZ ateJ ._ m N Alin, i r'1 Prepared by Joe Welter, Engineering Division, 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240, (319) 356-5144 Resolution No. 23-24 Resolution setting a public hearing on February 7, 2023 on project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the J Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project, directing City Clerk to publish notice of said hearing, and directing the City Engineer to place said project manual on file for public inspection. Whereas, funds for this project are available in the Annual Sewer Main Replacement - Account #V3101. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: 1. A public hearing on the project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the above- mentioned project is to be held on the 7th day of February, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall, Iowa City, Iowa, or if said meeting is cancelled, at the next meeting of the City Council thereafter as posted by the City Clerk. 2. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish notice of the public hearing for the above-named project in a newspaper published at least once weekly and having a general circulation in the City, not less than four (4) nor more than twenty (20) days before said hearing. 3. A copy of the project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the above-named project is hereby ordered placed on file by the City Engineer in the office of the City Clerk for public inspection. Passed and approved this 24th day of January 2023 Approved by/ Attest: 1JL ! � City Jerk J City Attorn 's Office (Sara Hektoen - 12/27/2022) It was moved by Dunn and seconded by adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: X X X Nays: Bergus the Resolution be Absent: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas Ma Approved by/ Attest: 1JL ! � City Jerk J City Attorn 's Office (Sara Hektoen - 12/27/2022) It was moved by Dunn and seconded by adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: X X X Nays: Bergus the Resolution be Absent: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas Item Number: 9.a. A CITY OF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 24, 2023 Resolution to amend the Southwest District Plan, a part of Iowa City's Comprehensive Plan, to update background information and to facilitate development that follows form -based principles in the Rohret South Subarea. (CPA22-0002) ATTACHMENTS: Description Staff Report Packet for 12-07-22 P&Z Minutes 11-16-22 P&Z Minutes 12-07-22 Additional Correspondence - Dan Black Additional Correspondence - Luke Eustice Resolution Resolution Attachment 1 � r CITY OF IOWA CITY CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM Date: November 16, 2022 [includes updates to Attachments 1 & 2 for December 7 meeting] To: Planning & Zoning Commission From: Kirk Lehmann, Associate Planner, Neighborhood & Development Services Re: Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA22-0002) to update the Southwest District Plan, including background information and the future land use map for the Rohret South Subarea Introduction First adopted in 2002, the Southwest District Plan guides future development for land south of Melrose Avenue, west of the Iowa River, and north of Highway 1, to the western edge of the City's growth area. The Southwest District is divided into 4 subareas as shown in Figure 1. Of these, the Rohret South subarea has experienced the least development due to a lack of urban infrastructure. In 2023, the City will extend wastewater infrastructure west of U.S. Highway 218 which will allow development at urban densities in the Rohret South subarea. For a full version of the current plan, visit www.icgov.org/districtplans. Figure Southwest Planning District Subarea Map 4 FI90itF LV-�: - Weber Subarea _ Roosevelt Sabareo WiI vs Creek Subarea Ntl-N1ONS1 s, oa Rabid South Subarea Staff developed the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA22-0002), shown in Attachment 1, to incorporate form -based land use patterns into the Rohret South subarea future land use map as well as to update background information. The purpose is to help ensure the plan continues to align with the policies, preferences, and circumstances in Iowa City today prior to development. In addition, the amendment will help encourage a diversity of housing types at a compatible scale and the development of compact and connected neighborhoods. It also supports other goals of City Council, including those related to equity and climate action. Background The Southwest District Plan is one of 10 district plans incorporated into the City's Comprehensive Plan, Iowa City 2030, which serves as the roadmap for directing growth and development in Iowa November 16, 2022 Page 2 City. Adopted in 2013, IC2030 describes a broad vision for the future of the City and provides guidance on planning issues to achieve that vision over time. District plans provide more detailed direction to address the unique issues and opportunities in each of the City's planning districts. One of the City's primary tools in implementing its Comprehensive and District Plans is the Zoning Code, which provides rules for how land can be used and developed, including what structures can be built where, and how they will be used. Conventional zoning codes focus first on regulating land use (e.g. residential, commercial, or industrial), and secondly on related standards such as density of dwelling units, maximum heights, lot coverage, and minimum on-site parking. Form - based codes differ by focusing less on land use and more on the scale of development (e.g. bulk and height) and its relationship to the public realm. The intent is to produce neighborhoods that: • Are safe for pedestrians and encourage walking; • Will preserve important environmental resources; • Contain a connected network of streets and paths; and • Allow for a variety of housing types and price -points. The City adopted a form -based code for use in undeveloped areas in 2021 after multiple years partnering with Opticos Design. However, the City must amend its district plans to implement form -based future land use categories in its growth areas. The South District Plan was the first to incorporate form -based land use categories, and staff identified the Southwest District as an appropriate next step because growth is anticipated once infrastructure is extended in 2023. Due to this and the current plan's age, an update utilizing a form -based future land use map is prudent prior to annexation and development. Process The City's targeted update of the Southwest District Plan focuses on background information and the concept for the Rohret South Subarea. Figure 2 summarizes outreach conducted as part of this process. Full summaries of the survey, focus group, and public open house responses are included in Attachment 3. Regular correspondence and additional interviews and group conversations were also conducted throughout the planning period. Over the course of the project, staff has maintained a contact list which currently exceeds 225 email addresses. Figure 2: Public Outreach Summary Public Events Date Approx. # Participants Focus Group Meetings (Property owners, city-wide stakeholders, government & neighborhood organizations, Iowa City Community School District, and Development Community) Dec. 2020 & Jan. 2021 31 Public Survey Dec. 2020 — Jul. 2022 168 Parks & Recreation Commission Jan. 2021 7 Additional Meetings with Landowners/Stakeholders Apr. 2021 - Present 11 Party in the Park Aug. 2022 41 Public Open House Sep. 2022 117 City Staff Technical Committee Throughout 8 Note: Many individuals likely participated in multiple public outreach events. Initial outreach was conducted through winter 2020 and spring 2021. The City began the process by engaging the public through a mix of surveys, individual interviews, and focus group meetings. The survey was publicized by mailings to nearly 800 owners and occupants near the subarea and word-of-mouth. Focus group participants were selected to include representatives from the local November 16, 2022 Page 3 development community, local governmental entities, property owners, neighborhood organizations, and other area and city-wide stakeholders. Staff also met several times with the Iowa City Community School District to understand future facility needs in the area, as well as with property owners and others that indicated an interest in the process. Following initial outreach efforts, staff reviewed the plan's original concept map and identified a need to incorporate form -based future land use categories and the new fringe area adopted in 2021. However, planning efforts paused following the unsuccessful Carson Farms annexation until more direction was available regarding the area's future. Upon resuming work in 2022, staff again collaborated with Opticos Design to develop a land use and street framework. After drafting a future land use map, staff attended the Party in the Park event at Hunter's Run and held a public open house on September 1, 2022 which was attended by approximately 117 participants. Following the open house, staff made several revisions in response to public input, including - Removing some through -streets; - Adding alleys along certain primary streets; - Redesignating the 100 -year floodplain to the west as private open space; - Reducing the size of the northeast neighborhood center's Transect 4 Main Street area; - Shifting the locations of neighborhood centers in the southeast and northwest; - Expanding Transect 3 Neighborhood Edge areas near Weber Elementary and Kitty Lee Road and adjusting some other boundaries; and - Reconfiguring road networks for efficiency and in response to other changes. Following the meeting, staff published the public adoption draft plan on October 19, 2022. Written comments received throughout the process are discussed later in the correspondence section of this memo. Some subsequent changes to the draft plan after the public hearing was set include: - Specifying "Historic" Poor Farm; - Specifying which curvilinear streets have had recent complaints; - Discussing the lack of pedestrian facilities around intersection of Riverside and Highways 1 and 6, along with the Highway 6 Bridge over the Iowa River; and - Adding street labels to the future land use and thoroughfare maps. Written comments will continue to be accepted until a decision by City Council Proposed Amendment: The proposed amendment includes changes to the Southwest District Plan that help ensure the document contains up-to-date information and a refreshed vision for the Rohret South subarea that is consistent with current City policy and preferences prior to development. First, background information was updated throughout the plan. Changes in the introduction are limited to a description of the update process and references to the 2013 Comprehensive Plan. Updates to the Past and Present section include new maps that reflect the 2021 Fringe Area Agreement, and revisions to subsections on Housing, Public Institutions, Transportation, Commercial Development, and Parks and Open Space reflecting changes in circumstance over the past two decades. Updates to background information in the Planning for the Future section are similar to those made to the Past and Present Section, including revised descriptions in the Transportation and Public Services and Facilities subsections, in addition to updated subarea maps. There are some minor modifications in the Planning Principles subsection, but they are limited to a reference to IC2030 and to removing a reference to the Carson Lake concept plan. The more substantive changes to the plan are to the subsection on the Rohret South subarea. Goals for the subarea were not changed, but the future land use map was revised to utilize November 16, 2022 Page 4 categories based on form rather than land use and the area was expanded to reflect the 2021 Fringe Area Agreement. A subsection was also added to explain the land use philosophy and its implementation in the Southwest District. The new future land use map, which includes a thoroughfare map, continues to meet the goals of the original plan but will guide development in a way that better reflects current land use policy. The text in this section was also modified to better achieve intended outcomes in the subarea, including changes to the subsections on public services and facilities, new neighborhoods, housing, transportation, and neighborhood centers (formerly commercial development). While form -based standards generally align with the existing policies in the Southwest District Plan, these changes address any discrepancies in between conventional and form -based development and better align with more recent policy decisions regarding future development in Iowa City. Analysis The Iowa City Comprehensive Plan serves as a land use planning guide by illustrating and describing the location and configuration of land uses envisioned throughout the City, providing notification to the public regarding intended uses of land; and illustrating the long-range growth area limit for the City. The City Council may consider amendments to the City's Comprehensive Plan after a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission. For a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to be approved, evidence must be provided that the request meets the following two approval criteria in Section 14 -8D -3D of the City Code. 1. Circumstances have changed and/or additional information or factors have come to light such that the proposed amendment is in the public interest. Since the Southwest District Plan's adoption two decades ago, there have been numerous changes within Iowa City. In addition to the City's continued growth and development, City regulation and policy has also evolved significantly. From 2000 to 2020, Iowa City added more than 12,600 new residents of which more than 2,700 occurred west of Mormon Trek Boulevard. This growth included subdivisions such as Galway Hills, County Club Estates, Wild Prairie Estates, and West Side Estates. Consequently, almost all land in the Southwest District east of Highway 218 is now fully developed, and some areas near Riverfront Crossings West are even experiencing redevelopment. Additionally, new major street connections have been built since the plan was adopted, including Camp Cardinal Boulevard to the north and McCollister Boulevard to the south, and other changes have also occurred such as the closure of Roosevelt Elementary School. At the same time, annexations with a residential component decreased from 825 new acres in the 1990s to 115 new acres in the 2010s with most recent development occurring on previously annexed land. Growth is expected to continue in the future with an estimated 19,265 new residents moving to Iowa City between 2020 and 2040.' As residential land that was previously annexed is now largely developed, and as sewer service expands under Highway 218, it becomes prudent to review future development patterns in the Rohret South subarea, which remains largely agricultural with some rural residential and institutional uses. These factors constitute major changes since the plan was adopted in 2002. In addition, the City has adopted several major regulatory changes. The City overhauled its Zoning Code in 2005 and updated its Subdivision Code in 2008. In 2021, the City also expanded its growth area through the Fringe Area Agreement with Johnson County and adopted a form - based code with the intent of applying it in greenfield growth areas. Changes to land use regulations have a direct impact on what can be built where, and how it can be built, so these changes alone make it worthwhile to review and revise the plan to ensure its consistency with the current regulatory framework. 1 Future Forward 2050: Long Range Transportation Plan, Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County, adopted May 25, 2022. November 16, 2022 Page 5 Furthermore, other policy changes since 2002, including a new Comprehensive Plan update and an increased focus on climate action and equity, constitute additional circumstances that have occurred and that demonstrate the proposed amendment is in the public interest. The City adopted the IC2030 Comprehensive Plan in 2013. While it maintains the planning framework of the previous Comprehensive Plan, it incorporates sustainability as foundational to the plan's structure and includes revised goals and strategies related to growth, land use, housing, economic development, and transportation, among others. In 2018, the City adopted a Climate Action & Adaptation Plan with goals to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Form -based land use can help address issues associated with conventional land use planning that have historically led to separated land uses and low density spawl. The development patterns associated with conventional land use planning encourages auto -oriented development and increases traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, form -based land use planning can improve the building and transportation systems through compact neighborhoods with destinations that are easily accessible by foot, bike, and bus in addition to cars. In 2020, the City adopted actions in Resolution 20-159 to enhance social justice and racial equity in the community. Historically, conventional zoning regulations have been used to enforce racial and class segregation through exclusionary practices such as single-family only zoning and large minimum lot sizes, along with other policies such as redlining, restrictive covenants, and the demolition of "slums" where persons of color lived. Form -based land use helps address these past wrongs by permitting a diversity of housing types and price points. While it does not solve this complex issue, it mitigates one barrier to providing housing options that are more affordable and allows for a broader range of housing choices for all residents, including those still recovering from generations of targeted exclusion and disinvestment. 2. The proposed amendment will be compatible with other policies or provisions of the comprehensive plan, including any district plans or other amendments thereto. The proposed amendment aligns well with the existing goals and objectives in the Southwest District and Comprehensive Plans. The adopted future land use map of the Comprehensive Plan shows the area as containing residential land uses, primarily at a density of 2-8 dwelling units per acre, but with some areas shown as rural residential. It also includes a small area with neighborhood commercial and mixed use development, along with some public/semi-public uses and open space, though this is limited to only a small portion of the Rohret South subarea. Similarly, the current Southwest District Future Land Use map shows a mix of land use categories in the subarea, including Large Lot/Rural Residential, Single-Family/Duplex Residential, Narrow Lot/Townhouse Residential, Mixed Use, Neighborhood Commercial, Open Space, and Public Services/Institutional Uses, among others. The proposed future land use map maintains many of the same land use and building types but allows a mix of them throughout the area instead of segregating different housing types by area. It also looks at the full subarea rather than only those areas expected to develop first. However, the new map does not include rural residential uses as it is now expected that these land uses will be annexed into the City over time. The proposed amendment also supports several goals from the IC2030 Comprehensive Plan: • Ensure a mix of housing types within each neighborhood, to provide options for households of all types (singles, families, retirees, etc.) and people of all incomes. • Encourage pedestrian -oriented development and attractive and functional streetscapes that make it safe, convenient, and comfortable to walk. • Plan for commercial development in defined commercial nodes, including small-scale neighborhood commercial centers. • Support preservation of valuable farmland, open space, and environmentally sensitive areas. • Ensure that future parks have visibility and access from the street. November 16, 2022 Page 6 • Discourage parks that are surrounded by private property; encourage development of parks with single -loaded street access. Similarly, the plan continues to use the same goals of the Southwest District Plan for the Rohret South subarea, which align with proposed changes to the text and future land use map: • Encourage housing diversity in new neighborhoods. • Preserve natural features and topography. • Build streets that enhance neighborhood quality. • Encourage commercial development that serves local residents. • Reserve space for neighborhood parks and trails that connect to other areas of the City. • Provide adequate street and pedestrian access to recreational facilities and other public amenities. • Establish a public focal point for new neighborhoods, such as a lake or park. On the other hand, amendments related to the background section are relatively minor or simply provide more accurate context due to the significant changes since 2002. In addition to being compatible with the IC2030 Comprehensive Plan and existing goals of the Southwest District Plan, the proposed amendment aligns well with other more recent policy efforts of the City, including the City Council's Strategic Plan, the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, and the City's Black Lives Matter & Systemic Racism Resolution. As other District Plans are updated in the future, incorporating these elements is essential to ensuring consistency in all City documents. Public Comment Staff received several comments regarding the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment, a few of which were received after the hearing was set. All comments are included in Attachment 2. Next Steps At an upcoming meeting of City Council, a public Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA22-0002) to section on the Rohret South Subarea. Following the adopt the proposed amendment. Staff Recommendation hearing must be held on the proposed update background information and the hearing, Council will determine whether to Staff recommends that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of CPA22- 0002, a proposed amendment to the Southwest District Plan to update background information and the section on the Rohret South Subarea, as proposed in Attachment 1. Attachments 1. Proposed Changes to the South District Plan [includes minor correction on p. 12] 2. Correspondence [includes 3 messages not in November 16, 2022 packet] 3. Open House Comments & Survey Results 4. Public Input Summary Approved by: 1, • sf ^� Danielle Sitzman, AICP, Development Services Coordinator Department of Neighborhood and Development Services men SOUTHWEST DISTRICTPLAN ADOPTED OCTOBER 8, 2002 AMENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2021 AMENDED XXXXXXXX XX. 2022 -.� A • wr�14ffl .0 CITY OF IOWA CITY Department of Planning and Community Development 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 SOUTHWEST DISTRICT PLAN ADOPTED OCTOBER 8, 2002 AMENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2021 AMENDED XXXXXXXX XX, 2022 I r , =Z�0070� CITY OF IOWA CITY Department of Planning and Community Development 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 www.icgov.org City Council of Iowa City Ernest W. Lehman, Mayor Dee Vanderhoef, Mayor Pro Tem Connie Champion Steven Kanner Mike O'Donnell Irvin Pfab Ross Wilburn Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission Ann Bovbjerg, Chair Dean Shannon, Vice Chair Jerry Hansen, Secretary Donald J. Anciaux, Jr. Benjamin Chait Ann Freerks Elizabeth Koppes Department of Planning and Community Development Karin Franklin, Director Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director Robert Miklo, Senior Planner Karen Howard, Associate Planner Shelley McCafferty, Associate Planner John Yapp, Associate Planner John Adam, Associate Planner Kay Irelan, Graphics Tech Erin Welsch, Intern INTRODUCTION The Iowa City Comprehensive Plan presents a vision for Iowa City, provides a strategy for realizing the vision, and sets policies for the growth and development of specific geographic areas of the city. Since the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan in 1997, and its update in 2013, the City has embarked on a series of District Planning efforts in order to provide vision and guidance for development that is more closely tailored to specific areas of the City. District plans are intended to promote patterns of land use, urban design, infrastructure, and services that encourage and contribute to the livability of Iowa City and its neighborhoods. District plans are advisory documents for directing and managing change over time. They serve as guides to decision-making, public deliberation, and investments. The Southwest District Plan establishes planning principles, goals and objectives that relate specifically to the history and existing conditions of specific areas within Southwest Iowa City. The plan addresses issues of housing, transportation, commercial development, public and neighborhood services, and parks, trails and open space. Since the Southwest Planning District includes older neighborhoods, new subdivisions, and also areas that have yet to be developed, it is difficult to establish specific goals and objectives that would apply to all areas of the district. Therefore, the plan divides the district into four subareas: the Roosevelt Subarea, the Willow Creek Subarea, the Weber Subarea, and the Rohret South Subarea. While there are basic planning principles that apply to the entire Southwest District, the plan highlights specific issues and corresponding goals and objectives for each of the four subareas and illustrates a vision for future land use on plan maps for each subarea. The planning principles, goals, and objectives within this plan are intended to be consistent with community -wide goals and policies that are embodied in the Iowa City Comprehensive Plan. Establishing sound planning principles and a vision for the future will benefit citizens living or working in the Southwest District as well as citizens in Iowa City as a whole. The Plan is divided into two sections: The Southwest District: Past and Present, which describes the location, history and existing conditions in the Southwest District; II. The Southwest District: Planning for the Future, which sets forth the planning principles, goals and objectives that will act as a framework on which to base future development decisions. This section includes a discussion of district -wide issues such as transportation and public infrastructure as well as more detailed guidelines for each of the four subareas in the district. Plan maps and concept plans in this section help to illustrate plan goals and objectives. Southwest District Plan 10(08,10211/07/22 1 Planning Process The Southwest District Plan is - based on the input of many individuals, neighborhood groups, and other interested organizations. During the summer and fall of 2001, staff from the City's Department of Planning and Community Development collected background information about the area through historical research, interviews, and site visits. To kick off the public process, the City sent over 5,000 individual notices to invite area residents to a planning workshop on November 8, 2001. The workshop was also promoted through area schools, on the City's website and in the local newspaper. Over 200 citizens responded to this outreach effort and requested to be kept informed of the planning process as it unfolded. At the first workshop, participants used the background information gathered by city staff to inform their own knowledge and experience as they worked to formulate a vision for the district. Approximately 100 citizens spent the evening examining issues relating to housing, commercial development, transportation, parks and open space, and discussed ways to make the district more livable over time. On February 5, 2002, citizens met at a second workshop to build on the work accomplished in November. Participants worked in small groups to develop more specific goals and objectives for the plan. It became apparent during the workshop process that more specific direction was needed for different geographical areas in the district. A plan for the development of new neighborhoods was needed for the outlying areas of the district, while existing zoning, traffic, and redevelopment issues are a priority for inner neighborhoods and commercial areas. In addition, specific recommendations were requested by the City Council for the area bounded by Miller Avenue, Benton Street, Harlocke Street, and Highway 1. This area was placed under a development moratorium to allow time to complete a planning study to determine the most appropriate zoning and land uses for the remaining undeveloped land. A Southwest District Plan 10,(08,'0211/07/22 - 2 smaller working group of citizens and planning staff was formed to help identify specific concerns and discuss possible scenarios for future development. The planning principles, plan maps, and concept plans contained in this document were developed from the public input gathered throughout the planning process. Citizens generated many of the specific policies and design concepts in the plan. LL- A draft plan was presented to the public in July of 2002. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed and discussed the p plan with citizens at several public hearings . in August and September and forwarded their recommended draft to the City Council for review and adoption. The City Council discussed the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommended draft at a public hearing in September. After consideration of public comments, the City Council adopted the Southwest District Plan on October 8, 2002, making it an integral part of the City's Comprehensive Plan. In winter 2020, the City began a targeted update of the plan focused on background information and the Rohret South Subarea. The goal was to vision what future development may look utilizing form -based zones for greenfield sites in light of the planned wastewater service extension under HighwaV 218 in 2023. Public input was gained throughout the project timeline, including a public open house on September 1, 2022. The draft plan was posted in October 2022, after which the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed and recommended XXXXX of the draft update at a public hearing in November. After considering public comments at a public hearing, City Council XXXXXX the Plan Update on XXXXX XXX, 2022. How Will the Southwest District Plan Be Used? The Southwest District Plan is intended to be a guide to development within the district for the next twenty to twenty-five years. As the City reviews subdivision and rezoning requests, the plan will be consulted to help ensure that new development fits into the surrounding neighborhoods. The City will refer to the Plan when setting funding priorities for public projects and services. Property owners, developers and others may also use the plan when making decisions regarding investment in the Southwest District. Continued citizen input will be important during the implementation of the plan. Private investment and neighborhood initiatives to enhance or improve housing and commercial areas and to protect valuable environmental and historic resources will be essential to the implementation of the Southwest District Plan. Southwest District Plan 10,(08,'0211/07/22 - 3 Southwest District Plan 4G/0 6211LQ7 22 The Southwest District Past and Present ♦ Location ♦ History & Existing Conditions Southwest District Plan 4GA98f62 VD7/22 5 LOCATION The Southw Planning District extends from the Iowa River west to t ity's western th area limit. It is bounded on the north by Melrose Avenue a Grand wen nd on the south by Iowa Highway 1. In the mid -1990's the City's gNwhiill are it was expanded westward to the future alignment of Highway 965, ritually skirt the eastern edge of the Iowa City Landfill. Southwest District Plan 414/0 6211/07/22 6 00 Mai I it 1 �• I I f N �.. I rr t • Southwest Plan g District j if The Southw Planning District extends from the Iowa River west to t ity's western th area limit. It is bounded on the north by Melrose Avenue a Grand wen nd on the south by Iowa Highway 1. In the mid -1990's the City's gNwhiill are it was expanded westward to the future alignment of Highway 965, ritually skirt the eastern edge of the Iowa City Landfill. Southwest District Plan 414/0 6211/07/22 6 LOCATION Southwest Planning District The Southwest Planning District extends from the Iowa River west to the City's western growth area limit. It is bounded on the north by Melrose Avenue and Grand Avenue and on the south by Iowa Highway 1. In the mid -1990's the City's growth area limit was expanded westward to the future alignment of Highway 965, which will eventually skirt the eastern edge of the Iowa City Landfill. The -growth area limit was further expanded in 2021 to account for new anticipated arowth. which added iust over 712 acres of land in the western and southern portions of the Southwest Planning District Southwest District Plan 10,(08,10211/07/22 - 6 Southwest District Plan 4G/0816211LQ7 22 HISTORY AND EXISTING CONDITIONS The Southwest District consists primarily of residential development, although it also contains important commercial areas along Riverside Drive, Highway 1 and Mormon Trek Boulevard. The residential neighborhoods and commercial areas are linked to the rest of Iowa City by a network of arterial streets and regional trails, including Melrose Avenue, Benton Street, Rohret Road, Mormon Trek Boulevard, Riverside Drive, the Willow Creek Trail, and the Iowa River Corridor Trail. Along Melrose Avenue the District abuts University Heights, which is incorporated as a separate city. The land use map on the previous page is provided as a reference. It indicates the various land uses in existence at the time this plan was updated in August 2022. Land uses remain similar to when the plan was originally drafted in June 2002deueieped. Housing The map on the following page illustrates the existing development pattern in the Southwest District. As one can see from this map, the residential uses in the District range from low-density single-family homes to high-density apartments in areas along the north side of Benton Street and along Mormon Trek Boulevard. While the area located east of Highway 218 is nearly completely developed, the area west of the highway contains low-density single-family subdivisions bordering large areas of agricultural land. A Mix of Housing While much of the land south of Rohret Road and west of Highway 218 is still used as farmland, vestiges of early country living still remain in the eastern part of the district along Melrose Avenue and Benton Street. The earliest -known house of record is at 817 Melrose Avenue. Two blocks east is the Billingsley-Hills-Widness house at 629 Melrose Avenue, which was originally a 34 -acre country estate. Constructed in 1870, this Italianate structure is one of three former estates on Melrose Avenue listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The other two houses are the Cannon -Gay and Pratt -Soper houses at 320 and 503 Melrose Avenue, respectively. Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 There are also a number of historic houses on Benton Street, including the Williams- Unash house located just east of Roosevelt School at 602 W. Benton Street, and the Cyrus S. Ranck house at 747 W. Benton Street, which was recently designated an Iowa City Landmark. Built at the turn of the century, the house was originally surrounded by a 22 -acre orchard. The current owners continue to maintain a large part of this property as natural woodland. The uaGaRt-property across from the school was once occupied by another historic brick structure, the William Butterbaugh house, which was built in 1884 on a 160 -acre farm. Behind the house were several barns and other farm structures. In 1925 Charles W. Ruppert, Sr. purchased the property and rented it to William Sanger who operated a dairy farm at this location. The R61p,e.+6 Stolle „er+,e„G of the GFigiRal ferry. however the house was abandoned and eventually demolished. It is now developed and includes the Prairie Hill Co -Housing project and a new public park4he „er+efthe gistri G. The earliest subdivisions within the Southwest District were developed between 1921 and 1924 in the area south of Melrose Avenue and north of the former Rock Island Railroad and Myrtle Avenue. These included Melrose Place, Circle and Court, as well as Brookland Place, Brookland Park, and Triangle Place. This neighborhood has narrow streets, and a wooded, rugged character that makes it intimate and distinct. Another early subdivision occurred along Miller and Hudson Avenues south of Benton Street. Many of the homes along these streets were built as a part of the Baily and Beck Addition, which was platted in 1927. Much of the area along Benton and Orchard Streets was platted in the late 1940s. A World War II aviation manufacturer constructed the small ranch -style homes along Douglas Street and Douglas Court, which was platted in 1954. Further development in the 1950s took place between Myrtle Avenue and the Iowa Interstate Railway (formerly the Rock Island Railway). Others areas south of Melrose Avenue and north of Highway 1 continued to develop through the 1970s in a rather ad hoc manner. Another factor in the development of Southwest Iowa City was an increasing need to house university students. The University expanded its west side dormitory space with the construction of Rienow Hall and Slater Hall in the late 1960s. In addition, a number of apartment blocks were developed among the small subdivisions. The Seville, Carriage Hill and Benton Manor apartment complexes were constructed at the top of the Benton Street Hill. Apartment complexes were constructed around "University Lake" between University Heights to the north and Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f08f82 10 1960s -era single-family neighborhoods to the south. Additional apartment blocks were built along Oakcrest Street. Larger subdivisions in the Southwest District were not platted until after the 1960s. From the late 60s through the 70s, most of the area south of Benton Street and east of Willow Creek Park was platted and built. The subdivisions west of Willow Creek Park were all platted in the last two decades of the twentieth century. In the western portion of the Southwest District, development is occurring primarily in the area north of Rohret Road. The Galway Hills subdivision se4#R4e649--was developed north of near the intersection of Highway 218 and Melrose Avenue. A new retirement community was recently constructed in this vicinity, directly adjacent to West High School. West of Highway 218, Wild Prairie Estates and Country Club Estates continue their build -out near Weber Elementary School. Urban development ;enot likeslowly te-expanded very 961OGMYsouth of Rohret Road due to the difficulty in providing sanitary sewer service. Many Of tiSome homes in this area are located outside the city limits in Johnson County. These residences have private wells and their own septic systems. Since this plan was original adopted in 2002, the Southwest District experienced additional development. Almost all land east of Highway 218 is now built out, and areas near the Iowa River and University have seen significant redevelopment following adoption of the Riverfront Crossings Form -Based Code in 2013. West of Highway 218 and north of Rohret Road, Country Club Estates and Wild Prairie Estates continued to grow, and additional development is expected in the Rohret South Subarea following the planned extension of sewer service under Highway 218 in 2023. Public Institutions The Southwest District is home to a number of public institutions that serve the community. These institutions are markers of the district's individuality. Not only do they serve the citizens of the Southwest District, but they also bring people from other areas of the city to the district. The University of Iowa has a significant presence in the northeast part of the district, including the Boyd Law Building overlooking the Iowa River, several parking lots, and scattered properties along Melrose Avenue used as rental property and child daycare. In addition, the University influences development in the Southwest District because it owns much of the property directly north of the District, including the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Nursing, the university's athletic facilities, and several dormitories. The Iowa City Community School District has a number of schools in southwest Iowa City. Q^'" o^^;^y^" ^^ 'Horn elementary school is aF8 located along Benton Street. Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 11 Roosevelt elementary school was also on Benton Street until 2012, after which it was converted into an education center and was subsequently decommissioned in 2019. West High School has a large campus along Melrose Avenue and Weber Elementary School is located in the western part of the district along Rohret Road. These schools serve both educational and community purposes and are often a gathering place for people in the surrounding neighborhoods. One of the Southwest District's largest undeveloped properties is owned by Johnson County and was formerly the site of an important public institution. Located on Melrose Avenue near Slothower Road, the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm provided care to those who were unable to care for themselves, including both the indigent and the mentally disabled, from the 1850s until the 1960s. The intent was for the farm to be partially self- supporting. From its earliest days, farming was an important part of its operations. Residents of the historic poor farm were expected to do what farm chores they could manage in order to compensate the county for their care. In 1964, a newer facility was built on the site. Chatham Oaks, a privately run institution for persons with mental illness, is currently housed in this building. Johnson County continues to own and maintain the property and the remaining farmland to a'oral farmer. In 1977, the remaining wing of the original 1859 asylum building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This structure was restored by the County and opened to the public in 1990. In addition to the historic asylum building, a number of early farm buildings and the Historic Poor Farm cemetery are notable features of the foods to local pantries, and the Iowa Global Food Prosect, which provides garden spaces for immigrant communities to grow their native foods. Southwest District Plan 11/22 /22a 9f98f92 12 Transportation Melrose Avenue, Benton Street, Highway 1, Riverside Drive, Mormon Trek Boulevard and Rohret Road form the backbone of the transportation network in the Southwest District. These arterial streets serve two important functions, to provide travel routes for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians through and to different parts of the community, and to provide access to adjacent properties via collector and local streets. Highway 218, which cuts diagonally through the district, also provides access to the southwest portion of Iowa City, although its primary function is to serve motorists travelling through the metropolitan area. Many of these streets were also important in the early development of the district. Melrose Avenue was once called Snooks Grove Road and known popularly as the Poor Farm Road. Snooks Grove was a settlement located on Bear Creek in Poweshiek County. The residents of Snooks Grove Road eventually rebelled and it was renamed Melrose Avenue. This name became the basis for the naming of Melrose Place, Melrose Circle and Melrose Court. However, the origin of "Melrose" is not known. The topography in certain areas along Benton Street is quite steep. For years, what is now referred to as the Benton Street Hill was called Ranck Hill. The steep hill has always been difficult in the winter months. Irving Weber notes accounts of Roosevelt schoolteachers having to "gun" their engines and push their vehicles to reach the school. To the children living in the area, however, the hill was a popular location for sledding until 1952, when the City paved it. Rohret Road was named for Bavarian immigrant Wolfgang Rohret. He, his wife Katrina, and four sons had staked out a claim along Old Man's Creek in 1840. Wolfgang and his sons traveled the early road daily to and from Iowa City and their employment as construction workers on the new state capitol building. The Rohret sons were later hired by Lyman Dillon to plow the 100 -mile -long Dillon's Furrow between Iowa City and Dubuque. In 1856, Iowa City was the westernmost stop for the railroad. During that year, five parties of Mormon converts from England, Scotland, Wales, Norway, and Denmark passed through Iowa City on their trek to Salt Lake City, Utah, which they believed to be the promised land. The first party arrived in May and they spent four weeks at a camp along Clear Creek. While encamped, they built handcarts for hauling their belongings on the continuation of their journey. By the end of July, the last party left Southwest District Plan 11/07/2210,108,102 ^',-0108,102 13 Mormon Trek Boulevard Iowa City for Utah with their handcarts in tow. Because of the late start, however, they encountered severe winter weather, and between 135 and 150 died en route. Legend has it that five Mormon graves are located near their Iowa City camp, but none have yet been discovered. The Mormon Handcart Park and Trail commemorate this camp and Mormon Trek Boulevard was named in honor of their journey. The decision in the late 1970s to construct Highway 218 as a diagonally -routed, limited -access highway through southwestern Iowa City has had, and will continue to have, a major influence on development in this part of the city. Highway 218 forms part of v.,hat ;^,i° eventually be the "Avenue of the Saints," an expressway between Saint Paul, Minnesota and Saint Louis, Missouri. While providing an important transportation route, Highway 218 is a substantial barrier separating the neighborhoods southwest of it from the rest of Iowa City. Melrose Avenue, Rohret Road, and Highway 1 are the only streets that bridge across the highway. Integrating and connecting the neighborhoods west of Highway 218 to the rest of the community will remain a challenge as the City develops westward. Trail connections under the roadbed may help to integrate new neighborhoods into the community and provide connections to important destinations, such as West High School, on the east side of the highway. Additional north -south street connections between Melrose Avenue, Rohret Road and Highway 1 will improve traffic circulation within the area and will help to connect these westernmost neighborhoods with neighborhoods east of the highway. Improvements to Melrose Avenue, Mormon Trek Boulevard, and Rohret Road in the past decade have improved the capacity of the arterial street system in western Iowa City. While there is some congestion on portions of Benton Street and Mormon Trek Boulevard near the University of Iowa campus during peak hours, level of service is generally adequate. However, there are still opportunities to better control access to improve safety ❑e + e �+ et _ Rse+ a+rep+;;nd aIGR ..,er+iGR6 of Riverside Drive n+rib-i+e to Rg.eGtOGR, dela", and appidents. As development continues west of Mormon Trek Boulevard and along Highway 1, the demands on the arterial street system will increase. High vehicle speeds have been reported along long curvilinear streets near West High and in Southwest Estates, especially on streets like Lakeshore Drive and Duck Creek Drive. As a result, plans to connect Edingale Drive to Highway 1 have been met with some concern. As the property at 1160 Highwav 1 West redevelops, attention must be Southwest District Plan 11/07/2210,108,102 ^',-0108,102 14 given to traffic calming and connectivity to Horn Elementary, West High, and the University. Commercial Development The Southwest District contains extensive commercial development along Highway 1 and on Riverside Drive. Much of this development is in the form of commercial strips. Larger businesses line the Highway 1 corridor and provide goods and services to the greater Iowa City area. South Riverside Drive is composed of smaller commercial lots with many individual access drives off of the roadway, making it seem busier and more congested. The Riverside Drive commercial area has a long history and is in many ways the very model of post - World War II commercial strip development. The area was annexed in the 1920s and remained mostly residential for the next couple of decades. Following the war, households began moving out and businesses began moving in, finally outnumbering homes by 1959 and reaching saturation around 1970. Contributing to this was Riverside's changing transportation role over the years. It served as the converged route of State Highway 1 and U.S. Highways 6 and 218 and as the southern entryway into Iowa City. This made it an attractive place to locate filling stations and other auto -service uses and auto -oriented uses, such as fast-food restaurants. The growth of residential neighborhoods in areas to the west, the expansion of commercial uses along Highway 1 West and Highway 6 East, and the reorientation of Highway 218 far to the west in the 1980s effectively displaced Riverside Drive from its former entryway role. Since the adoption of the Riverfront Crossings Master Plan in 2013, several redevelopment projects have occurred on Riverside Drive which have improved the appearance and functionality of the street, provided additional commercial amenities, and new added residents along the corridor. Riverside Drive Southwest District Plan 11/07/2210,108,102 ^',-0108,102 15 The Southwest District also contains a smaller neighborhood commercial area called Walden Square. This compact shopping center is located on Mormon Trek Boulevard near its intersection with Benton Street. Walden Square includes a neighborhood grocery store, several retail shops and restaurants, and a credit union. Unlike commercial development along Highway 1 and Riverside Drive, which relies primarily on attracting drive-by customers from the entire Iowa City area, the primary focus at Walden Square is to provide for the everyday shopping needs of the surrounding neighborhoods. While parking spaces are prevalent at Walden Square, neighborhood residents can also ride their bikes or walk to these shops via the Willow Creek Trail, which runs adjacent to this development. In addition, the Southwest District has seen significant commercial development at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 218. These developments, which are Primarily large commercial uses including car lots and home and garden stores, were driven by the extension of Mormon Trek Boulevard from Highway 1 to South Riverside Drive. Parks and Open Space The Southwest District contains a number of regional and neighborhood parks. Willow Creek Park and Kiwanis Park together provide a large regional park facility that not only serves the surrounding neighborhoods on the west side of the City, but also attracts users from other parts of town. The Iowa River Corridor Trail skirts the eastern boundary of the district. The newly devd Ned Ashton Park, located at the corner of Benton Street and Riverside Drive, provides a neighborhood access point and resting area for the Iowa River Corridor Trail. Brookland Park, at the intersection of Greenwood Drive and the Iowa Interstate Railway, provides both active and passive recreational opportunities for the surrounding Melrose and Miller - Orchard neighborhoods. The rit„ has Yege^tly ag961i.ed prepe.+„ alOR9 Benton 2treet Hill Park across from the former Roosevelt Elementary te-�was developed into a small park with play equipment and a shelter. DORG, fissions gentin,,e ,s to how this paFk might hest he developed to serve the surrounding residents. Tower Court Park is a small pocket park that is enjoyed by residents living along Tower Court and Oakcrest Street. Similarly, Harlocke Hill Park, acquired in 2004, is a small park serving its Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 16 neighborhood at the junction of Harlocke Place and Harlocke Street. Villa Park, located west of University Heights, contains both active and passive areas and also doubles as a stormwater detention facility. Hunters Run Park serves the westernmost neighborhoods of the district. It is located west of Highway 218 along Duck Creek Drive. While this park consists largely of natural areas with trails, improvements have recently been made to provide more active park space. Southwest District Plan 11/07/2210,108,102 ^',-0108,102 17 The Southwest District Planning for the Future ♦ Planning Principles Southwest District Plan 11/07ZMG� G8 18 PLANNING PRINCIPLES During the planning process, citizens discussed what was most valued in the Southwest District and those aspects that could use improvement. They also discussed principles that should be followed as new neighborhoods are developed in the future. Many of the specific ideas, concepts, and goals generated at the citizen planning workshops are included in the remaining sections of the plan. These principles also mirror those in the IC2030 Comprehensive Plan. The following citizen -generated principles provide the underlying framework for the plan: • Citizens stressed the importance of providing a diversity of housing in the District, including homes for first time buyers, mid-sized homes, estate -style homes, townhouses, condominiums and apartments. The appropriate design and mix of housing types is important to the creation of livable neighborhoods. • Citizens emphasized the importance of preserving and stabilizing close -in, diverse neighborhoods. Citizens expressed a desire for better enforcement of existing zoning and nuisance laws and a re-examination of existing zoning patterns in the older parts of the District. There is also concern about the encroachment of university uses into the neighborhoods south of Melrose Avenue. • Design issues are important to citizens. There was a desire expressed to establish design standards for higher density uses so that these uses would be well integrated into existing and future neighborhoods. Variety in building design is a desirable goal. Monotonous repetition of the same building along a street frontage or in a neighborhood should be discouraged. Citizens emphasized that buildings should be designed to be sensitive to the environment, the topography, and the surrounding development. • Citizens feel it is important to design new neighborhoods around a focal point such as a neighborhood commercial district, community center or park. The Garse+a kale Future Land Use Map was developed with this principle in mind. • Citizens want to prevent sprawl and preserve the rural character of the far western and southern portions of the district. Although these areas are not likely to remain permanently in farm use, the plan encourages orderly growth. Urban densities should not occur until public facilities are in place and until areas adjacent to existing urban development are built out. • A safe, efficient network of streets is important to neighborhood residents. Emphasis should be placed on designing street networks that prevent cut -through traffic on local streets and provide safe travel routes for bicyclists and pedestrians. • Citizens emphasized the importance of providing good access to public transit. Expansion of transit service should be considered in areas where higher densities develop. • Trails, wide sidewalks, and bicycle lanes are viewed as important transportation links to neighborhood destinations. • With regard to parks, open space and trails, there is overwhelming support for creating an interconnected system of neighborhood and regional parks throughout the district. • Citizens expressed support for attractive, well-designed commercial areas that serve the daily needs of the surrounding residents. Design, accessibility, and types of commercial uses were important topics discussed at the workshops. Southwest District Plan 11/07/2210,108,102 ^',-0108,102 19 TRANSPORTATION The transportation system in the Southwest District includes arterial streets, trails and wide sidewalks, and public transit. More detailed information about neighborhood transportation issues is included in the subarea sections below. Arterial Streets The only new arterial street corridor planned for within the Southwest District is the future extension of Highway 965 from Highway 6 to Melrose Avenue, and eventually to Highway 1. North of Melrose Avenue, the Highway 965 corridor will be located along the Hurt Road alignment and along the east side of the Iowa City Landfill south of Melrose Avenue. Highway 965 will not only provide an additional north -south link between Iowa City and Coralville, it will create an additional link in the regional arterial street system by connecting Highway 1 in Iowa City to Highway 6 in Coralville and beyond to North Liberty. While it's identified as a prosect in the most recent Long Range Transportation Plan, the extension of Highway 965 through the district is not expected to receive funding through at least 20450dRn*0fi^r, as a I^ 29 tG 25 ye@FG on the fi-bir^ Other plaeaed arterial street extensions that will -affected traffic patterns in the Southwest District included the extension of Mormon Trek Boulevard from Highway 1 through the South Central Planning District to Riverside Drive, and Camp Cardinal Read Boulevard from Melrose Avenue north to Highway 6 in Coralville. The extension of Mormon Trek Boulevard to Riverside Drive in 2008 will created an additional east -west arterial street link, ai^d 4r^Ffi.. F r ^ 4 hR-Ye r.hAMO^ it M0011 10kely result in r^.Ji in4inn in traffi^ on Q^ntnn meet. The extension of Camp Cardinal Read Boulevard between Melrose Avenue and Highway 6 in 2007 w4 -created an additional north -south link between Iowa City and Coralville .;^# f n. The construction and improvements to these roads facilitated additional growth in the area. The City has also recently converted some 4 -lane roads into 3 -lane roads, including much of Mormon Trek Boulevard. New traffic counts are not vet available to show the impact of these changes due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic which substantially reduced traffic from 2020 to 2021. For existing arterial streets, segments of Benton Street, Highways 1 and 6, and Riverside Drive have been identified as needing improvement. Sidewalk gaps and Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f08f82 20 inadequate bicycle facilities make the area less safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. In addition, peer access control can be improved,^entrib rtes to the higher than aye sell+siea rates especially along these streetsBenton Street and Riverside Drive. As opportunities arise through redevelopment projects, a concerted effort should be made to fill in the sidewalk gaps, consolidate driveways and/or shift the location of driveways to safer locations. In the case of Highways 1 West/6 East, significant pedestrian improvements are needed near the intersection of Riverside Drive and on the bridge over the Iowa River. While the addition of vehicle travel lanes is not currently being contemplated, beth Benton Street and Riverside Drive will periodically be evaluated for improved turning lanes, bicycle facilities, and traffic control. Traffic control devices, such as traffic signals or signs, may be warranted if they improve safety and/or traffic flow without having a negative impact on other neighborhood streets. Because traffic control devices have the potential to increase the collision rate and/or increase traffic on surrounding streets, a traffic engineering study needs to be completed before additional traffic control is added to an intersection. Public Transit As a result of the City's major transit study and overhaul of the bus lines in 2021, tT-he Southwest District is now served by a number of Iowa City transit routes, including the 8=Oakcrest, `"estwinds Plae^ "iew, `n' stpeFt a^.+ 10 — West Side 14Gia-- OWa City, and 12 — Hi-ghway 1 routes. The University of Iowa's CAMBUS provides service to the Hawkeye Park commuter lot and the University of Iowa Campus. The 8 — Oakcrest route serves Melrose Avenue, Sunset Street, and the residential areas along Oakcrest and Benton Streets with headways of 15 minutes during peak hours, 30 minutes during off-peak hours, and 60 minutes on Saturday. The 10 — West Iowa Q per -Route s directly serves residential, commercial, and institutional areas along Melrose Avenue, Mormon Trek Boulevard, and Rohret Road with headways of 30 minutes on weekdays and 60 minutes on Saturday. The 12 — Highway 1 serves Riverside Drive/Highway 6, the Highway 1 commercial area, Sunset Boulevard, Benton Street, and or; --the commercial/employment serriders reas . „eFage to the pFedomiRatei„ . videRtivi areas of the cep ithwec+ DistFiGt iRGI61diRg the gorrimprnmal RGdeC e'e^^ en Mormon Trek Boulevard north of Benton Street with headways of 30 minutes during peak hours and Saturdays, and 60 minutes during off-peak hoursend the I lni„erci+., of Iowa's Health SGieRGes r,rv.Each of these routes terminates at the Downtown Transit Interchange in Iowa City„ and tTransfers between routes can be made wherever routes overlap. As -growth occurs in the Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98/82 21 Southwest District west of Highway 218 and south of Rohret Road, additional changes to transit service may occur. Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Pedestrian trails within the city are used both for recreation and as transportation routes. Three two eq;9Pa-I--maior trails iR-serve the Southwest District_iask4de-the Iowa River Corridor (IRC) Trail, the Highway 1 Trail, and the Willow Creek Trail. The IRC Trail, is Dart of a regional trail system that extends more than 12 miles, G11YYentl„ e„ten,ts from Terry Trueblood Recreation Area to Aeon the a act cine of the Iowa Drier, where i+ n to the a c+ c;mdp and n ntinuuecc south to Alanoleon Parkthe Macbride Nature Area. Future plans isskade-will extending the IRC Trail along the west side of the river from Benton Street south togis erry P-a*McCollister Boulevard. The Hiahwav 1 Trail runs from Orchard Street to Mormon Trek Boulevard. where it connects with a side path that extends north to Coralville. A short on -street connection from the Highway 1 Trail links to t -The Willow Creek Trail, continues on through Kiwanis Park, Willow Creek Park, Walden Square shopping area, and on Guurrentl„ n „ides to West High School, Walden Square G al 141104.9 Greek Dark and Ili.eianis Park an.f the n ohhorhoo.fs West of 21 -inset Ctreet Future plans include extending the Willow Creek Trail under Highway 218 to Hunters Run Park and the County Historic Poor Farm property, and eventually to Melrose Avenue. A side path is also provided along Rohret Road. To the south, the \�,�-n, r"AW GFeek T -Fail is planned pedestrians can cross „Highway 1 ef-at a signalized intersection tG�which connects to the commercial properties on the south side of Highway 1. Ultimately, the 14110.0 Greek Trail is planned ton rally folloui WIIGW Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 22 ,_ - -- Wd-- - Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Pedestrian trails within the city are used both for recreation and as transportation routes. Three two eq;9Pa-I--maior trails iR-serve the Southwest District_iask4de-the Iowa River Corridor (IRC) Trail, the Highway 1 Trail, and the Willow Creek Trail. The IRC Trail, is Dart of a regional trail system that extends more than 12 miles, G11YYentl„ e„ten,ts from Terry Trueblood Recreation Area to Aeon the a act cine of the Iowa Drier, where i+ n to the a c+ c;mdp and n ntinuuecc south to Alanoleon Parkthe Macbride Nature Area. Future plans isskade-will extending the IRC Trail along the west side of the river from Benton Street south togis erry P-a*McCollister Boulevard. The Hiahwav 1 Trail runs from Orchard Street to Mormon Trek Boulevard. where it connects with a side path that extends north to Coralville. A short on -street connection from the Highway 1 Trail links to t -The Willow Creek Trail, continues on through Kiwanis Park, Willow Creek Park, Walden Square shopping area, and on Guurrentl„ n „ides to West High School, Walden Square G al 141104.9 Greek Dark and Ili.eianis Park an.f the n ohhorhoo.fs West of 21 -inset Ctreet Future plans include extending the Willow Creek Trail under Highway 218 to Hunters Run Park and the County Historic Poor Farm property, and eventually to Melrose Avenue. A side path is also provided along Rohret Road. To the south, the \�,�-n, r"AW GFeek T -Fail is planned pedestrians can cross „Highway 1 ef-at a signalized intersection tG�which connects to the commercial properties on the south side of Highway 1. Ultimately, the 14110.0 Greek Trail is planned ton rally folloui WIIGW Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 22 Bike lanes are provided on Mormon Trek Boulevard and Rohret Road. Iowa City's Bicycle Master Plan calls for bike lanes and/or sidepaths on the following Streets: Benton and Sunset Streets; west of University Heights on Melrose Avenue; and south of Highway 1 on Mormon Trek Boulevard. Wide sidewalks within arterial street corridors enhance the pedestrian/bicycle network and are used to help connect neighborhoods to the trail system. An important objective of the plan is to continue filling in the existing gaps in the sidewalk network in the district, as well as expanding connectivity throughout the pedestrian and bicycle network. As arterial streets in southwest Iowa City are reconstructed, it will be important to continue adding features such as wide sidewalks. bike lanes or wide travel lanes for bicyclists, and pedestrian -friendly bridges and underpasses. While many gains have been made since 2002 including trails and crossings along Highway 1, the City should continue to Pgrioritizes &Q, Id the following pedestrian facility improvements: Fill in the gaps and improve the sidewalks along Riverside Drive; Fill in the gaps and improve i he sidewalk network along Benton Street; \Allen the ci.lewRIkq nn nnp ci.le of Qentnn Street where n sihle-, As the district continues to develop, evaluate the need for new or improved pedestrian crossings; nedec+rian/hinvnle aGGe6G to the Highway 1 n al n ertiec As -Provide pedestrian and bicycle routes that improve connectivity, especially in well -travelled areas such as near the University of Iowa campucfa^i i„ ies-a,z added to the H ghway 1 n rrirler pedestrian GFG66ORgS will Reed to he established (lnnohiinitiec fnr nese striae nlssiRgs exist at the c alined ipterseotiops A Provide pedestrian facilities on the Highway 6 bridge across the Iowa River and at the intersection of Highway 1/Highway 6 and Riverside Drive. Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98/82 23 Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 24 PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES Fire Protection The Iowa City Fire Department provides fire protection to the Southwest District. Fire Station No. 2, located at 301 Emerald Street, provides primary response to the District. Secondary response is provided by Fire Station No. 1, located downtown at the Iowa City Civic Center. First response times for the developed properties in the District average between four and eight minutes. However, response times for properties Fire Station No. 2 located on the periphery of the Southwest District can exceed eight minutes. As the Southwest District continues to develop westward, it is likely that response times will increase. To help keep response times low, it n4ay-will be necessary to secure land to rate develop a new Fire Station NO 7 farther cei hh,e,ec* 9e .h,. it 06 Rearer to the g shin n n+er of en the far west side of the city. Arterial street continuity and secondary access are important to ensure adequate fire and emergency protection. A location on RehFet primary street with good access to the area would be appropriate. Sanitary Sewer Service Sanitary sewer is essential for development within Iowa City. Without public sewer service, development is limited to one house per acre. In such situations a private septic system is required and is controlled by the Johnson County Health Department. Because it greatly increases the allowable intensity of development, the construction of a sewer line can have as much influence on development as zoning laws. Sanitary sewer service in the Southwest District is provided by a series of major interceptor/trunk sewer lines and the lateral sewer lines which feed into them. Interceptor and trunk sewers are large pipes that provide service to an entire drainage basin and are usually constructed by the City. The City has a standing policy of recouping the cost of trunkline construction by collecting "tap -on" fees from developments that later hook into the sewer. In the Southwest District, the primary sewers are the Westside Trunk, Willow Creek Interceptor, and Southwest Trunk. Lateral sewer lines are smaller sewers that feed into trunk and interceptor sewers. Individual houses and buildings have service lines that hook into the lateral sewer lines. All of the city's sewer lines flow to eae Pf he City's two -wastewater treatment plants. The Aler+h 1 4a5;tA ere+er Tree+men+ Dl;;nt is ler;;tAd adjaGen++e the 19WR Drier ner+h of Highway 6. The SAI-Ith TFARtMARt PIA located to the north of Southwest District Plan 11 /07/2248f98/82 25 Napoleon Street on the far south side of the city. Thiele 4-G�plants treats raw sewage according to Federal and State requirements so that the treated wastewater can be released into the Iowa River. All of the existing developments in the Southwest District are adequately served by the existing sanitary sewer system. There are properties is the souther+R pertie+R f the r -e6124„ r!„h Estates ;;re;; Rohret Road and west of Highway 218 that cannot be further developed until the Abbey Lane Trunk Sewer is extended to the west side of Highway 218^" loft station is built tG pump sewage +e the Westside Tri ink. Until theise improvements anis made, there will be no further expansion in this part of the &6i_ CLty. Development in the area west of Slothower Road can utilize the landfill lift station to pump sewage to the Westside Trunk as a temporary measure until additional trunk lines, a lift station and the Abbey Lane Trunk sewer are constructed to serve the larger growth area south of Rohret Road. The provision of sewer service to the area south of Rohret Road and west of Highway 218 will require the Abbey Lane Trunk Sewer to be extended under Highway 218 and, for the far westerly portions of the growth area, the construction of a lift station. The Abbev Lane Trunk Sewer is scheduled to be extended in 2023.94e Water Service As development occurs, water lines are extended from adjacent subdivisions to serve areas of new growth. Individual developers are responsible for installing water mains within their subdivisions. Developers are also charged a water main extension fee that is applied to their share of the cost of building the city-wide distribution system. The City installed water main along Slothower Road from Melrose Avenue to the water main in the Country Club Estates Additions. The water main in the Country Club Estates Additions extends to the water main in Rohret Road and creates a looped system that v+siafty-te improves the resilience of the water supply system presswe-0n the far west side of the city. For the same reason, it will be necessary in the near t„+„re to loop the existing re mains along Highway 1 and lesated aleng Rohret Road MpImc;e A pm -P me rro\rJFaL' The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center abuts the western boundary of the Southwest District and is directly west of the proposed future alignment of Highway 965. The landfill has been in use since 1972, serving all of Johnson County and the communities of Riverside and Kalona in Washington County. The landfill has an estimated site life of 25 to 30 te-3&-years. The current cell 20A apre site has about Southwest District Plan 11/07/2210,108,102 ^',-0108,102 26 1390 out of 411 acres buried in refuse mainly on the eastern portion of the property. Th^c^ , nn h,.,^ Much of this area has been capped and grass has been planted to stabilize the banks. The land on the west of the site and ^'^^^ a ^ I ^^^* ^ ^ ^ •^"^^i^^'^^^' 66IFF96IRGIOR9 the i�^- fiu to +h^ ,. ^^+ n^.fh ,^d south On ^rdPr.^ ,EJEJ ^ Gity ,^d to created a buffer between the landfill and any fit re developm ^*surrounding properties. Portions of the buffer area could be used for recreation and the landfill itself could be used for recreational purposes in the distant future. Besides landfilling operations, the City manages multiple recycling programs and a commercial compost facility at this site. Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 27 SOUTHWEST DISTRICT SUBAREAS r r Weber Suh x r Kohret South Wilkin Creek Subarea r rn subarea The following sections the plan refer to the four subareas ill rated on the map above. The goals abjectives for each of these areas are big hted in the text and illustrated oKadf''extensions nceptual plan maps. These plan maps are or -coded to indicate the typend use or types of development intended for cific areas. In addition, futur and possible new street configuratio\nture ustrated using dashe nes. The red lines on the plan maps indicate existing trails and wide gidrewalks. Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 28 SOUTHWEST DISTRICT SUBAREAS The following sections of the plan refer to the four subareas illustrated on the map above. The goals and objectives for each of these areas are highlighted in the text and illustrated on a -conceptual plan maps. These plan maps are color -coded to indicate the types of land use or types of development intended for specific areas. In addition, future road extensions and possible new street configurations are illustrated using dashed lines. The red lines on the plan maps indicate existing and future trails and wide sidewalks. Southwest District Plan 48f98f62 VD7/22 24 Know. r I I u 1141 rra N cher Subarea .� ►illux Cr.rk tiuharea 1 1 knhrrl Soulh %mbarea r r r r The following sections of the plan refer to the four subareas illustrated on the map above. The goals and objectives for each of these areas are highlighted in the text and illustrated on a -conceptual plan maps. These plan maps are color -coded to indicate the types of land use or types of development intended for specific areas. In addition, future road extensions and possible new street configurations are illustrated using dashed lines. The red lines on the plan maps indicate existing and future trails and wide sidewalks. Southwest District Plan 48f98f62 VD7/22 24 ROHRET SOUTH SUBAREA The Rohret South Subarea extends west from Highway 218 and south from Rohret Road to the City's growth area limit. The vast FnajeFity.Most of the land in this subarea is currently outside Iowa City's corporate limits and is used primarily for agriculture. The non-farm uses in the area can be characterized as large -lot semi - rural home Thee hernes ter& located primarily along the south side of Rohret Road, along Kitty Lee Road, a+4d-in the Rohret Court and Kessler Road area, and in scattered locations. Topographically, the easteFR p9t-R-much of the subarea consists of rolling hills with some flatter areas along the hills' crests. The'Land in the northeast portion of the subarea generally drains into the ���* _ d thea@ aFe Middle Branch Willow Creek which flows east through two pFimary,semi-wooded drainageways leading to a low area directly west of Highway 218. A& -In the southeast portion of the subarea, the watershed drains south. West of Maier Avenue, water sheds west and then south to Old Man's Creek. The topography provides scenic vistas for the area but also creates infrastructure challenges'^^' stretpher to the ,. erter„ Limits of Qit y'G , Wth @Fea, the Public Services and Facilities In orderJo develop at urban densities, city services such as sewer and water will have to be extended to the Rohret South Subarea. 9ase-Tthe Abbey Lane trunk sewer project in 2023 will ie -extend sewer servicesed west of Highway 218, which will make the northeast portion of this subarea woll hPG ne suitable for urban development. It is, therefore, important to plan now for the future orderly growth of this part of the Southwest District. Once the northeast portion of the subarea develops, sewer will need to be extended west to the Old Man's Creek watershed via Southwest District Plan +8/98162-11 /07/22 51 a pressurized sewer main and lift station, according to the 2011 Sewer System Master Plan. To the southeast, sewer can be provided by a pressurized sewer main and lift station south of Highway 1. Both proposed lift stations to the west and south are planned, but not expected to be constructed in the near future. �}=Storm water management is also required is Iowa Qty to offset the detrimental effects of urbanization on downstream land use. The •epeFt states +h,+ i+ In this subarea, stormwater should be managed at the regional S+,...., ,. R+e. AGR491 faGir+„ upstream of uighway 212 Qn the C;;Pr p r e.+„ ;;'Inwlevel with fewer, larger detention basins, which would reduce the number of smaller basins needed. This creates several benefits, including 6 -more efficient use of land resources, lower total maintenance costs, and RIWAA for additional multipurpose uses. For example, the future land use map shows a regional stormwater detention lake in the northeast portion of the subarea which could accommodate recreational uses such as water activities, "mP-RitiP-S; R, Gh trails, and other reGreation faGilifies Anuld he developed , Rd then ., I,ke amenities thate serve surrounding residential neighborhoods. It is based on a study t♦i �89t} may be its-suitablej& for a future regional stormwater management facility .2 In addition to recreational uses, 9such a regional facility would provide safe and efficient control of drainage from the undeveloped watershed and would reducetkeR of regional stormwater management options. Form -Based Land Use The future land use map on P. 59 illustrates the potential future uses of property within the Rohret South subarea. It utilizes form -based land use categories to demonstrate characteristics desired in this subarea, including neighborhood centers, a mix of housing types, public parks, pedestrian routes between amenities, an interconnected street network, and adequate public services. There is some flexibility in interpreting and applying the future land use vision to this subarea depending on engineering constraints, environmental factors, and the preferences of individual property owners. However, any development must be consistent with this vision and City regulations. z Iowa- Gity .f iewa G ty, iewa Pub! . WOFI(S Depa*neRt QGtGbeF 1996 2 Preliminary Desion Report for Carson's Lake. Reoional Storm Water Manaaement Plan for Iowa Cit Iowa. City of Iowa City, Iowa Public Works Department, October, 1996. Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f)8f82 52 Form -based land use represents a paradigm shift from more conventional use -based maps. Traditional land use maps are organized into four major categories: residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional. In other words, they identify areas for houses, for stores and offices, for factories, and for schools and civic buildings respectively. However, this future land use map utilizes form -based categories to determine what may be built where. This means that it focuses on how the built environmental may look and function first, and then the land use secondly. As a result, it reflects the intended physical character of places, such as describing a "main street" area rather than a "commercial" or "mixed use" area. In addition, form -based land uses incorporate other elements of the built environment to create vibrant walkable urbanism, including the interaction of uses, civic spaces, thoroughfares, frontages, and building types. Iowa City's form -based land use categories are organized by the Natural -to -Urban Transect framework. 'Transects' are a hierarchy of physical environments ranging from the natural environment (Transect 1 or T1) to the urban core (Transect 6 or T6). The designation of each transect along this hierarchy is determined first by the type of place and intensity of development, and secondly by the mix of uses. This hierarchy replaces traditional use categories as the organizing principle for most of this subarea. Because the subarea is on the edge of Iowa City, it includes only designations from the T3 Suburban and T4 General Urban transects. RURAL I III I I III ITRANSECT I 11111111 URBAN ZONESNATURAL TRANSECT L!�, e, . *.,*w . r 411 * ot y y .+,. %r Ix ��Y t momt:7 I -f! ' ��iY �� ■11 'ill ��■ � � • •: Y• Y Y - Anv future annexations. rezoninas. and subdivisions must be consistent with the vision in this Plan. In 2021, the City developed form -based zones for greenfield sites at Article 14-21-1 Form -Based Zones and Standards. The Article has zoning districts and reaulations that are aenerallv consistent with this Plan and may be used to help in the implementation of its vision New Neighborhoods Given the Ai-prent pattern of existing development and infrastructure constraints in the Southwest District, it is likely that new,er"eecls development in the Rohret South Subarea will begin develepiRg fire+ OR the y ofnear the intersection of Southwest District Plan 11/07/2210,108,102 ^',-0108,102 53 Rohret Road and Highway 218. This area is in -closer p;G*�F4*to existing services than areas further west or south and development is expected to continue following the Abbey Lane trunk sewer as it extends west. As noted above, this area #as&- ay been ideRt as;suitable for a regional stormwater detention T facility. his, a„GI along with its -associated amenities which would further encourage new development in the ^^th 'eist ^^1'M^^ remainder of the Rehr h Subarea. The attanhed Gars^„ Lake Gnnnen+ Plan future land use map illustrates how a regional stormwater facility can be integrated into the design of a new neighborhood. The following elements should be included to maximize the benefit of this public facility to all area residents and visitors to this part of the City: A park should be created around the entire lake with appropriate recreational facilities to allow for easy public access, views and recreational enjoyment. Amenities may include areas for a playground, picnic tables, and restrooms. �A public street and bicycle/pedestrian trail ring the entire lake. The street wshould define the edge of the parkar^i ins' at lead the northern half of the lake Appropriate Perreational fa Aili+iec chni ld he Inneted Within the Perk Di bli^ tree+ -n,t while the trail aGG ss to the park should alre-be Inn;;tPd nn +he cniith ci.Je of+he lake . n hin„nleinedectrlan trail should r n the ^^tire lake run through the park and tie into the broader trail system th which connects to other G#t L neighborhoods. Perk Derklnn for these renreational fenili+iecc chnnLJ he Innete.J nn the p blip street OF in smaller narking In+c for 19 , 5 n,rsOther civic uses such as an indoor recreation center and/or elementary school should be located near the future park to provide mutual benefit to all uses involved. Southwest District Plan 11 /07/2248f98/82 54 Given the drainage issues in this area, if a stormwater lake is not constructed, a publiGpark with a smaller water feature and public amenities, including trails, picnic tables, playground and restrooms, MgLbe considered in lieu of the lake. The re^emmendPd ^ e"*`. f^.'ae„elgpMeRt around the lake design considerations above shwould also apply to the park if it does not include a lake. Regardless, a regional park of some sort is needed in the Southwest Planning District. This Plan also shows neighborhood centers spread throughout the subarea, along with an interconnected street and pedestrian network. Neighborhood centers serve as a focal point for nearby residents and can include a mix of commercial, residential and institutional uses, such as schools, parks, fire stations, or other civic buildings. Interconnected streets and pedestrian routes diffuse traffic and make it easier to get around the area using multiple modes of transportation. These centers help to Promote walkability and address the needs of those living nearby. Care must be given to the design of new neighborhoods to preserve the natural features of the area, including woodland areas, streams, potential wetlands, and steep slopes, and minimize the need for extensive grading. The Gity'S geRGitk•e Areas Map shows a GiqRifiGaRt,e,eerJIRRd ;-ZQRPrhe ciih�re� The Impact of development on these agna ntheY ^x^^'ef' eYeeC features should be minimized in compliance with the City's Sensitive Area's Ordinance and significant trees preserved. It weu4cl-Mgy be appropriate to use tl�e-semi-wooded ravines for trail corridors and open space which. Tis ould also provide connections between future neighborhood parks in the Rohret South Subarea and to other neighborhoods in the Southwest District. In addition, other public parks and private open space areas may be appropriate for recreational use of nearby residents and for stormwater management as the area continues to develop. Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 55 6 a 77 R Housing It is likely that a FnajFity-Much of the housing developed in the Rohret South Subarea will be 19WGIGRGity,vingle-family homes due to market forces. However, a variety of housing types and styles should be provided for persons of various incomes and family types, including singles, couples, families and retired persons. In addition, development should be compact and orderly to help preserve agricultural uses until such property is developed and to help ensure the efficient provision of public services. As illustrated in the GGRGept plaR OR the fGIIGWiRg page.future land use map, much of the subarea is proposed to be Transect 3: Suburban (T3). Neighborhood Edge areas - which allow single-family, duplex, and cottage court building types - are located near existing, large lot development. Much of the remainder of the subarea is designated Neighborhood General, which also allows townhouse and small-scale multi -family uses. All T3 development requires a mix of building types, though it must be at a scale that is consistent with typical single-family homes. Other areas are designated Transect 4: General Urban (T4), which allows denser building adjacent to neighborhood centers and major thoroughfares. Neighborhood Small areas provide a transition from T3 areas by allowing house -scale multi -family and cottage court building types. Neighborhood Medium and Main Street areas comprise the core of neighborhood centers and located are along major thoroughfares, especially where a street only has buildings on one side and open space on the other (called "single -loaded" streets). These areas allow block -scale multi -family buildings up to 3.5 stories, which the area north of the nrnnnsed lake and oni th of Rnhret Road is nct appropriate fr.r a Fnix of media rn to high density c gle lake will provide a eater n61Mber of 9e0dAntc ea w' increases access to th+s significant public amenities and supports ohn, dd he Innated near arterial streets c inh as Rehret Dnad Rd with good aGGess ommercial a;eauses. Main Street areas are also identified near Highway 218 as a noise buffer for residential areas.^-^•^^ the eharaetPF ^f the ton nhy Iewer density c gle family hnrnes may he rnoFe appmpFiate OR the se Ah smdp. of the IaLe vrcrc-ormc-rcncc. When sewer service is extended under Highway 218 it will be possible for some of the eXiGtiRq large lot residential properties to connect into the City sewer system upon annexation. When these properties have better access to City services, the existing large lots could be further subdivided in accordance with T3 Neighborhood Edge standards if property owners decide to do so. Southwest District Plan 48/9816211 /07/22 55 Neighborhood CentersCommPFamat " ^ ice' Neighborhood centers with a mix of commercial, residential, and institutional uses are ideally located throughout the subarea to provide a focal point for nearby residents. Areas designated as "open" would allow but not require a wider variety of uses, including small-scale commercial uses that are compatible with adjacent properties. Areas shown as T4 Main Street are intended for commercial uses on the ground floor. These should be constructed as a more traditional to .ani Ad h^ ingatpd alAno #ho lnn;a#or# on #ho Routh i;mdp of Rnhro# Road c illnn+ro+orf on +ho AnAnn+ nh n\ Thin noui n al a she d-. ho dpvp'^n^^' "main street' xaectel area with on Whoph buildings axe fisted -at the front lot line and parking provide on the street or- A.J.Ji#inn^' n^•',i^^ go- A "^'n^^+^,� i^ A-Feas behind the -buildings. Ideally. T4-- Attention #2 Attention should be given to ptzublic amenities such as benches, garbage receptacles, a bus stop, and bicycle parkins . In all cases neighborhood centers are shown on the future land use map surrounded by T4 areas to help support ge-G�the viability of commercial development which depends in part on the residential density of the immediate area. ,n,rtmpn#n ^r ^ffi^^^ nho Jr# be n+ho i r 1p,gpin of#ho nommPpr4al hidL#inon PAhorn.oro lout strppt" n ;;I Tho CON'n Aloiohhr.rhr.r)d r`r.n.n.orni;;l /r`AI 1 \ #inn a i ilrl f�niliM#o #ho fiino of AQMMPFAmQ1 ,lo"olnnmon# donn rMbRd ;4 ,d Civic and institutional uses can also be an important component of neighborhood centers, which may include places of worship, fanili#inn n..^" pan ^h„r^" a fire station, or a recreational center in+o +ho rQmmpFaLQl;and n nL9 ho i F;pd +o n vir90 a huffor hpt;yp�� 794 ;;Rd #hn n gI;I;AFI;AAd Addmtinn;I AWMA faviGinn n ..Id Inn hp Innn#n.f Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 56 from \Neter Clement^ry on Rohr-# Road If ^ Fire station is sited ;it ^ ll!Pffient n^tine ^.ti^nen# #n ^ nh hn rho nrl n ^I ^ the r`iti h^s #hen nr#iiniti #n list ^ si+iie ^nrJ infliie n+i^I n ^ r# e +hrnl oho lit, esion ^nrJ +he The future land use map shows a recreation center and elementary school near the proposed regional stormwater lake and park. Another civic center is located on the future alignment of Slothower Street/Landon Avenue which proposes space for a park, fire station, an elementary school, and possibly a junior high school. While a fire station is needed in this subarea, it may also be developed sooner in another neighborhood centers if the neighborhood grows quickly. Similarly, an emergency siren will be needed for this area as it continues to develop west and south. Transportation The thoroughfare map is a component of the future land use map included on P. 60. It shows a potential hierarchy of streets that support the goals of this Plan, including a well-connected street network with multiple routes to destinations, pedestrian connections between neighborhood centers and parks, and smaller block sizes and thoroughfare types that support the form -based land use categories. It also includes streets that directly abut major parks and the lakefront to help ensure a highly visible and substantive means of public access and high-quality of public spaces and view corridors. The FnajQ4:* ost of the a#e4a-Mgjor street framework in this subarea is established between Rohret Road, Highway 1, and Highway 218. The only new majorarterial street planned for -is the extension of Highway 965 ergthrough the west side of the subarea, which will provide an additional north -south link for a#e4a4- high volumes of traffic. As land is annexed to the City and is -developed in the Rehret Se, th C„h^re^ improvements to the existing arter-ia-maior street system will likely be needed. For example, ;36 PPROGIPPItiRl GIAVelonment nontin„es west ^Inn^ Rohret Road must continue to be improved to City standards, the urh^^ Aress seetieR of Rehret on^ I including pavement, storm sewers, and sidewalks, will be ^nntin„ea to the ,.,est As traffic patterns develop, turning lanes may be needed at key intersections such as Rehret dead Mermen Trek Qn„leyard ;;Rd Rohret Road / Maier Avenue. A rAI1e6tA street should provide ^ Gen.n.pAtOOR between the proposed sto Fm w^ter lake and Highway 1 A .-0^oon^I orientation that folloAus the topography of the area l ild he appropriate. Other important through-MajOF sellestOF streets in the Rohret South Subarea wili-must include a -new north-south24-9-and east -west connections to serve the future neighborhood centers and planned commercial-/ institutional, 46e -and recreational area ,saround the proposed storm,w^ter lake Maier Avenue is an existing north -south link between Rohret Road and Highway 1 that -,a -R4 will continue to be a -R -important link to ^Iln,^, renid ntn of this area in facilitating access teboth between Highway 1 and Rohret Road. As land eventually develops to urban densities On this area and Maier Avenue is paved, it will be subject Southwest District Plan 11 /07/2248f98/8-2 57 to additional traffic pressure. To keep traffic moving at appropriate speeds for a residential area while allowing for traffic circulation between Rohret Road and Highway 1, the future land use map proposes realigning Maier with Wild Prairie Drive to the north and incorporating a neighborhood square, ^# Cet median improvements should be designed ; .^ hAa;e. A„eRue. These physical changes to the roadway should e^,�help controlling the speed of traffic, while still allowing for circulation between Rohret Road and Highway 1. Additional north - south collector streets along the Slothower Street / Landon Avenue alignment to the west and parallel to Highway 218 to the east will further help distribute traffic which will reduce impacts on all through -streets. East -west connections are shown throughout the subarea for the same reason. In all cases, attention must be paid to street design to ensure appropriate speeds. For local streets, traditional neighborhood design with an integrated system of narrew streets and alleys, sidewalks, trails, and street trees should be the model for Fnany 9 *;P1;W:ARohret South neighborhoods. The traditional grid street pattern will discourage high traffic speeds and disperse traffic. Whererl urban residential densities are proposed, alleys in the rear may be used to relocate Will RIWAA utilities to he Ingated in the rear, thereby alloying more spaGe fr.r the planting of right of way tree^ alGRg r ^irlentiel ^tree+^Aue„^ ,I^n and reduce the impact of driveways and garages on the streetscape, which de-emphasizes the automobile and creates a more people -friendly neighborhood. However, direct propertV access from Rohret Road, Highway 1, and the future Highway 965 should not be allowed, so alleys or an alternative point of access will likely be necessary. The use of architectural features such as front porches and other frontage types further contributes to this goal. In addition, pedestrian connections should be provided to promote walkability and linkages between neighborhood centers, school sites, parks, and within longer blocks. Because of the rolling hills and drainageways ln-throughout the ViGiRity Of the akesubarea, an integrated street grid may need to be somewhat modified to respond to the topography, though connectivity must continue to be prioritizedi^ this; arca. Wye-Aalleys should be encouraged, but where they are not feasible, the impact of driveways and garages should be minimized to the extent possible, such as by locating garages behind or to the side of the front fagade of the house or by utilizing shared driveways. Where the tnnegr,nh„ is flatter the g.iligegr ^treet^ g Rd the IAILe '.hAl "d #ARGitien to possible, a more traditional grid system should be utilized to maximize connectivity, which makes an area easier to navigate, disperses traffic, reduces traffic spaces, and encourages walkability. Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98/82 58 Care should be given to ensure the accessibility to and quality of public spaces and view corridors. ` th aRY ReW 66l"G'^^GO^^ Fe96IeGt,4lt will be important to ensure that a highly visible and substantive means of public access to the lake is provided such as using- single -loaded streets along the lakefront ,.e StFORgly eRG96IFaged. Because of the rolling hills in this area, care should also be given to the design of the buildings that can be seen from across the lake or other public spaces. Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 59 -- - - _- '--- Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 59 utuFe Timing of Development `"4 ^f nn,:e. n.,er...e The far,A,eG4er„ „0140^^ of Development in the Rohret South Subarea 06 ^^+ likely to ,fe„el , 0 4her4 4errn ,4„e 4e the 1enk of will largely depend on the provision of public services and fasiNtiesthe demand for new housing. This ,re, �41Fe u,b;IR &vele eRt” OR the I,, map OR 4h f49119WOR9 page. While a small area near the intersection of Highway 218 and Highway 1 could develop currently, much of the rest is dependent on the expansion of the sanitary sewer system, watersheds boundaries, and development interest. Prior to development, land must be serviceable by City infrastructure and must be annexed, zoned, and subdivided. In general, dl3evelopment should ROt ^r^^eed 0,,.e this area „n+i1 occur in a compact manner with properties adjacent to existing urban development aT4e-built out first. \AMen develen.v.e Rt e4 i irhen ,Jencitiec hene.v.ec n cihle aRGIaPPFGR4:iat-e m detailed PlaRG should he develGped for this area Goals for the Rohret South Subarea Encourage housing diversity in new neighborhoods. Preserve natural features and topography. Build streets that enhance neighborhood quality. Encourage commercial development that serves local residents. • Reserve space for neighborhood parks and trails that connect to other areas of the City. • Provide adequate street and pedestrian access to recreational facilities and other public amenities. Establish a public focal point for new neighborhoods, such as a lake or park. Southwest District Plan 11MZ 2248f98f82 60 w � r+! n(ai a}C ! +C• N • Olb to ON I d t INN I E MS enuany uopue-1 rr `I is I I l r v � pp g g • �i L L } I F U F 0 CL Z L a J j y a w -O CV Wo=o �C� y L L Q DLy o 00 CnirLL0 peon aal a!) �T2 too NONE —��A�M� 51 E l �Rv a i� . F U F W 0 0 Z Z L Z M G R J 3 CL ~ y L V W 3 o fA 01 i m o-0 O of o cnW�0 ail Y }t 3+: �A' � 4 a Y yO peon {amoNaolS d, � F F F ¢ F ¢ % W m j O O W o g�J 3 ° F E F o z c a I Ion NONE —��A�M� 51 E l �Rv a i� . F U F W 0 0 Z Z L Z M G R J 3 CL ~ y L V W 3 o fA 01 i m o-0 O of o cnW�0 Appendix A Southwest District Plan Map Designations Large Lot/Rural Residential Suitable for large lot single family development in areas not suited for more intensive development due to natural limitations, i.e. soil, slope, unavailability of sewer and water utilities. Development Density. approximately 1 dwelling uniUacre Single-Family/Duplex Residential Intended primarily for single family and duplex residential development. Lower density zoning designations are suitable for areas with sensitive environmental features, topographical constraints, or limited street access. Higher densities are more appropriate for areas with good access to all city services and facilities. Development Density. 2-12 dwelling unitstacre Narrow Lot/Townhouse Residential Suitable for medium to high density single family residential development, including zero lot line development, duplexes, townhouses, and narrow lot detached single family housing. Development Density 6-12 dwelling unitstacre Low -Density Multi -Family Residential Intended for low -density multi -family housing. Suitable for areas with good access to all city services and facilities. Higher density zoning designations may not be suitable for areas with topographical constraints or limited street access. Development Density: 8 -15 dwelling units/acre Medium -to High -Density Multi -Family Residential Intended for medium- to high-density multi -family housing. Suitable for areas with good access to all city services and facilities. Higher density zoning designations may not be suitable for areas with topographical constraints or limited street access. Development Density. 16-44 dwelling units/acre Future Urban Development Areas within the growth limit that are not yet served by City services and may not experience substantial development within the lifetime of this district plan. As development becomes imminent in these areas, the City will develop more detailed land use and street layout concepts to supplement the current plan. Public/Private Open Space Indicates existing open space that is important for the protection of sensitive natural features and/or to provide for recreational opportunities and protect the aesthetic values of the community. An open space designation on private land may indicate that an area is largely unsuitable for development due to environmental or topographical constraints. While these areas are best reserved or acquired for private or public open space, development may occur on privately held land if a proposal meets the underlying zoning requirements and the requirements of the Iowa City Sensitive Areas Ordinance. Vegetative Noise and Sight Buffer Useful public facilities, such as limited -access highways or landfills, can produce undesirable side-effects. In these areas a substantial vegetative buffer should be maintained or established to separate residential development from these uses. Alternatively, where appropriate, nonresidential uses can be used to buffer residential areas from highways, landfills, and other such uses. Public Services/Institutional Areas intended for civic, cultural, or historical institutions, public schools, and places of assembly or worship. Iowa City does not have a zone that designates institutional uses as the primary, preferred land use. However, there are a number of zones where these uses are permitted or provisional uses. Development proposals are subject to the requirements of the underlying zoning designation. Land that is owned by a public entity is typically zoned Public (P). Neighborhood Commercial Areas intended for retail sales and personal service uses that meet the day-to-day needs of a fully developed residential neighborhood. A grocery store or grocery store/drug store combination is preferred as the primary tenant in a Neighborhood Commercial (CN -1) zone. Specific site development standards will apply in these areas to ensure that commercial development is pedestrian -friendly and compatible with surrounding residential development. Office Commercial Areas intended for office uses and compatible businesses. In some cases these areas may serve as a buffer between residential areas and more intensive commercial or industrial uses. General Commercial Areas intended to provide the opportunity for a large variety of commercial uses that serve a major segment of the community. Mixed Use Areas intended for development that combines commercial and residential uses. An area may be primarily commercial in nature or may be primarily residential depending on the location and the surrounding neighborhood. Commercial uses will typically be located on the ground floor with housing above. Development is intended to be pedestrian - oriented with buildings close to and oriented to the sidewalk. Appendix A Southwest District Plan Map Designations Intensive Commercial Areas intended for those sales and service functions and businesses whose operations are typically characterized by outdoor display and storage of merchandise, by repair businesses, quasi -industrial uses, and for sales of large equipment or motor vehicles, or by activities or operations conducted in buildings or structure not completely enclosed. Retail uses are restricted in order to provide opportunities for more land -intensive or quasi - industrial commercial operations and also to prevent conflicts between retail and industrial truck traffic. Special attention must be directed toward buffering the negative aspects of allowed uses from any adjacent lower intensity commercial areas or residential areas. FORM -BASED LAND USE CATEGORIES TRANSECT3:SUBURBAN Neighborhood Edge A walkable neighborhood environment of detached, low - intensity housing choices, supporting and within short walking distance of neighborhood -serving retail, food and service uses. Building types are house -scale with a small -to -large building footprint, which may include single-family homes, duplexes, and cottage courts. Building height should typically be up to 2.5 stories. Neighborhood General A walkable neighborhood environment of detached, low - intensity housing choices, supporting and within short walking distance of neighborhood -serving retail and services. Building types are house -scale with a small building footprint, which may include single-family homes, duplexes, cottage courts, townhouses, and small multiplexes. Building height should typically be up to 2.5 stories. TRANSECT 4: GENERAL URBAN Neighborhood Small: A walkable neighborhood environment of attached and detached, moderate -intensity housing choices, supporting and within short walking distance of neighborhood -serving retail and services. Building types are primarily house -scale with a small -to -medium -footprint, which may include cottage courts, townhouses, small multiplexes, and larger multi -family buildings with courtyards. Building height should typically be up to 2.5 stories. Neighborhood Medium A walkable neighborhood environment of attached and detached, moderate -intensity housing choices, supporting and within short walking distance of neighborhood -serving retail and services. Building types are primarily house -scale with a small -to -medium -footprint, which may include townhouses and larger multi -family buildings. Building height should typically be up to 3.5 stories. Main Street A walkable, vibrant district of attached, moderate -intensity, mixed-use buildings, supporting neighborhood -serving ground floor retail, food and services, including indoor and outdoor artisanal industrial businesses. Building types are block -scale with a medium -to -large -footprint, which may include townhouses (and stacked townhouses), large multi- family buildings, and main street buildings. Building height should typically be up to 3.5 stories. OTHER DESIGNATIONS Open Subareas: Open subarea designations may be applied to T3 Neighborhood General, T4 Neighborhood Small. or T4 Neighborhood Medium land use designations. The subarea indicates that a wider range of uses should be allowed. However, buildings must maintain the same form and character of the base land use category. As such, open subareas provide additional flexibility that can allowthem to function as a neighborhood center of non-residential uses. Public or Private Civic/Park/Open Space Indicates existing or potential civic or open spaces on public or private land that is important for a variety of reasons, which may include the protection of sensitive natural features, the management of stormwater, the provision of private, shared passive or recreational opportunities for adjacent properties, or the protection of the aesthetic values of the community. This designation may indicate that an area is unsuitable for development due to environmental or topographical constraints. Development may occur if a proposal meets the under- lying zoning and subdivision standards.- NEW Kirk Lehmann From: Jill Tentinger <jill.tentinger@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, November 28, 2022 10:29 AM To: Kirk Lehmann Subject: More Thoughts on SW Development Attachment 2 A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Hello Kirk, We, as a neighborhood, plan to attend the new hearing on December 7th. Here are my revised thoughts on the SW Development Plan. Development is inevitable and it will be a years -long process. We, the residents of Kitty Lee Road, ask that our road not be used for temporary access to any construction or new developments. And we ask that we are not connected to any new developments or streets. We bought our homes in this neighborhood because of the quiet street and small neighborhood. And we would appreciate it staying that way. PLEASE do not add a connection to the north. And PLEASE do not add five feeder streets to Kitty Lee Road. 1 vu Um q p Q 1 yam y.�` weak i. f f Iof- a a . Q � ■1 a Jill Tentinger x❑ 319.631.5152 jiI Aentinger(pgmai 1.com 4047 Kitty Lee Road SW N NEW Kirk Lehmann From: mary ott <mary_ott@hotmail.com> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2022 8:11 PM To: Kirk Lehmann Subject: Southwest District Plan A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** My name is Mary Ott. I live on Kitty Lee Rd. My husband and I moved into our home in 1970. We therefore have some experience in living on the road. Kitty Lee Road is a typical, rural county road. It is narrow, there are no shoulders, no curbs, no gutters, no storm water drainage system other than gravity. The first few years that we lived here, the road was gravel. It is now chip -sealed surfaced. It is not a hard surfaced road. I do not know when the road was first constructed but it was back when the road crews did not cut down hills during construction like they do now. Consequently, there are 2 hills on Kitty Lee which are steep enough to be called blind hills, meaning drivers cannot see what's ahead of them on the road until they crest the top of the hill. Unfortunately, many of us living on Kitty Lee have hidden driveways on the sides of the hills. We cannot see what's coming at us as we pull out onto the road. For the first 15 or so years that we lived in our home, the road was a through road commonly called The Coralville Cutoff Road. The combination of blind hills, hidden driveways and lots of through traffic made Kitty Lee a very dangerous road. In the early 80's, a neighbor's child was hit and killed on the road immediately in front of our house as he rode his bike. The driver who hit him could not see him until it was too late to avoid hitting him. The little boy never saw the car coming. When you see something like this happen in your front yard, you never forget it. There were many, many accidents on the road, mostly because drivers cannot see what's ahead of them until they've crested the hill. More than once, the road resembled a demolition derby field. All it took was one car getting sideways on the road, then the chain reaction chaos would begin with cars cresting the hill, seeing the sideways car, hitting the brakes, losing control and sliding into the car, the ditch or someone's mailbox. I would be safe in saying that the majority of home football game Saturday nights ended up with someone wiping out a mailbox [usually ours] as they headed for the ditch. When Kitty Lee Road [AKA The Coralville Cutoff Road] was a through road, it was very dangerous. In the mid 80's, the Coralville Cutoff Road was dead ended at the top of the north hill due to the construction of the new HWY 218. This was a major inconvenience for me because I always went north on my way to work or to the grocery store but I was very thankful that now I could safely pull out onto the road without getting hit. There has not been an accident on Kitty Lee Road for the past 35 years! Now the plan is to open the road to through traffic again. I truly dread that happening. The hills and hidden driveways are still here! I get the feeling that the planners do not realize just how dangerous the road is with through traffic. Is it really necessary to open Kitty Lee to through traffic? I think not! I see a lot of new roads on the plans so I assume the developers will have lots of road building equipment out here. Let them go over to the west a bit and build a nice, new, flat, hard surfaced road over there. Let the developers pay for the new, safe road. They are the ones who will be benefitting from it. The only way to make Kitty Lee safe is to do a massive regrading, cutting down the hills. This would require redoing the driveway entrances also. Who is going to pay for all of this? I don't think it's right to make the residents pay for something they don't want. Is Iowa City able to pay for making Kitty Lee safe? I don't know. I think the sensible thing to do is make the developers pay for a new, safe road to the west and let Kitty Lee Road alone. If the planners are set on opening Kitty Lee to through traffic, I would like to request that a highway safety expert come out and evaluate the suitability of opening Kitty Lee to through traffic. I would love to know what an expert thinks is necessary to do to make living on Kitty Lee safe! I would also like to know if Iowa City would be liable for damages, injuries or even deaths if they insist on opening Kitty Lee to through traffic after being informed of the dangers of the road? Mary Ott NEW Kirk Lehmann From: amy.charles <amy.charles@protonmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2022 2:04 AM To: Kirk Lehmann Subject: RE: Draft Southwest District Plan Update Available Online A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Hi, Kirk - I'd meant to do a more comprehensive review, but this will have to do for now. I sent this to John Thomas a week or so ago: I live on Shannon Drive, cattycorner to where the new Southwest District plan will guide development. I've been looking at the plans that've been sent out, and I was taken aback by how SFH/car-centric it is. It looks very 1990s to me, with the addition of some islands of higher -density housing with strips of storefront, long stretches with no clear destinations to walk to, kids reliant on parents to drive them around, and a layout that doesn't even encourage bicycling to the school the plan calls for in the district -- we're just setting up for another twice-daily idling minivan brigade. I can also see things turning extremely busy -- and fast -- along Shannon unless West and the City encourage other means of getting the kids back and forth to school that's actually palatable to the kids, or West and the City restrict parking. I think we have opportunity to do better with the planning for non -private -car -centric neighborhoods here, and wonder if you'd have time to talk sometime next week. Incidentally, I was looking at old plans for my neighborhood, and the emphasis on Walden Square as a walkable destination so that people would use cars less. It worked. The parking lot is a nightmare of blind spots and not good to walk across, but as a destination for surrounding neighborhoods, it succeeds. People use those paths all day long to go to the shops, the bank, Java House. At half a mile away, I'm at about the outer limit for what most people will do. About four -five blocks is as much as most people are interested in. But I don't see that sort of thinking worked into this new plan. I'd encourage the Commission to take a look at what's been designed so far from the perspective of a one -car or no - car family, and consider how far this family's going to have to walk to get to a store, the new elementary school, or an ingress/egress point on Rohret. I'm wondering why there is no off-street bike path network funneling to the elementary school so that the kids can get themselves back and forth safely, and can grow up with a modicum of independence and an idea that bikes are means of transportation. I'm wondering where the corner restaurants are that aren't inconveniently far away for walking to. It seems to me someone's designed a place that assumes that every human over the age of 15 has at least one cadvan/truck, and has designed the place to be, first and foremost, convenient for vehicles, which is surely an idea we're trying to move away from. Even EVs are tremendously resource -intensive: yes, they're better than combustion cars, but not nearly as good as transit, walking, and biking. In fact I would just say, start there: imagine you have no car. Don't freak out, just imagine it. What is this district like to live in for you? If you push away that idea, then you are designing with your car at the center of your life. And that's a thing we need to stop doing. (I drive my car about once a week, sometimes less. I work at home, the 10 bus goes right past my house, I can walk to a grocery store, bank, etc. in under ten minutes, my kid walked scootered and biked to elementary school with a ton of other kids going her way and later walked to high school, and I have a great running/walking path a few hundred feet away.) I'm also looking at this pond/park arrangement and thinking, well, that's a lot of pond, but (as far as I can tell) not really very much park: why not? I'm also looking at the housing mix you're arranging here, and it seems to me that by islanding higher -density housing, you're zoning for student rental (see Cascade Ln, Rushmore, etc.), rather than creating an integrated housing mix that encourages individuals and small families to live in apartments and townhouses rather than buying 2600+ sgft houses to rattle around in on their own, or simply being priced out. Dense=green, dense=prudent, dense=equitable. I just think we can do a lot better than this, and I'd like to see some comparison neighborhoods from places where they've been taking more socially and environmentally responsible design seriously, which are places where the developers have also been persuaded that those are smart ways to build. There isn't really any reason why we have to design areas to look and behave pretty much as they've done around here for decades, with a tweak or two. We can build sustainability and sociability into this in a more intentional and muscular way. best, amy charles iowa city Kirk Lehmann From: Bowen, Jay <jay-bowen@uiowa.edu> Sent: Tuesday, November 8, 2022 9:23 AM To: Kirk Lehmann Subject: Southwest District Plan Comments Attachments: image-1.png; image-2.png A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Good morning, Kirk. I am writing to submit some comments on the Southwest District Plan in advance of the public hearing on November 16, 2022. One thing I notice from the survey results is the overwhelming support for park and recreational space in the new development. 87.7% of people surveyed responded that they would like to see parks and outdoor recreation areas in the new development, and this was by far the most popular item. I see from the new plans for the district that there is a nice affordance for pedestrian paths, but I wondered why the current park planning does not include an extension of green space and paths from Slothtower Street south through the new development area. It was my understanding that the city intended to maintain a ring of green space beginning from Hunter's Run Park, continuing through the Johnson County Poor Farm and adjacent lands, and extending along the current city boundary along Slothtower Street where there is already some prairie being preserved. I think it would be beneficial to both the attractiveness of the new development, the livability of the city, the health and happiness of our citizenry, and in benchmarking with other Midwestern cities to continue this greenbelt across Rohret Road and connect it to the planned park and lake, as shown in the attached diagrams. This would be a perfect place to extend Iowa City's current network of walking trails and bike paths, and new and current residents would benefit immensely from these amenities. Sincerely, Jay Bowen 1260 Deerfield Drive Thommolrre repo •M fe..nw.i.�f�m RN. v ur•C.rww�.•n =.....i,tpp *1..� =. ., �wr•.w wow •r L*m rw., 4w roue (And ure k il!'-'. NEW SOUTHWEST PLANNING DISTRICT Rohret South Subarea Thorough}are Map Kirk Lehmann From: Nick W <nick.wehrle@gmaiI.com> Sent: Thursday, November 3, 2022 9:05 AM To: Kirk Lehmann Subject: Re: Nov. 16 Public Hearing Set for SW District Plan (CPA22-0002) A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Hi Kent. Part of the plan to develop the Rohret South Subarea should include extending and improving Slothtower Rd to connect Rohret Rd to Melrose Ave. It would greatly improve access to the Interstate, reduce emergency response times, and significantly reduce traffic volume on Shannon Dr and Mormon Trek. The construction on the bridge on Rohret Rd during September / October was a huge problem for our community. Thanks, Nick Wehrle 1680 Lake Shore Dr On Thu, Nov 3, 2022 at 8:25 AM Kirk Lehmann <KLehmannCn@iowa-citv.org> wrote: Dear Stakeholder, As you're aware, the City has been updating its Southwest District Plan, including background information and the future vision for the Rohret South Subarea, which is south of Rohret Road and west of Highway 218 (CPA22-0002). Additional information, including redlined and simple copies of proposed changes to the plan, are available on the project website at www.icgov.org/sw-plan-update. The Southwest District Plan is a component of the City's Comprehensive Plan, which serves as the guiding policy document for growth and development in the city. The Comprehensive Plan identifies proposed areas and policies for housing, commercial uses, public services, streets and trails, and parks and open space. It may be amended by the City Council, following a consideration by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Planning and Zoning Commission has set a public hearing to review the Southwest District Plan Amendment on November 16, 2022 at 6:00 pm in Emma Harvat Hall, City Hall, 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City. You are welcome to attend the public hearing to present your views concerning this proposed plan amendment. You may also submit written information to me for consideration in advance, and I will include your comments in the information to be considered by the Commission. Following a recommendation by the Commission, City Council will also set and hold a hearing where additional comments will be accepted. Note that the hearing is subject to change, so you may wish to call 319-356-5247 or check the Planning and Zoning Commission's website, www.icgov.org/p&z, the week of the hearing to confirm the agenda and location. If the hearing is cancelled or postponed, it will be considered at the next meeting of the Commission. The Commission's website will also contain a staff report on the proposed plan amendment the Monday before the hearing. If you know of any interested party who has not received a copy of this message, we would appreciate you informing them. If you have any questions regarding this case or the amendment process for the Comprehensive Plan, please contact me at 319-356-5247 or email klehmannC@iowa-citv.org. Sincerely, Kirk Lehmann, AICP Associate Planner 0 IOWA CITY A UKLSCO Ci: Y OF [I rE RAI URE 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Main: 319-356-5230 Direct: 319-356-5247 wwwiceov ora Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Kirk Lehmann From: V Fixmer-Oraiz <vfixmeroraiz@astigplanning.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 10:14 AM To: Kirk Lehmann Subject: Re: Draft Southwest District Plan Update Available Online A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Hi Kirk, Thanks for this update, it was great seeing you in Ottumwa! I was wondering if it's possible to change the name of the farm on the maps and throughout the document to read :" Johnson County Historic Poor Farm". Without the 'historic' qualifier, it makes it sound like the county is still utilizing this practice and we've gotten push back from vocal county residents:) For example, on page 12, it would be great to change it on the map there and also in the text. I would add that not only are there local non profit organizations, but the county hosts the Land Access Program, which leases smaller land plots (1/8 acre- 2 acres) for small farming operations. Thanks! V On Mon, Oct 24, 2022 at 10:02 AM Kirk Lehmann <KLehmannCn@iowa-citv.org> wrote: Dear Stakeholders, Thank you for your interest in the Southwest District Plan update. The draft plan is now available on the project website at www.icgov.org/sw-plan-update under "Schedule & Input". You can find two versions of the draft update: 1. Tracked Changes (redlined): This version shows proposed changes to the Southwest District Plan, including additions (which are underlined) and deletions (which are notated by strike-throughs). 2. Simple Changes (not redlined): This version shows what the text of the Southwest District Plan would look like with if all proposed changes are accepted. This version is easier to read, but may make it difficult to determine which changes were made. The project timeline has also been updated. Staff currently anticipates that the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on November 16, 2022 at 6:00 pm in Emma Harvat Hall, City Hall, 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City. This update has been assigned case number CPA22-0002. Because the meeting is subject to change, you may wish to call 319-356-5247 or check the City of Iowa City's website, www.icgov.org/p&z, the week of the meeting to confirm the meeting agenda. City Council will hold another public hearing after a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission. You are welcome to attend all public meetings to present your views concerning this update. You may also submit written information to me in advance of the meetings, and I will include your comments in the information to be considered by the Commission. If you know of any interested party who is not on the Southwest District Plan contact list, we would appreciate it if you would inform them of these updates. Please do not hesitate to contact me at klehmannC@iowa-citv.org or 319-356-5247 if you have any questions or comments about this plan update or if you would like more information on the plan update process. Regards, Kirk Lehmann, AICP Associate Planner ®IOWA CITY A IMLscc ciir a LI rE Ph)UNE 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Main: 319-356-5230 Direct: 319-356-5247 wwwiceov ora QC: (DO Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. V Fixmer-Oraiz, AICP (they, them) CEO 8'Founder 319.243.3426 Kirk Lehmann From: richard schmidt <ontheroad56@hotmaii.com> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 1:10 PM To: Kirk Lehmann Subject: Re: Draft Southwest District Plan Update Available Online A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Thank you , Kirt A lot of thought went into this proposal From: Kirk Lehmann <KLehmann@iowa-city.org> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2022 10:01 AM To: Kirk Lehmann <KLehmann@iowa-city.org> Subject: Draft Southwest District Plan Update Available Online Dear Stakeholders, Thank you for your interest in the Southwest District Plan update. The draft plan is now available on the project website at www.icgov.org/sw-plan-update under "Schedule & Input". You can find two versions of the draft update: Tracked Changes (redlined): This version shows proposed changes to the Southwest District Plan, including additions (which are underlined) and deletions (which are notated by strike-throughs). Simple Changes (not redlined): This version shows what the text of the Southwest District Plan would look like with if all proposed changes are accepted. This version is easier to read, but may make it difficult to determine which changes were made. The project timeline has also been updated. Staff currently anticipates that the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on November 16, 2022 at 6:00 pm in Emma Harvat Hall, City Hall, 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City. This update has been assigned case number CPA22-0002. Because the meeting is subject to change, you may wish to call 319-356-5247 or check the City of Iowa City's website, www.icgov.org/p&z, the week of the meeting to confirm the meeting agenda. City Council will hold another public hearing after a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission. You are welcome to attend all public meetings to present your views concerning this update. You may also submit written information to me in advance of the meetings, and I will include your comments in the information to be considered by the Commission. If you know of any interested party who is not on the Southwest District Plan contact list, we would appreciate it if you would inform them of these updates. Please do not hesitate to contact me at klehmannC@iowa-citv.orQ or 319-356-5247 if you have any questions or comments about this plan update or if you would like more information on the plan update process. Regards, Kirk Lehmann, AICP Associate Planner ® IOWA CITY A UNdSCO Lily Or LI rLRR]R RL 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Main: 319-356-5230 Direct: 319-356-5247 WWW./CPOI oro P -f V ■ Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. To Whom it May Concern, With the new 20 -year plan being developed for the southwest planning district, we wanted to provide written concerns and opinions as a neighborhood about the plan specifically as it relates to Kitty Lee Road (KLR). The drafts of the plan available to us so far have shown that KLR is planned to be made into a through road, with the current cul-de-sac being removed and turned into a continued roadway. As Kirk Lehman has further explained, in this scenario, it is likely that KLR would be the only road connecting to new development for an undetermined amount of time, making KLR into what is realistically an arterial road. While we realize that KLR is likely to have new roads connected to it closer to Highway 1, we are strongly against the plan to tum the cul-de-sac into a through street because; the road is not set up well to have increased traffic, KLR could be the only connection point to development in the area for an unforeseen amount of time, and because cul-de- sacs offer their residents relative quiet and privacy that we'd wish to maintain. KLR is not set up well for increased traffic because of the design of the road. In other words, KLR is not a good candidate for an arterial road. The road itself has two steep hills that it is possible to get air on going only around 50mph on. Lexington Ave was another road that people could get air on, and the ultimate solution for that road was to turn it back into a dead end. We are concerned that people would travel overwhatever the posted speed limit would be, especially at the crest of the hill. Additionally, KLR has many driveways connecting directly to it which is a feature that the city has elsewhere tried to avoid on newly developed arterial roads. Not only are there many driveways that connect directly to KLR, several of them are quite close to the steep hill and are blind to traffic on the other side of the hill (this problem exists traveling in both directions). These homeowners would experience a dramatic increase in risk of accident pulling out of their own driveways. Slowing traffic down with speed bumps is a likely solution to speeding that we also do not favor. Speed bumps are a band-aid to the problem of drivers not being able drive the speed they want, where they want. Conversely, city planning is the solution to drivers being able to drive the speed they want, where they want. Speed bumps are never an ideal solution and are not desirable in any situation. Our request is that the city doesn't impose a traffic load that merits speed bumps or opens the door for dangerous traffic patterns. An arterial road that is independent of KLR is a solution that solves both of these potential problems. The development of land west and north of KLR depends on landowners annexing and/or selling to developers. As of right now, there are two landowners who seem to be eager to annex in this area, but neither of them connects to Highway 1. And with the city seeming unwilling to connect more development to Rohret Road until more through roads connecting to Highway 1 are constructed, KLR is the only existing road to connect new development to. It is not right for the residents of KLR (a dead-end road) to get stuck with the increased traffic that Rohret can't handle. (As explained above, KLR can't handle the increased traffic either.) Until other landowners who do border Highway 1 sell/annex, KLR could be the only connection to new development near it for an indeterminate amount of time. It's not an exaggeration to say that it could be a decade or more until another arterial road is able to be put in between Highway 1 and Rohret, relieving traffic from KLR. Even if a new arterial road is constructed, KLR is likely to have sustained increased traffic because people will get used to using it, and if KLR in some way connects to Rohret, even indirectly, KLR will be the most tempting route to take because it would be the first connecting road leaving town on Highway 1 or the last connecting road before Mormon Trek on Rohret. The appropriate way forthe city to develop, therefore, is to wait until a new, separate arterial road is able to be put in before developing. KLR residents shouldn't have to bear the burden of development that has gotten ahead of its own connecting infrastructure. Langenberg Ave is an example of development getting ahead of itself. Before McCollister Blvd connected, Langenberg was used as the arterial road, even though it was an indirect path between South Gilbert and Sycamore Street. I was one of the people who used Langenberg as an arterial road before McCollister connected—showing that people will use the routes available to them even if that route is not the intended traffic pattern. The residents of Langenberg had to put up with traffic for years that their road was not intended to handle, and still have to put up with the speed bumps to this day. It is much better to wait until a true arterial road can be constructed rather than hoping that KLR can be used as a stop -gap to access new development. KLR residents chose the street for the low traffic and relative quiet that it has offered residents for nearly 40 years, and we would like it to stay that way. As Kirk has explained, the city has a general preference to avoid cul-de-sacs in new development because while the people at the back end of the cul-de-sacs have low traffic and quiet, the people at the front end take on all the traffic and noise. But this reasoning doesn't hold up for existing cul-de-sacs like KLR because they've been that way for years, and it especially doesn't hold up because KLR connects directly to a state highway. The entity suffering from the increased traffic and noise from the cul-de-sac that is KLR is Highway 1, which can handle all the traffic and noise that KLR can give it. Therefore, the main reasons forthe city to avoid cul-de-sacs don't really apply in KLR's case. Additionally, the noise from 218 makes KLR not as quiet as a typical cul-de-sac to begin with. The last thing the neighborhood wants is more traffic noise. Finally, as an anecdote, my fiance and I were house shopping this time last year, and settled on a house on KLR. While we liked houses and could afford them on streets like Kirkwood, Rochester, Court, and Sunset, we specifically avoided streets like those because of the amount of traffic on them. While development is likely to raise property values on KLR in a monetary sense, that same development devalues homes in a personal sense to people like me and other KLR residents. People choose the type of street they live on for good reason and it is unfairfor homeowners to have the type of street they chose dramatically changed. It is therefore inappropriate to take away the cul-de-sac at the end of KLR. As the city has presented and talked about future development between Highway 1 and Rohret near 218, it seems clearthat KLR is currently intended to be used as the first arterial road to this intended development, even if only for a period of time. The residents of KLR would not be in favor of the road connecting or being extended up at the cul-de-sac for any amount of time. We are not asking or saying that there should be no other roads connecting to KLR, but that the appropriate place to make such connections is south of the existing neighborhood. As a neighborhood we feel strongly about not removing the existing cul-de-sac and creating a through street using KLR. Signed, Mark Alatalo, 4053 KLR Co-signed, Karalee Smith, 4053 KLR Matt and Jill Tentinger, 4047 KLR Vicki and Del Concha, 4086 KLR Dave and Regina Alatalo, 3671 Olde Oak Ln Patti Davis, 4059 KLR Mary and Gary Ott, 4056 KLR John and Regina Arthur, 4104 KLR Barb Hulme, 4090 KLR Justen Concha, former resident Jarod Concha, former resident Kirk Lehmann From: Jill Tentinger <jill.tentinger@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, September 16, 2022 1:09 PM To: Kirk Lehmann Subject: Questions/Comments for SW Development Plan A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Questions - • Will Kitty Lee Road be annexed into the city limits? Will curb, gutter and utilities be added? At whose expense? The city's? Or the individual homeowner's? • If Kitty Lee is connected to the new neighborhood, will the concrete bus turn -around be torn out? • Are there contracts in place for the city to purchase all the farm ground in the development areas? Or will private developers be purchasing the land and doing all the infrastructure for development? • What does Phase 0 mean? I would not assume that this area is ready to be developed. Oaknoll owns some of that land and was possibly going to put a retirement community on that site. Is Oaknoll selling this tract (or part of it) to the city? Or another developer? Is Oaknoll still possibly planning on a retirement community in this area? • What is the duration of this plan? Starting date, if approved? How many years till the entire area is completely developed? "Timeline based on demand", so this would all be dependent on if farmers will sell? If developers will develop? • Was Jesse Allen's development idea not approved by the county? Is his plan going back to Iowa City P&Z? Does Iowa City have a new rule against cul-de-sac streets in residential neighborhoods? When Teg was connected to Aber, it became a very busy cut -through, but the streets off Teg were cul-de-sacs therefore maintaining a quiet, safe, neighborhood feel. Your new plan with hundreds of city blocks looks like downtown Chicago. I feel like traffic will be heavy even on your "neighborhood" streets. Comments - We do not want Kitty Lee Road to connect to any new or existing streets/roads. We do not want to be annexed into the city limits. We do appreciate the city considering the survey feedback and scaling back the density of development between our house and Rohret. But we don't want park traffic or cut -through traffic coming down Kitty Lee Rd. Have you considered, or are you willing, to meet with us from Kitty Lee Road? Quite a few of the homeowners are original owners and can let you know firsthand how busy and dangerous our road was back when it was a thoroughfare. The hills are very dangerous at any speed above 30 mph and with driveways on both sides, we all usually drive about 20 mph on our road just to be safe. Thanks, Jill Tentinger 91 319.631.5152 91 1 I.tenti nger(o).q mail. com Kirk Lehmann From: Tack, Richard A <rich-tack@uiowa.edu> Sent: Tuesday, September 6, 2022 10:48 AM To: Kirk Lehmann Subject: Re: [External] RE: Please add me to the contact list for SW subarea updates A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. Hi Kirk, Thank you so much for your response. I really do appreciate it. I was able to find the PDF document of the posters. If you are still accepting comments from the public I'd like to add one if I may. I do think you've done a great job with the initial plan. I know it must be difficult to weigh all the competing considerations. But I was wondering, regarding the North end of Maier Ave., if you could offset it off the centerline more to the East (just the part from just south of Kessler Dr. to Rohret Rd.)? Our house is at the intersection of Maier Ave. and Kessler Dr. and it is very close to Maier Ave. already. A wider Maier Ave., plus a sidewalk would put it very close to our walkout basement door. Since you have to jog Maier over to the East to line up with Wild Prairie anyway, and completely rebuild Maier Ave. I don't think it would add anything to the cost of the project. Thank you so much for your consideration. Sincerely, Rich Tack From: Kirk Lehmann <KLehmann@iowa-city.org> Date: Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 7:57 AM To: Tack, Richard A <rich-tack@uiowa.edu> Subject: [External] RE: Please add me to the contact list for SW subarea updates Hello Richard, Thank you for your interest in the Southwest District Plan update. You have been added to the contact list. You can find the posters on the project website at www.icgov.org/sw-plan-update under "Schedule & Input". Let me know if you have any issues or questions in the meantime. Regards, Kirk Lehmann, AICP Associate Planner City of Iowa City 319-356-5247 From: Tack, Richard A <rich-tack@uiowa.edu> Sent: Friday, September 2, 2022 1:17 PM To: Kirk Lehmann <KLehmann@iowa-city.org> Subject: Please add me to the contact list for SW subarea updates A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. Could you please add my email address to your contact list for updates to the IC SW subarea plan update. Also, they said at the meeting at Webber last night that all of the materials presented were available on your website. I can't seem to find anything. Can you send me a link to the visuals, maps, and information presented on the posters that were on display? Thank you so much. Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. .� C, 6: • -I, v 0-4 ;PL, I� /V/AJ G' /V 0 T .---Z N 7-� c oN �S/ o y 7-y cS1 o(c- vl�= I`FCAW �T Ifo /� cl �� fit% / �/� d /% T L/�/ -T Ec 7 . Ix l e /fe /7,1 j / Al -- t::' W ✓7 1,Je h% v e Z- E Gam- z l 6-111T moo-- SE✓7/f / A/ �'va� N d E� EN e A/ 7 �"� v/7 r---7-70 Sc- Wi'L C l/o % &c- Foot cc -c( ell •�� �w� C/ 7y ��.SrwCn S'y���� E y/V T 17L o� � ,t,S �s S✓7�4i/CEJ W07,,- °cT�7U�( ✓�. c�2). Ike, L /'U c h�efcc- 7 G� 7 w4 y �e� o � .-� v w4 C /' P YO AJ ✓GL,Tz� ✓V 1/0 L 61e cl /Al G,ILWIve'ly G ✓fi�IYv N C., 1p -11a `lJ Cs EG c Gv U y Lrii(/7_ -ti A10 7- L/ 4 v c— 0/0 -7a cone -Tcct4xl '-Z �6 777((:- Z-4 / U(/c /Z 7d-kI CIV 7X <S -o-- I'F --� A/c 4ri r e we 7- �.,yo 4z L(�( a e 74 A/6?- vN %% i �% %4z�J-�'i C v✓v �v�ai � �` �u /fi � � }C ✓�S T ✓C/v /-rte. NLS/ J J' e @ � S epL �/7✓ :e/� 7-/ �it/J 3• �rI"JNS T Z o w --,T,{J C o /7 ,c- o/Z, �5s c C'v <Z 17c4Ns yLsT %d9 % �� Z- 0 Lam cs� o rz ytc 7Z-c7/-.-A/a- - /o%sz(ic" 717rAl 7:,t/o, mow WcU %I ch c Z,67,' �Foo �r4/A) %� c SQ L L �o TT4} GCS 'NcCckfc-d oh ,,c,7 rrlucd(i�vJ�osc c-4cj e ✓CA 7c 6;�f "A4 rr cs e -r-76 7 � �O ®14/7 / O.0 c,SQ FT ._ i0c) ;�U_ 6OF' 77- s 8c3_Q2 cS Q.-_ F7, _ - 0✓2 c, G �,ti s c� 7-/, C- 00c7c;el;7 r1,1 c�F 0° C 7-,9,/7 c/c> 7- e Gni` fir¢ 7-c L�✓v�✓ �� ��'�S, S �r X /(/,,f 7-c' r v�L O C70 7 �c %/dP c 0/2,17 ctA11' 7v C ���`Te lie LCA f~� T��r �/7 y�v`7y/L� NO ��C-,v 0/y j 66 _ _ _ _ _ - �_�,�Z_,�✓7_�-/�, -- ----mac �_ -- -- -- -G . - - I'S co MIT /\/0,- CD' 7- o J ---fit J� e C, d c,1�� yc/,l � /4- 771A T �S/f arc 7-cxks_ 7 cl�1ZUez11vc -74 (=hrlv G eJ �L A/ 0,7 . U BSc rc Z—,41,cjQ/ y °A' ("T e5wj(o� 7` A/ 0 % Z 0 c),s � c G ct� It v 5 /Q-- G. /`✓7/' % 71-'Po/CIS x c L `1�✓t ()AX S° Z-��.O CA, J1c'4G 7.i? cr:-f C ,4)o- - or/f 7.� "OteL vc-ti • U. /7rf� •9 � d ci)-/( t -+ ccuvN7r1`ffLG c414 c lv/41CSC/ Z-�CCXX/C L I_ f 1rt7 6271'Z 4:1 Qccu/,7c ?u� ,fT Wil/ GSL 1' y _ CS %/.�' 7 CSDwi7-y Cjr J UL0 Al✓�`N /07T1 awN �f S • fit% -�vt NO 7 lam. � ��� C7`�%�d�c.I'�i ✓� �rJU &/'�'/ `tel �� L L�,,� � Zi 7T r�U z4s U SOU ase Z41U 7�� ?�S� flel,5-4 62X %//C SL57oci%�7"�.1' iCf %S 1,%74 uy<' Memo To: Kirk Lehmann, City of Iowa City From: Dan Black Managing Partner, Black Hills Farms LLC Date: January 6, 2021 Subject: South Rohret Subarea- Land Use Planning District General Commints: • Inclusion of portions of the area south of Highway #1 would make for a more comprehensive and accurate vision for growth planning in this Southwest District. • A comprehensive look, in conjunction with IDOT and other transportation planners, for widening (four lanes and a frontage road system) for Highway #1. Extend the widened Highway #1 west to Sharon Center Road or Slothower Road. It is critical that Highway #1 be included in this district plan, both north and south sides. Highway #1 serves as a major East/West route accessing Highway # 218 as well as Iowa City proper, it needs improvement and needs to be a major element for consideration for this planning process and future growth. The future development of the Oak Knoll parcel further suggests need for Highway #1/ Kitty Lee improvement. • Recommend consideration be given to designation of the Burns parcel located west of the intersection of Kitty Lee and Highway #1 for public use, schools, fire stations, park, etc. • Referencing the "Future Land Use Map" and the accessing of the Carson Lake Project via Kitty Lee road; going straight North on Kitty Lee and angling northwest across Burns and Black Hills is the best alternative. The North West angle road is the safest due to topography and accessing Carson Lake at a more central location. Discussion/Questions Per Power point a. Like/Dislike about Area? Like the rolling hills, sunsets, and vista views, yet close proximity to Iowa City. Designs to maximize these features are a positive. Dislike the heavy traffic and the speed it travels on Highway #1. b. Opportunities and Challenges? Both an opportunity and a challenge is the topography. We have B slope ranging to F slope. One opportunity is to use good old fashioned contour lines to guide road and street locations. c. See in the next 20 years? —An adequate and safe road system, both in developments as well as major access roads. A logical and comprehensive reworking of Highway #1. d. What Distinguishes this Area? The vistas and rolling hills. Its westside location, near U of IA and U of IA Hospital's, as well as ICSD schools including Weber and West High. e. Pervious Concept? I like the Lake; water features are positives. Lot density seems high. f. Other considerations? Look for opportunities to include parks and trails. Look for opportunities to include prairies, wetlands particularly as it relates to water management. There are at least three existing farm type ponds in this district include them in design. Other Thoughts: The whole S.W. District Plan, the Carson Lake Project and Iowa City's progressive nature, begs for "out of box' thinking. I read with great interest the community of Cumming, Iowa approving, the Middlebrook Development, an "agrihood" concept that may include community gardens or perhaps even a small working farm. A concept worth exploring. Z4 9 �-o a� C- 16) //oT�' c -� �/% A/0 T � ST- 171aZdFX i -s -'117 - L 4N d' B © wNFK C NOT /�1 AT Y 0 1W G= 09 (f -V e G O�v VV If Al TSS' W�' �e c/C E."t cr e O kv eV E/f Y k �✓P% Uri 7?,Z�- CJ Iv N Z-1VS . t't/ C 11�(IC 4 �✓' 6 �T T� �c� C1c/�/ e/V % ® C/"%/Y �o U7. o y T Gel- G/ �ks'C�f' 7`4-X-1 Z -c7 C ePc- NOT �LvlfI/T 7a- 69 f. 0 T� k Z-iV �! e, d d c.S Zl// c esa ezlt v cll/'rJs) Zc 7'; J T/ r5 oll z Zoe Cg/ To- �`9,- cSc-, lt1/, 71L( (fLZA4 rV i T /700ca/ Oel-T ON 7 - SS h-)- 7-0, V c T /.r/�,c f F404 Ci-TA 4's0 At o la C�x do Al-(:::::'o it1 7/t J , G7-/ G CI'7 -/v -74-)k-,l �V 6�- Ar E /0 o 2X Tes IBJ o y ",-ILLs a- zz-T 6z. �� �e�/c-zOvZ JL5 rgc(/z-d C1 G2X - S7-(), C'hi pit,� �Po o cs s o G- O�oV 2 a6,5 ivN 0A 7oft P� C -a a-C- X127-. Xa_ /// o 4 7Z-O ye o w' /v P s ,moi e y 7ZEf tvi T f CC.roo > _. -7 ,.V TEN 7/ 4 J o-- �E 1 G L NO 7_+X %--5- -7 S o Y T of -7(lCA)I f� 1,61 e G e T� 71-f 7- CU yN 7y Z d c G © Tw r1c CL co P /C P/0 Z4-Tc,S o /A. ✓�i`Gf� T,�' - qs t tcc�s/- T, - �i e asc 5 /.;C L v� bu -� - - 1` - - L GU fir//`/U 1 /riU EA - 6-c7. � y� yes--_�/t/2 �_e- c_-yw1c.I - //, o efs C,5 l a 7X12 z0� -n/ 5 �vrt c 0 (V�) %77(1�T L a YSe �/Z (Pl SITJ 0// �/_`J -kWr -- -- - o � -- - llP�'� �OZ_o�j-GrJfjoGecS',tGe__7� __ olve-"l -/pL_"4441 eC7 f �C•9_ - 0 -vee, CQ- -- v71K (j ear/7- - - --/c- 0ise, '-NO 6z',g�s�S A5_ 47-C - CI , eok7 7-4, e -- - �S 67-c TTs zW - 1 a w 67el e /1 7 CjI Pit/ T,I `� -f�} N - rs� -14 - C' C - - o/V C - Lwv v-- - - l� Fn (o �t S 7-- oi`2 `T - % ------------ - - Draft Future Land Use Attachment 3 t? CITY OF IOWA CITY VNFSCOCIiYOFLIiEMNIIE Specific Feedback Place up to 3 stickers of each color on the draft land use map for things that you like or dislike. • Green =Things You Like • Red= Things You Dislike Pair Win sticky notes for in-depth comments by numbering both the stickers and sticky notes. General Feedback Write any general comments about the map using sticky notes and place them around the edge of the poster. Comment Cards If you'd prefer to provide anonymous feedback, you can write on the comment cards. Comment cards also contain some prompts to gain additional feedback. Note This is a concept only. No development is proposed as pan of this plan update. The plan guides future growth as private landowners become interested in annexing and developing. Additional into at www.iogov.org/sw-plan-update- Open House Comment Cards September 1, 2022 Attachment 3 What do you like about the draft plan What would you change about the draft Anything else that should be considered for the Rohret South Subarea? pan for the Rohret South Subarea? when planning for the Subarea? Additional Comments More emphasis on multi- family/affordable housing types. Tie in Focus on natural features, walkability, parks areas to existing areas to existing alternative transportation options, and ponds and other natural features. Add new schools. Possibility of light additionally ped/bike crossings across commercial uses is good too. US218. More affordable housing please! I don't like the proposed commercial area on the south side of Rohret Rd. Trails, parks, wetlands, woodlands, and I think it's well thought out for the long There is a lot of traffic already and conservation areas very important. term. The idea of using "nodes" is adding a commercial area would make it Plants should be specifically selected to interesting. Very important to have worse. I'm okay with a commercial area, support pollinators, birds, insects, and affordable housing. just not directly off of Rohret. other native species. POOL POOL POOL - Put a pool in the rec center. Tanks in the area are closing and New Schools. New Rec Center -Possibly competitive swim teams need the lane with a pool?. Extension of connector Add a dedicated middle school jr. high. space, especially in this SW corner of roads to highways. New sewer and Expand bus routes. Elementary school town. School district should buy into this water infrastructure. land a preschool and child care Ito provide for teams. Carson lake plan -> No Open House Comment Cards September 1, 2022 Here in Iowa City we like to think of ourselves as progressive minded. This is an opportunity to manifest that perspective. I can not think of a single topic that is more important to inclusion access and opportunity than residential development. The choices here will affect the degree of socioeconomic and racial integration in this neighborhood for generations to come. Tethered to that is the diversity of schools, food accessibility, climate, action, and policing across the city. I urge you to provide the needs of the entire city and I like that a mixture of housing types and not just rely on the potentially vocal footprints are baked into the plan. The opinions of those currently in the neighborhood north of Rohret is nice, More information about linked or Having and maintaining a core value of neighborhood (like me) who I fear will but monolithic in lot size and ultimately delinked transporting plans to open up broadening opportunity for people of emphasize self interest in property exclusionary based on income and home north/south routes to Melrose and varied socioeconomic backgrounds to values and traffic over what's good for ownership. Highway 1. choose to live in the neighborhood Iowa City The plan needs to be contingent on I like the pond and the path around it. I connecting Rohret road to Melrose via like the neighborhood feel. I like the the Slothower right-of-way. Without addition of more neighborhood that, the plan will only create more commercial. congestion. Connectivity of area. Development of more housing and mixed use Prioritize road connectivity. Slothower commercial development Ave to Rohret (connect to Melrose) Prioritize Melrose to Rohret Connection Would have been helpful to have presentation every 15 minutes or so to give information to all in organized form Open House Comment Cards September 1, 2022 I would like to see more nature outdoor play space for the parks. Also would enjoy seeing trails for walking and riding bikes. I would not be in favor of low Neighborhood Nodes. Parks income coming to this area. Regional stormwater basin/lake. Commercial areas for surrounding Additional parks/open space. Push more neighborhoods. Single family housing density toward HWY 1 and less near Concerned about additional traffic on transition near existing neighborhoods. Rohret Rd. Rohret Rd. If I wanted to live in Iowa City, I would have bought a house in town, not in the Absolutely nothing Throw it out and forget it country. Strongly Oppose Additional schools. Regional park. 965 to Highway 1 roundabouts Alternative to get to the East of 218. The Prioritize north/south connection to lake area. The commercial areas. The HWY 1 and Melrose/IWV increase in new school. neighborhood commercial nodes. Trail connectivity Offset traffic on Rohret/. Address Large development to activate growth Mormon Trek traffic. Connections are key. With limited HWY 218 crossings the north/south Regional public park/lake. Rec Center. connections to HWY 1 and Melrose are Neighborhood commercial nodes. vital. I (prefer) not to have a huge development right across the street nothing from where I live. Leaving the area as is Better Road success to Melrose and NO COMMERCIAL! DISLIKE PLACEMENT HWY 1. Less concrete for less runoff. Park area around lake 1OF FIRE HOUSE IMore green areas. Open House Comment Cards September 1, 2022 The eight FT sidewalk is listed as a trail. It goes to Weber School. The City could take care of snow removal on the trail. A road connecting Rohret Rd with Melrose Ave via Connection through Slothower Another exit route from Rohret Rd - Rd. would improve traffic flow on Connect through Slothower to Melrose Rohret. The nightmare scenario created by the development built by the Watts group presently West of Weber cannot be understated (we live there). Impossible to reach for grievances, contractors unsafe and environmentally a Less access to Rohret road. City's far too Paving/ creating safe access to south nightmare. Rohret has children walking busy and unsafe. No apartments. Less access points. Watts built our home, do on it by the hundreds everyday. Heavy Parks, Fire Department. South access to population density. Not have Watts not consider (them). WE NEED MORE vehicles and contractors both create road. develop. SCHOOLS! Need more fire and police MASSIVE safety issues. All development must involve school Too much is driven by affluence and development and expansion, and there isolation. This is not healthy for our needs more commitment to diversity. community. no multifamily units. Pave Slothower Rd. to move traffic away from Rohret. Rohret is too busy too much heavy Pond/walking trails. Park. Itraffic. Cement dump trucks. Open House Comment Cards September 1, 2022 The acreage off of Kitty Lee Rd that Oaknoll owns is essentially already park space. It has a pond, pine tree plantings, walnut tree plantings, and mowed trails. If possible, that land should be preserved as the natural area that it is. It Kitty Lee Rd should be preserved and a could easily connect to proposed Carson road further south could connect to Parks. Schools. Walk paths. Nodes pond/par. future proposed development. I would add more trails for biking and running. Separate bike paths from roads I like the amount of parks. I like the compared to dangerous bike lanes. I Traffic on Rohret Road, Meier Ave, and amount of trails wish for more diversity in housing. HWY 1 are already busy. {See Questions Tab} Low income housing mixed with expensive housing would cause housing Need road connecting Rohret to Melrose for expensive homes to be reduced. sone today to eliminate traffic on Mixing apples with oranges! i.e. Morgan Trek and road connecting to Large lots are a must for this area to Maintaining low income homes would small footprint, low -intensity housing West High. reduce traffic flow. be less and caused area to deteriorate. Concentrate on the area of Iowa City already developed and built up and Farmland and open areas are important. improve those areas. Leave the farmland Leave them alone. Improve the areas of not much alone, Iowa City that are already developed. Mix of commercial, single family, and Convert the whole area into a large Please don't over weight the opinions of multi -family. Also like plans for parks recreation area with miles and miles of all the old people who don't want multi - and schools. mountain bike trails. family dwellings anywhere near them. Open House Comment Cards September 1, 2022 Perhaps open space to create symmetry (like 2 bookends) with the Poor Farm to Increase in public parks (size and the north of the neighborhood and easy Introduction of some commercial space - number). I see the importance of higher places to get to and from the ability to have place to walk to for density housing but like the idea of neighborhood and feel like you are still coffee, a meal at a restaurant. offsetting it with more open space. out in the country. I like the idea of "commercial nodes" useful! Traffic over 218 and on Rohret is big Green space, low intensity use concern A dog park! Keep Kitty Lee from becoming a thorough fare from HWY1 to Rohret. Do Leave Kitty Lee Road alone not annex Kitty Lee Road Neighborhood On the original concept we had I do not like the current plan for my commercial now we have low density. ground at 3257 Rohret Road. Need more Need to buffer but need more density to density per the old zone overlay help the area. Less general urban land use category. Prioritize roads, fire station and native Traffic on Rohret if moving forward with space earlier in the plan. Safety risk to Phase 1 without connections to further develop with a fire station or Melrose/HWY1. Risk safety of additional roads (beside Rohret) for fire developing in phase 1 without a fire Park/ Nature space department to access. station which is in phase 2b. No commercial area near bridge over Please decrease the speed limit in Diversity, parks 218 Rohret Rd. It's Residential! North/South road connection. Developers should be force to agree to Schools/park. Overall plan very nice. Junior High built ASAP. plan. July 13, 2022 SOUTHWEST DISTRICT ROHRET SOUTH SURVEY RESULTS Q3: What is your interest in the Southwest District Plan update? (select all that apply) Answered: 168 1 Skipped: 0 I live in or next to the subarea 1 87.5% I am an interested resident of Iowa City 29.8% I own land in or next to the subarea 20.8% 1 am an interested employee in Iowa City ■ 7.7% 1 work in or next to the subarea ■ 7.1% Other (please specify) .5.4% 1 am a business owner in Iowa City ' 4.2% 1 participated in a focus group forthe Southwest District Plan update I 1.8% I am a public official in Iowa City 0.0% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Q2: What kinds of development would you like to see as this area grows? (select all that apply) Answered: 162 1 Skipped: 6 Parks and outdoor recreational areas Housing for small families Small-scale commercial services (such as stores, restaurants, offices, etc.) Housing for large families Educational facilities (such as childcare services schools et 41.4% 41.4% c) I I — I38.3% Indoor recreational facilities 3343% Housing for seniors 33.3% Public facilities (such as facilities providing fire or police protection, etc.) Small-scale health services (such as clinics, dentists, etc.) 30.3% 26.5% Housing for individual persons 22.2% Housing foryoung adults 17.9% Facilities for public assembly (such as community centers, churches, mosques, etc.) 15.4% Other (please specify) - 11.7% 53.7% 87.7% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 2 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Q3: What opportunities do you see for future development in this area? (select all that apply) Answered: 156 1 Skipped: 12 A neighborhood that provides amenities such as parks and open space 72.4% A neighborhood that is safe for children to walk, such as to 71.2% school or a friend's house 70.5% A neighborhood that is safe and easy to bike in with trails 69.2% and other amenities A neighborhood that preserves and celebrates the natural environment and features like woods, streams, wetlands,... A neighborhood that promotes a healthy and sustainable lifestyle Housing that is energy efficient and environmentally friendly A neighborhood that has well-connected streets with 40.4% multiple route options to other areas of town An equitable neighborhood that welcomes people from all backgrounds and incomes 35.3% A neighborhood that is well-connected with transit to other areas of town 34.6% A neighborhood that welcomes people at all stages of life with a mix of housing types (single-family homes,... 32.1% A neighborhood that provides a variety of transportation choices 28.2% A neighborhood that celebrates and protects culturally significant people, places, and events 26.3% Housing that is accessible for seniors or persons with disabilities 26.3% Housing that is affordable for first-time homebuyers 25.6% Other (please specify) - 10.3% — 72.4% 71.2% 70.5% — 69.2% ■ 57.7% 50.0% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 3 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Q4: What concerns do you have for future development in this area? (select all that apply) Answered: 1611 Skipped: 7 Development that is too dense (i.e. buildings are too close together) Lack of road capacity on Rohret Road Lack of green space in new development Increased traffic on neighborhood streets Loss of open space High traffic speeds Loss of agricultural land ■ 66.5% 63.4% 63.4% 62.7% 9.0% Lack of road capacity on Highway 1 23.0% Lack of access to transit 20.5% Lack of adequate public services20.5% Other (please specify)r10Developmentthat is not dense enough (i.e. buildings are too spread apart) Distance from jobs 8.1% Distance from commercial uses 7.5% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 4 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Q5: If you selected more than one kind of development on the previous page that you think is important for the area as it grows, please rank them by priority with 1 being most important. Answered: 132 1 Skipped: 36 Parks and outdoor recreational areas Housing for small families Housing for large families Small-scale commercial services (such as stores, restaurants, offices, etc.) Educational facilities (such as childcare services, schools, etc.) Housing for seniors - Indoor recreational facilities Public facilities (such as facilities providing fire or police . protection, etc.) Small-scale health services (such as clinics, dentists, etc.) Housing for individual persons . Housing foryoung adults , Facilities for public assembly (such as community centers, I ' churches, mosques, etc.) Other . ■Top 3 Middle ■ Bottom 3 0 5 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix 50 100 150 Number of Responses Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Q6: If you selected more than one opportunity for future development on the previous page that you think is important in this area, please rank them by priority with 1 being the greatest opportunity. Answered: 125 1 Skipped: 43 A neighborhood that provides amenities such as parks and open space A neighborhood that preserves and celebrates the natural environment and features like woods, streams,... A neighborhood that is safe for children to walk, such as to school or a friend's house A neighborhood that is safe and easy to bike in with trails and other amenities A neighborhood that promotes a healthy and sustainable lifestyle Housing that is energy efficient and environmentally friendly A neighborhood that has well-connected streets with multiple route options to other areas of town A neighborhood that is well-connected with transit to other areas of town ■ An equitable neighborhood that welcomes people from all - backgrounds and incomes A neighborhood that welcomes people at all stages of life with a mix of housing types (single-family homes,... A neighborhood that provides a variety of transportation choices . A neighborhood that celebrates and protects culturally I significant people, places, and events Housing that is accessible for seniors or persons with disabilities ■ Housing that is affordable for first-time homebuyers . Other , ■ Top 3 Middle ■ Bottom 3 0 20 6 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix 1 40 60 80 100 Number of Responses Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Q7: If you selected more than one concern regarding future development in the area on the previous page, please rank them by priority with 1 being your largest concern. Answered: 138 1 Skipped: 30 Development that is too dense (i.e. buildings are too close together) Lack of road capacity on Rohret Road Increased traffic on neighborhood streets I Lack of green space in new development Loss of open space High traffic speeds Loss of agricultural land Lack of road capacity on Highway 1 Lack of adequate public services Lack of access to transit Development that is not dense enough (i.e. buildings are . I too spread apart) Other Distance from commercial uses . Distance fromi.obs I ■ Top 3 Middle ■Bottom 3 0 20 40 60 80 100 Number of Responses Q8: If you have other thoughts, ideas, or additional information to share that the City should consider during this plan update, please let us know below: Answered: 62 1 Skipped: 106 Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix 7 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Q9: If you would like to receive future updates on this project, sign up for the contact list below (your information will remain confidential and will only be used for this project): Answered: 100 1 Skipped: 68 Q30: Where do you live? Answered: 146 1 Skipped: 22 90% 84.3% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10.3% 10% 4.1% 1.4% 0% In Iowa City In another city in Johnson Outside city limits in Johnson Outside Johnson County County County Q31: What is the zip code of your home address? Answered: 142 1 Skipped: 26 90% 85.2% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% — 30% — 20% 9.2% — 10% 2.1% —2.1% 0.7% 0.7% 0% 52240 52241 52245 52246 52333 55317 Q12: How would you describe your living situation? Answered: 145 1 Skipped: 23 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 93.8% Live in a home owned by you or someone in your household 4.8% Live in a home rented by you or someone in your household 8 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix 1.4% Other (please specify) Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Q13: How many people currently live in your household? (include all persons living in your dwelling)? Answered: 144 1 Skipped: 24 35% 31.9% 29.9% 30% 25% 20% 15% 12.5% 11.8% 10% 5.6% ■ ■ 5_ 0.7% 5% 2.1% 0% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Q14: How many children (under 18 years) currently live in your household? Answered: 142 Skipped: 26 45% 42.3% 40% 35% 30% 28.2% 25% 20% 15% 11. 9.9% 10% 5.6% 0% MM 2.1% 0.7% 0% � 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Q15: Where do you work or go to school? Answered: 146 1 Skipped: 22 80% 71.2% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 9.6% 13.0% 10% 6.2% 0% In Iowa City In another city in Outside city limits in Outside Johnson Not currently working Johnson County Johnson County County or going to school (retired, between jobs, etc.) 9 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Q16: What is the zip code of your current work or school address? Answered: 1211 Skipped: 47 40% 35% 33.9% 30% 28.1% 25% 20% 14.9% 15% 10% 8.3% 5% 1 3■ M 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8% 522425224652240522415224552402522285223552243523195234052404524055249852556553175590560603 Q17: What is your age? Answered: 135 1 Skipped/Preferred not to answer: 33 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 12.6% 32.6% 0.0% 0.7% _ 0% <18 18 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 Q18: With which gender do you most identify? Answered: 129 1 Skipped/Preferred not to answer: 39 60% 50% 48.1% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Male 51.9% 23.0% 19.3% 8.9% Female 0.0% 0.0% Non-Binary/Non-Conforming Not Listed (please specify) 10 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix ■ 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 to 74 75+ Female 0.0% 0.0% Non-Binary/Non-Conforming Not Listed (please specify) 10 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey Q19: Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin? Answered: 117 1 Skipped/Preferred not to answer: 51 100% 97.4% 80% 60% 40% 20% 2.6% 0% Yes No Q20: What is your race? (select all that apply) Answered: 112 1 Skipped/Preferred not to answer: 56 100% 87.5% 80% 60% 40% 20% 2.7% 1.8% 10.7% 0% White Black or African American Indian or Asian or Pacific American Alaska Native Islander July 13, 2022 1 aw some omer race (please specify) Q21: What was the total combined income for all persons living in your dwelling in the past 12 months? Answered: 104 1 Skipped/Preferred not to answer: 64 30% 27.9% 25% 20.2% 19.2 20% 14.4% 15% 12.5% 10% 5.8% ■ ■ 5% 0.0% 0.0% 0% _ 10 0 Less than $15,000 to $25,000 to $50,000 to $75,000 to $100,000 to $150,000 to $200,000 or $15,000 $24,999 $49,999 $74,999 $99,999 $149,999 $199,999 more Q22: Are you currently enrolled at an institution of higher education? (for example, University of Iowa, Kirkwood Community College, etc.) Answered: 132 1 Skipped: 36 100% 93.2% 80% 60% 40% 20% 6.8% 0% 1 M Yes No 11 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey APPENDIX: FULL QUALITATIVE ANSWERS Q1:"Other" Responses Children attend nearby school I live on Hunters Run, close to the area In the neighborhood. I live in Coralville and my husband and I are looking to move to Iowa City. I live by it. mms Ty'n Cae Nieghborhood President Curently live out of state but family owns land impacted by the plan. I am an employee of Johnson County Planning Q2:"Other" Responses July 13, 2022 additional connecting streets/roads to Melrose Avenue Low income housing for poorer residents and university students. very low density residential development prefer it as it is. Traffic is already heavy on Rohret and the quality of the road is exceptionally poor. None -no development needed DO NOTHING Public Hunting Area This is a valuable area with abundant water and other natural resources. It should be left as a nature reserve. Single family homes only! public pool and tennis courts, maybe even a par 3 golf course with kids activities None Large scale commercial such as IKEA, Hy Vee, Whole Foods. Not interested in seeing this area developed. Single family homes Very dependent on specific areas within plan update No development No more development that requires the loss of farmland and cutting down of trees do nothing with it the Rohret road would need some serious repairs Q3:"Other" Responses this is a weird list - who's going to say no to any of these? additional streets to Melrose Dedicated bike paths that are safe and segregated from car lanes. A quiet neighborhood where people's right to peace in their own homes, on their own schedules, is respected as much as people's right to recreate. 12 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Leave it as is Wild -life Game Area with wetlands and public use Same building requirements, costs, min building sq ft, No low cost housing to bring property values down! Connect Rohret to Melrose directly on the West side NO bike lanes. Please. a focus on neighborhood schools for building community and coordinating recreation and activities None mixed-use & sustainable, walkable, transit -served, pis Bringing more traffic to our peaceful neighborhood is not desired. No development An area that maintains it's rural heritage More stressed resources our water presser is next to nothing now and Rohret road is like a washboard fix the streets we have now. Q4:"Other" Responses Terrible planning with plastic barracks subdivision houses like we have everywhere else on this side of town Commercial buildings( ie gas stations) that hinders the beauty of area. Also the speed limit is too high and traffic drives 50 mph on Rohret in the evening. Traffic is very heavy during in morning and evening due to limited streets and only one street to get over across 1-218. We can barely get out onto Rohret in the morning. It is unacceptable to put more housing in until this is remedied. Increasing urban sprawl which makes public transportation more costly. Further development of suburbs which encroach on agricultural land and dig the city into greater debt in the near future. Ugliness, kit buildings that don't account for continental -climate temperature swings and insulation needs, giant houses, deathtrap parking lots where sight lines are bad (like Walden Square), absence of bike lanes separated physically from car paths, minivan caravans waiting to make a left onto Rohret twice a day (build the road -separated bike paths in now) Loss of animal habitat The small crime area near Heartig drug creating a dangerous atmosphere that could turn the area bad. The lack of space at the elementary school for such expansion Lack of access on Morman Trek with Road Diet! Adding bike lanes that would further congest traffic lack of public community amenities lack of accessible housing for lower income or diverse family groups no more mcmansions Low affordability and use of exclusionary restrictive covenants (e.g., lot size, # of garages) Overcrowding in schools- having to redistrict the boundaries again Commercial uses of land The potential cost of the homes when all is said and done... Loss of natural land and native Iowa species in the area 13 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Q8: If you have other thoughts, ideas, or additional information to share that the City should consider during this plan update, please let us know below: The guy applying for subdivision approval is the same guy who destroyed the area across from the Co- op and City Hall, and has had similar problems elsewhere. Steer him very hard on design if you're approving his plans, because otherwise it'll be soulless and horrible and we'll have to live with it forever while he waltzes off with a lot of money in his pocket. I think the existing area of north of Rohret Road has been ignored. The city refuses to acknowledge and address the high traffic to and from Weber Elementary School and the high number of cars that travel on Rohret Road as it is the ONLY access people have to Mormon Trek and crossing the interstate. You CAN NOT add additional housing without fixing this. Also, older property owners on the south side of Rohret do not maintain their property and make the area look trashy. There should also be a fire station on Mormon Trek to have faster access to these neighborhoods across the interstate. In addition, the speed limit of 35 mph is too high in the areas of Rohret before and especially further west of the school. There are many that use Rohret from the countryside west of the city limits that travel at very high speeds with no regard for present neighborhoods. Also, Rohret Road has been ruined by cement trucks, semi truck, dump trucks and other large construction equipment that travel and speeds greater than 35 mph to their construction sites. This occurs all day long many days of the week. I ask for diversity of housing and transportation options, and for a housing policy that encourages an abundance of housing. Developing out instead of in leads to real estate bubbles. Because the DOT pays for paving new roads the city thinks that they'll make nothing but profit when building new homes on these streets through taxes. However once these streets become the responsibility of the city to maintain these profits quickly become a net loss and in order to keep an influx of revenue, the city must keep expanding. But this will always lead to an inevitable crash. The only thing that prevents this from happening is a federal bailout. This is a forseeable and avoidable problem that will not only prevent the city from crumbling but change it into a beacon for the future of our changing climate in the U.S. Access this area should not be off Rohret Rd but from Mormon Trek and Melrose Try to find some middle ground between current SW district and pennisula neighborhood Slothhower Road improvement? Poor Farm development Hwy 1 improvement or parallel auxilary road Rohret road needs to be connected to Melrose Ave. where the current Slothower Rd. is. This would shave several minutes off people's drive from the existing and proposed new developments to points north. Currently, people have to weave through neighborhoods east of the highway, which is not safe. This area also needs more neighborhood retail (restaurants, supermarkets). My opinion is that this area should not be developed for city use and should remain agricultural. There are other areas around the city that will be much easier less costly to develop The destruction of green space in Iowa City and Coralville is troubling to me, as is the thought of massive development near my home. I doubt my thoughts will do anything to halt what is probably already a fait accompli. I'm sure you've already got developers salivating at the opportunity. Myself and many neighbors enjoy seeing the wildlife nearby & do not want to have any more development in this area. The infrastructure is not there to support an new neighborhood/development in this area. 911 response would be stressed and/or decreased There is only one way in and out of any neighborhood west of Shannon Drive 14 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 Iowa City has incentivized the overbuilding of apartments. Iowa City does not need more apartments or condominiums foryoung people. There are alreadytoo many empty apartments. The city already destroyed a lake to build a Menards a mile from an old Menards. Further destruction of the natural beauty of this area would disgust me; use land that is already in the sphere of influence of Iowa City and stop expanding urban areas. If Iowa City claims to be a progressive and green city, it will reconsider the annexation of this land. Weber Elementary has become one of the highest capacity schools in the district. The school district would have to do new boundaries for the west side of Iowa city if this turns into a housing development. I would like to acknowledge that Weber Elementary is already crowded with very large class sizes and not enough resources to meet the needs of our diverse population. I would like any increase in student enrollment to be addressed. I want to maintain the diversity at Weber Elementary while bringing class sizes down and having appropriate staffing to meet student needs. I would also love to see easier access to Coralville from the neighborhood but with much though and consideration to the effects on current residents and traffic patterns/flow. stop sprawl I cannot stress how worried I am as a prospect buyer to the area and a worker about the crime area near Heartig. Coffee shop in a park Making Slothower Road a through street would go a long way to helping reduce traffic congestion on Mormon Trek, Highway 1, and Shannon Drive. It would also significantly reduce travel times to 218, 1- 80, and Coralville. I think this is the single most important improvement forthis area and should be considered essential prior to any additional development. If we allow more construction in South Rohret, the traffic in the Rohret-Mormon Trek crossing would be terrible. With the substantial size and land available, an additional school(s) should be included as part of the development. Weber is already very large and will likely reach capacity in near future. Have another elementary school would be ideal. Thank you for letting us be involved. This area very susceptible to soil erosion with light soils and steep slopes making it undesirable for extensive development. A high priority should be given to maintaining these areas as natural as possible, such as wetlands, prairie and woodlands Make Morman Trek 4 lanes! NO Low income housing! Would rather not see high density housing. Loss of open area is concerning as there are no parks west of the highway. Increased traffic is worrisome. Please connect Rohret road to Highway 1 and to Melrose Avenue with roads that do not have speed bumps or stop lights. More development out Rohret road needs more access from roads other than Rohret rd. If Rohret were widened it would further divide the neighborhood from the neighborhood and Weber Elementary, on the north side of Rohret Rd. Dog park and a pool. This part of town is under -served with parks and trails. Not a good space for commercial development given the limited vehicle access and low capacity level for Rohert. This area with more growth NEEDS a better connection to main roads. There is so much traffic from Rohret up through Shannon Drive and on to Melrose. Need a better connection to Melrose from the west side. We recently moved to this area after living 48 years in SE Iowa City. The reason we moved was because of increased crime, and decreasing property values due to rental property and lack of police 15 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 presence. We do not want to see that happen in this area so proper planning and development is extremely important. It would be nice to focus on community activities public and commercial. For example Colonial Lanes is in that area, but it really needs a boost - I wouldn't want to see it go out of business with a new bowling alley, but we need it to improve for families and communities. How can the development in this area improve and build upon some of what's already there/nearby Avoiding "streets of nothing to nowhere' is good for getting people to use feet, breaks up monitony. Owen has it right in Green Metropolis. Also pis require thicker walls, 2x4 studs not adequate for insulation. The rolling hills of the farm directly south of Rohret and directly west of the 218 would be the greatest loss for the area if developed into condos, apartments, or even houses. I would prioritize this as green space or parkland (or retaining it as farmland). Having lived in this area for 26 years, I am concerned about the environmental impact developmental will have on the spring -fed lake and all the deer, pheasants, birds and other animals that live here. I am concerned about the increased traffic on our road given the hills and history of speeding that makes for a dangerous combination. Need to diversify housing options and price in the expansion. Don't want this to increase or maintain existing levels of housing segregation (by income, race, age, etc.) on the west side. As the area grows, an elementary school adjacent (perhaps accross Rohret Rd) to Weber would allow more flexibility and efficiency for the district and should be considered. One building could be PK -3 for instance and one building 4-6. This could change year to year as class sizes fluctuate. It would be really nice to have at least a small commercial area for coffee shop/restaurant/pharmacy etc. that blends in well with the neighborhood. The Fareway complex is a little to far to be easily walkable for most of the Weber neighborhood. Tremendous potential! Would be wonderful to expand on this direction as opposed to continue toward the landfill. One concern would be roads, traffic, accessibility. Would help to add connecting road from the west end of Rohret. Alleviate the one way in/out traffic. BIGGEST CONCERN IS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Weber is already over capacity and suffering from being under resourced with the level of student need. School expansion at this point would be impractical and unsafe, especially with exposure concerns that are likely to continue. Another west end elementary would allow for continued residential development while alleviating some of Weber's overcrowding. Plus increase walk -ability for many of the students. This area needs greater access adjacent main roads such as Highway 1 and Melrose Ave. Emergency services for the proposed add on area. Please add commercial businesses zoning to area, such as convenient/gas store, grocery, office building, mini mall, and so on. We could also use road access to Slothower Road. Would like to see Slothower Rd paved, and extended to connect Melrose Ave. to Hwy 1. Need street connection with Melrose Ave. for area north of Rohret and west of 218 -- via expanded Slothower St. or northbound extension of Wild Prairie Dr. Additional access road from Mormon Trek to the area to be developed other than Hwy 1 and Rohret Rd. Proposed path of connection between Hwy 965 at the Lowe's intersection in Coralville on to Melrose, and then again to Hwy 1. Where that road goes will set the stage for completing a "square" around the whole area from an access standpoint. Depending on square mileage, might be room for an elementary school in addition to Weber. Also, would like to know what the future of Meyer Rd at the border of Rohret Rd and current city limits. Focus on prairie and wetland restoration; traffic speed control (speed bumps) on neighborhood roads; dog park 16 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District, Rohret South Survey July 13, 2022 I would just love to see a large outdoor park, with hiking and biking trails. No homes or stores. Please don't add any commercial properties. Please don't include ramps on or off of Rohret to hwy 218. Would like a nice park with open space to play and take walks. You should send a survey asking about improving and extending Slothtower Rd from Rohret Rd to Melrose Ave. I think most people would be in favor of this development. The families on Kitty Lee road are concerned that their neighborhood will be connected to a larger neighborhood or businesses, therefore causing there to be more traffic in this currently quiet and private neighborhood. Please consider that they value their home and neighborhood for this reason, it's why they chose to live their. The same goes for the other "country' homes and subdivisions in this area. Please don't develop this. For those of us that live west of 218, it would be great if there was an easier way to access 218 going North. If Slothower went through from Rohret to Melrose it would help out a lot. Iowa City Please make sure to include the park, lake, and walking trails from the original plan. Rohret Rd is already quite congested at certain times of the day. Most people turn right off of Rohret when heading west, which helps, but I'm concerned about traffic back-ups if a lot more people are turning left into the area south of Rohret. The Rohret area already has tons of housing. Would be good to break it up a bit with some parks, clinics or stores. Not sure how much space there is to have more kids attend Weber, so maybe senior housing is best option. The development should be similar to what is already in this area. Please don't connect this development, if approved, to Kitty Lee Road. Connecting all west side to melrose with a main road that doesn't go through neighborhoods I have concerns about the safety in the neighborhood when the future development is too dense. A new elementary school is a must if any land is going to be developed for residential purposes. I would love to see small, local businesses join the neighborhood! An ice cream shop tops my list. consider the interface with Highway 1 as another opportunity to provide commercial development utilizing existing infrastructure, and also to allow transition off the highway into more residential uses to the north. This will also be important as the plan considers developing up to - and possibly incorporating - the existing intensive commercial uses on the south side of the Highway just west of Sharon Center Rd. Q12: "Other" Responses Rent a home. Apartment Q20: "Other" Responses Mexican Multiple 17 Note: Qualitative answers are available in the Appendix Southwest District Plan Update Stakeholder Meeting Summary Attachment 4 r®ly� QTY OF IOWA CITY ONE SCO COV OF LIT EMTURE This document summarizes public input heard throughout focus group and technical committee meetings held in December 2020 through January 2021 for the South Rohret Subarea update to the Southwest District Plan. In total, 46 stakeholders were engaged, as shown below in Table 1. The document includes overarching themes heard throughout focus group meetings, and a summary of comments which provides additional details and specific thoughts and concerns. A questionnaire is available online as a forum for broader public input. As of January 14, 2021, 130 responses have been received. A summary of those results will be provided when the survey closes. The questionnaire is currently available on the project website at www.icoov.org/sw-plan-update. Questions can be directed to Kirk Lehmann, Associate Planner, at kirk-Iehmann(a)iowa-citv.oro. Table 1: Focus Group Meetings and Attendance Group Date Time Attending City -Wide Stakeholders December 15, 2020 10:30 am 5 Area Organization Stakeholders December 15, 2020 1:30 pm 4 Owners December 15, 2020 3:00 pm 3 Owners December 15, 2020 4:00 pm 1 Owners December 16, 2020 1:30 pm 2 Iowa City Community School District December 17, 2020 3:00 pm 3 Development Community December 22, 2020 10:30 am 9 Development Community January 6, 2021 9:30 am 4 Parks & Recreation Commission January 13, 2021 5:00 pm 7 Technical Committee Ongoing 8 Total 46 Meetings included representatives from: Neighborhood Associations (Tyne Cae & Country Club Estates), Johnson County (Planning/Development/Sustainability & Poor Farm), ICCSD, ICAAR, HBA, Owners (including Oaknoll), Affordable Housing Coalition, City of Iowa City (Climate Action Commission, Parks and Rec Commission, NDS, PW, MPO, ICFD) OVERARCHING THEMES: Several recurring themes were heard throughout the focus group meetings. They included: • Access and Connectivity. The westernmost portion of the Southwest District has limited access to the City across Highway 218, specifically at Rohret Road, Highway 1, and Melrose Avenue. North/south connectivity between these roads is essential to future development in this area. Traffic Concerns. Rohret Road is the current primary street to access existing development west of US -218. It experiences some congestion during peak traffic hours. Future development may require improvements to Rohret Road, Highway 1, and/or routes between them to address congestion, especially at choke points like Weber Elementary. Adequate transit access, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, can also help reduce congestion. Building a New Neighborhood. The area is desirable for a mix of housing types and price points due to potential access to amenities like parks, new schools, and trails, and due to proximity to the University as a large employment center. This provides unique future opportunities for development, such as clustered residences or "agri-hoods". • Regional Amenities and Trails. Stakeholders are supportive of a regional stormwater management system surrounded by park space. It would function as a neighborhood and city- wide amenity, provide a new attraction to this part of town, and preserve existing habitat. Trails should surround the park and connect to other areas of the City. Importance of Public Services. With the potential for new development, fire protection and additional schools must be planned. As development progresses west, sewers may become a limiting factor for development, largely due to topographic constraints. Neighborhood Commercial. Commercial development on Rohret Road and Highway 1 could serve the neighborhood, though commercial areas would likely need to be small in size and targeted in scope, with appropriate transitions to residential neighborhoods. SUMMARY OF COMMENTS Comments from all meetings are organized and consolidated by topic below. As a summary, it does not include every comment made during these meetings. Road Access • The Southwest District has limited access from the west due to Highway 218, with Rohret Road being the primary connection for most existing development. Highway 1 provides access for some limited existing development as well. • While physically close, it takes a while to travel to destinations, which can make the area harder to market and/or develop. • North/south road connections between Rohret Rd, Melrose Ave, and Highway 1 are essential, and making those connections are as important as the trunk sewer being extended under Highway 218. Slothower Road is a good candidate to connect Rohret to Melrose. • A direct route to Coralville along the planned 965 extension will encourage development, though the plan should not be contingent on it because it will not occur for a long time. • Kennedy Parkway crossing 218 would also provide an additional route for traffic. Traffic Concerns Traffic for development on Rohret Rd is manageable, but it takes time to cross US -218. o Traffic can bottleneck at Weber Elementary during school drop off and especially pick up when everyone arrives at the same time; the school district is trying to mitigate this by utilizing side streets and encouraging walking. o Turn lanes on Rohret by Weber may increase safety and reduce traffic congestion There are concerns about development affecting traffic on Benton Street. It can be challenging to get on Highway 1 at uncontrolled access points from 7 am — 9 am and 3:30 pm — 5 pm due to traffic; in the future, it will likely need stoplights and possibly turning lanes. Active Transportation • Access to sidewalks, trails, and parks have become increasingly important with COVID. • Trails and bicycle infrastructure could be an asset for the area to attract residents and promote walking. Trails should connect to adjacent parks and other areas of the City. • As development occurs south of Rohret Rd, safe crossings to Weber Elementary should be considered, such as an underground pathway. The need may decrease depending on the location of future schools, the growth of the area, and catchment areas. Transit • Transit is an important source of transportation and should be extended as this area grows. • Changes to transit service has resulted in some areas in the Southwest District experiencing reduced access. Further possible service reductions are a concern, including the Melrose Express that runs to the Poor Farm. • Transit should be considered an essential service for this area as it will help reduce reliance on personal automobiles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Public Services • The sewer extension under Highway 218, currently planned for 2023, is needed for urban -scale development; as such, development will likely follow the sewer line. • Fire protection primarily depends on access and ability to respond. It will become more important as the area grows, so a future fire station should be considered west of US -218, either on Highway 1 or Rohret. • Enrollment at Weber may reach capacity in 1-2 years. Given the amount of potential growth west of Highway 218, 2 additional elementary schools and possibly a junior high should be considered (15-18 acres for the elementary site and 50-60 acres for the elementary/junior high site). • The City should consider Green infrastructure, like the Sycamore Greenway in the South District. Housing and Neighborhoods • People want to live in this area (and send kids to West High), but housing is not always available; this indicates a large demand for housing. o A neighborhood close to outdoor recreation is great, which along with new schools, scenic rolling hills, and proximity to the University will drive demand in this area. o COVID has increased the desire for housing with good access to trails, nature, and other recreational opportunities (such as fishing, birding, hiking, and biking). • There are currently only single-family homes west of Highway 218 o A diversity of housing types and price points with more density should be considered. o The City should strive to maintain Weber at its current free and reduced lunch rates. • There may be an opportunity for alternative developments which can promote affordability. o May be able to develop micro or pocket neighborhoods it is difficult to place streets. o May be able to develop agri-hoods with small lots around a common ag-related space. • Affordability is important because nothing will be built if people can't afford it, even with low interest rates; if it costs more to develop (such as through required alleys or longer, more complicated review processes), homes become less affordable. • The affordable housing requirement should be clarified and implemented at the time of annexation rather than later in the development process; staff should take a more active role in deciding if housing should be onsite or paid as a fee in lieu of units. • Equity is one of the most important considerations for sustainable development, and there are also opportunities to use green construction technique on larger buildings. Commercial Development • Commercial developments would be nice for residents in this area to avoid crossing US -218. o Businesses searching for space typically ask for high traffic counts and turning movements; Rohret Rd and Highway 1 are the two most likely locations. o Businesses often need more than the local neighborhood for support, though there is some opportunity for targeted commercial with limited square footage. o Lower demand means lower prices, so buildings must be thoughtful of the end user. For commercial development on Rohret Rd, there is good visibility but limited access. o Could support local services/offices but may be difficult to attract big businesses. o Commercial will be more attractive with north/south routes to Melrose and Highway 1. Commercial uses may be more successful on Highway 1 near other existing commercial. o There is existing intensive commercial development in unincorporated Johnson County on Highway 1, near Sharon Center Rd; if that use expands, it will likely be for flex space or other intensive commercial uses rather than neighborhood commercial uses. o Will need to carefully transition between commercial areas and residential areas. In denser markets, COVID is increasing commercial vacancies due to new online demand and telecommuting options. o It may affect office space, but attendees don't believe it will impact Iowa City as much. o There may be some demand to convert vacant commercial space into residential units outside of the South Rohret Subarea, but many realtors are currently experiencing high demand. Parks, Open Space, and Stormwater Management • There is a need for a recreation center on this side of town, with space for indoor sports and aquatics, and possibly outdoor recreational uses. • Flash flooding affects neighbors east of 218 after the stream crosses under Mormon Trek; improvements upstream can affect that negatively (through construction of impervious surfaces) and positively (through thoughtful stormwater management) • Green infrastructure like the regional stormwater lake in the 2002 plan would be great. o Something like Terry Trueblood is more advantageous as a selling point compared to multiple "puddles" in subdivision -level stormwater systems. o It could provide biking, hiking, and birding opportunities and preserve the natural landscape, including any native prairies and bird habitats • A regional lake concept depends on the City to take ownership, in addition to landowners. o Impact or development fees should offset losses for landowners that cannot develop, but the City should meet with stakeholders to determine the best approach. o City should own the stormwater basin and promote it as a recreational area. • The Johnson County Poor Farm is another nearby unique amenity that plans on becoming more integrated with neighborhoods to the south. o They have plans for trail connections to the south and some affordable housing. o They would like to host more activities and events (festivals, bike rides, summer series, movies, etc.) and provide a different venue than downtown. • The University has lots of nearby outdoor recreational space; the City should enhance connections for residents and strive to avoid duplication of services where possible. Other Development Considerations • There are lots of steep hills, so creative roadway design is needed, though not a concern. • Topography could be a challenge for sewer lines because the cost of lift stations may limit some developments due to their expense (such as in the southwest part of the subarea). • Where constructed, lift stations will require a certain level of density to support the cost. • Form -based development standards are being considered for the area to promote affordability, density, and livability regardless of age or ability. MINUTES FINAL PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 16, 2022-6:OOPM—FORMAL MEETING EM MA J. HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Susan Craig, Maggie Elliott, Mike Hensch, Billie Townsend MEMBERS ABSENT: Maria Padron, Mark Signs, Chad Wade STAFF PRESENT: Sue Dulek, Kirk Lehmann, Anne Russett OTHERS PRESENT: RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: By a vote of 4-0 the Commission continued the public hearing and deferred the item on a proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment to update the Southwest District Plan, including background information and the future land use map for the Rohret South Subarea to the December 7, 2022 meeting. CALL TO ORDER: Hensch called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA: None. CASE NO. CPA22-0002: A public hearing on a proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment to update the Southwest District Plan, including background information and the future land use map for the Rohret South Subarea. Hensch opened the public hearing. Russett stated staff is requesting that the Commission defer this item to the next meeting as the zoning code requires a minimum of four votes to recommend approval of a Comprehensive Plan amendment. Russett noted since there are only four members of the Commission present tonight and consideration of a Comprehensive Plan amendment is arguably one of the most important roles of the Planning and Zoning Commission staff is requesting a deferral. If the Commission decides to move forward with the item tonight, and ultimately ends up deferring the item to a future meeting date, the City Attorney's Office will need to evaluate whether or not additional Commission members would able to participate in future discussions since those Commission members are not present tonight and wouldn't hear the staff report, testimony from the public and any Commission discussion. So again, staff is asking that the Commission defer this item to December 7. Hensch noted being that they'd want other Commissioners to be here and since Commissioner Craig will not be here in December, that would leave just three and three people cannot vote on a Comprehensive Plan amendment so it would seem logical to defer the public hearing and the Planning and Zoning Commission November 16, 2022 Page 2 of 3 vote to a future date as recommended by staff. Elliott moved to continue the public hearing and defer this item to the December 7, 2022 meeting. Craig seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 4-0. PLANNING AND ZONING INFORMATION: Russett noted one item was approved this week by City Council, it was the local landmark rezoning for the house on East Davenport Street. Townsend noted she heard that there was $93 million in affordable funds that's going to go back to the government because the state of Iowa didn't spend it. Russett acknowledged she read an article on that and it's her understanding it is the Iowa Finance Authority, so she doesn't really have any information on that. Townsend noted Iowa City needs affordable housing, or at least rent subsidies in the area so is there anything that City Council can do. Dulek noted staff can provide the Commission with that information, and then they can take it to City councilor if they'd like. ADJOURNMENT: Townsend moved to adjourn. Craig seconded. A vote was taken and the motion passed 4-0. MINUTES PRELIMINARY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DECEMBER 7, 2022-6:OOPM—FORMAL MEETING EM MA J. HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Maggie Elliott, Mike Hensch, Maria Padron, Mark Signs, Billie Townsend, Chad Wade MEMBERS ABSENT: Susan Craig STAFF PRESENT: Sarah Hektoen, Kirk Lehmann, Anne Russett OTHERS PRESENT: Mark Alatalo, Barb Halm, Dan Black, Maria Story, Victoria Concha, Kris Sehr, Jill Tentinger, Kelsey Sehr RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: By a vote of 6-0 the Commission recommends approval of CPA22-0002, a proposed amendment to the Southwest District Plan to update background information and the section on the Rohret South Subarea, as proposed in Attachment 1. By a vote of 6-0 the Commission recommends that Title 14 Zoning and Title 15 Land Subdivision be amended as illustrated in Attachment 1 to enhance land use regulations related to solar energy systems and to further implement the City's goals related to climate action. CALL TO ORDER: Hensch called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA: None. CASE NO. CPA22-0002 (continued from 11/16/22): A public hearing on a proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment to update the Southwest District Plan, including background information and the future land use map for the Rohret South Subarea. Hensch continued the public hearing from the November 16 meeting. Lehmann began the staff report with background on comprehensive planning and how it all fits together. Iowa City has a Comprehensive Plan, IC 2030, which provides a roadmap for the future of Iowa City and as part of that there are 10 planning districts for specific areas of the City. One of those is the Southwest District Plan, which was adopted in 2002. The Southwest Planning District is bounded by Melrose on the north, Highway One on the south, the Iowa River on the east and then the growth area on the west. The reason the City is looking at this area specifically is the plan is to extend sewer service under Highway 218 in 2023 to allow urban development in the Rohret South subarea of this District which is the Southwest quadrant of the Southwest District. Lehmann explained right now this area is largely agricultural because it hasn't had sewer service and therefore couldn't be developed at an urban scale. But the City is anticipating once sewers are put in then development will follow. The proposed amendments are looking Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 2 of 25 specifically at that and updating background information, primarily because the Plan was adopted 20 years ago and lots of things have changed. The Amendments are also reimagining the future land use of the subarea, which includes looking at incorporating form -based land use categories. In terms of this subarea, Lehmann noted not all of it is annexed in the City, most of it is in unincorporated Johnson County. He explained annexation is a voluntary process but the City would expect in the future that it would annex. In terms of the total area of the subarea, it's larger than 1800 acres. Additionally, the process that staff has done for this has been pretty lengthy compared to a lot of planning processes that they do. They initially started looking at this area in winter of 2020, they started looking at the background information and looking at things that needed to be updated. They also started the initial public outreach at that time which involved sending out a survey to property owners and folks that live within the area as well as stakeholders. The survey had 168 participants and the results from that are included in the agenda packet. Staff also had a number of focus group meetings with landowners, developers, neighbors' groups in the area and with other groups that might have interests in this area in the future, just to get some baseline feedback such as what they like about the area, what they don't like about the area, and what opportunities to they see for the area. This data collection concluded around April 2021 but staff did not start looking at the area again until January of 2022 primarily because at that time there was an annexation of approximately 200 acres, the area where sewer would be brought under Highway 218, and that annexation was deferred indefinitely by City Council, so the applicant withdrew their application at that time and went to the County. So there was a time period where staff wasn't quite sure what was going to happen with that land and paused until they had more guidance from Council. Around January of 2022 is when staff started to develop the concept for the Rohret South subarea, they worked with Optic Design who helped do the form -based code in the South District Plan to develop the framework and then staff fleshed it out in more detail, including the final land use categories, and the final thoroughfare types in the future land use map. Once staff had a working map that they could move forward with, they had a series of additional meetings including lots of conversations with landowners, they went to the party in the park event at Hunter's Run Park in the Southwest District where they got some general feedback and after that held a public open house on September 1 where they had 117 participants come and share feedback. Lehmann noted a lot of that feedback is included in the agenda packet, all the written documentation, as well as the interactive map that people were able to put stickers on for things that they like and don't like. So based on that feedback, staff revised the public draft, and completed revisions to the actual text of the Plan, which they posted on October 19. Staff revised it again in November and there have been some small revisions since then based on errors that have been noticed. Staff has also received correspondence throughout this time period and there are 13 messages that are included in the agenda packet. Staff also tried to make sure that folks were up to date and have a contact list that they've been sending out emails to and public notices were sent to property owners within the area. That contact list is approximately 230 folks. Lehmann explained this meeting is part of the adoption process phase, where they are still collecting public input, but this is the final stretch and staff has developed recommendations, which is what is before the Commission today. In terms of the feedback that staff has heard throughout this process, Lehmann stated there have been a number of recurring themes. One of the big ones is related to transportation issues. In this subarea, Highway 218 is a barrier between the Rohret South subarea and the rest of the Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 3 of 25 City. There are only two roads that go over Highway 218 into the subarea, Highway One to the south and Rohret Road to the north. There is also Melrose to the north of the subarea, but that's only three routes in the District. There's lots of concerns with sole access from Rohret Road, especially as there has been more development happening recently, and another concern is tied to Kitty Lee Road where there is existing development. There are several correspondences in the packet about that and about Kitty Lee Road becoming a through street regarding traffic and safety. Some other comments are tied to the opportunities for new neighborhoods within this area. They've heard a desire for a mix of housing types, but it should be consistent with existing development within the area. As part of those new neighborhoods, there's also been a big interest in creating neighborhood destinations, in some cases that may be commercial, and there's been a lot of emphasis on parks and open space and trails and preserving the beautiful rolling landscape that's out there. Additionally, there's lots of concerns about making sure that public services are available for the area, especially schools, since Weber Elementary is pretty much at max capacity, and emergency services as well. The final theme that came up a couple of times, especially in the public open house, was concerns about involuntary annexation and about what that may look like and how development occurs in the City in the future. Lehmann reiterated in terms of the proposed amendment, staff took all these things into account as they looked background information and revisited that section on the Rohret South subarea. He explained the changes to the background information for the most part are relatively minor and factual. For example, in the introduction, since this Plan was adopted in 2002, there's a new Comprehensive Plan update that was done in 2013, so making sure that's referenced, including a description of this update. Then there's the matter of updating maps throughout the Plan since the current land use map is 20 years old, the subarea maps are old, and ensuring that they incorporate the fringe areas that are currently in effect as of 2022. The maps also need updating to show roads that have been completed like McCollister Boulevard and Camp Cardinal Boulevard, which have a significant impact on the area. Other items are things like Roosevelt school, which is closed, new developments that have occurred, and redevelopment within the Riverfront Crossings area. Again, there's a number of changes that have happened and this is just making sure that those are reflected in the planning document. Lehmann noted they did not change the planning principles from the original plan, but they did add a reference to IC 2030. They also removed a reference to the Carson Lake concept plan, which was in the old Rohret South subarea. Lehmann noted there are some other subareas in this planning district but staff did not touch those sections. Lehmann showed an example of the old current land use map, noting there used to be areas that were undeveloped east of Highway 218 and that's not the case anymore. He also pointed out some areas at the far west and north of Rohret Road that have been developed since that time. Staff updated the map to ensure that it is current and accurate and also to ensure that it includes the new fringe area agreement boundaries as well. As far as updating the Rohret South subarea concept, he explained that is where the most substantive changes have been made. In some cases, it's retained many aspects of the current plan with things like retaining the concept of a stormwater lake and park in the northeast portion of the subarea, it's still largely residential in nature with some neighborhood commercial uses and retains the existing planning goals. However, Lehmann stated there are quite a few changes to the area, first it plans for the full subarea rather than having a section that is designated as Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 4 of 25 future urban development. In the past as folks have come in to develop within those areas, and the map is often not updated until it's happening ad hoc, so staff wanted to make sure that there was a concrete plan for the whole area. Staff also wanted to ensure that they meet the full growth area boundary that was adopted in 2021 so it reconfigures the location of some neighborhood centers and adds some additional ones to ensure that most folks are within walking distance to some sort of neighborhood center. Finally, the biggest change is that it uses form -based land use categories and as part of that it includes a thoroughfare map. Again, for the Rohret South subarea concept they're looking south or Rohret Road, west of Highway 218, and north of Highway One. Lehmann showed the 2002 future land use map for later comparison. He stressed that future land use maps are not a zoning code, they are just one way that shows how an area might develop. This area has the stormwater lake and a park in the center, surrounded largely by residential uses containing a mix of housing types. The new land use map still includes a neighborhood center in the northeast corner, so a lot of those things are maintained. However, there are some substantive differences in terms of the planning framework and the concepts that were used to develop the new future land use map. As far as residential uses, the planning framework includes ensuring that there's compact, orderly development, that development doesn't leapfrog to areas far outside of City boundaries, and that it's compact so that it preserves agricultural land until such a time as it is developed. Another goal is requiring a mix of housing types, which includes single family, duplex, townhomes, multifamily, all different housing types, and then also using form -based land use categories to ensure that there's appropriate transitions between existing areas and new areas and ensuring that there's an appropriate design and scale for new buildings within that, as well as high quality design. In terms of nonresidential uses, it includes neighborhood centers throughout that can help meet the needs of folks that live within the area and then also planning for high levels of public services, including schools and emergency services. In terms of transportation, they are wanting to ensure an interconnected street network with aligned streets that help ensure safety, and also that there's a range of transportation options available. Lehmann noted pedestrian linkages are provided throughout and also parks and open space providing amenities near neighborhoods. This would include a regional park, there's a proposal for a rec center and smaller area parks as well, in addition to preserving sensitive features and managing stormwater at a regional level, which helps allow the City use stormwater as an amenity that can benefit residents rather than just being there to manage stormwater. Next Lehmann wanted to discuss form -based land use. The concept of form -based land use is that instead of regulating areas by what the use is (i.e., residential, commercial, industrial) they regulate areas by what they want that area to be like. So instead of commercial, it would be a main street where not only is it tied to the uses that are allowed, but it's also tied to the streets that are there and to the frontages that are allowed, it's tied to the forms and size of the buildings. There are a number of different interrelated factors that that go into making a great place within a range of different character zones called transects. Transects are rated from a natural transects T-1 to T-6 which is the urban core, so the higher the number, the more intense the land use. A T-6 is obviously downtown and T-1 would be natural areas. In this case, the area is at the fringe of town so most of it is T-3 suburban, with some areas in the neighborhood centers that are T-4, general urban. Lehmann noted within each transect there's still a range of different kinds of character areas. For example, within the suburban transect, which is the bulk Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 5 of 25 of the subarea, there's neighborhood edge and in those areas one might see single family homes and duplexes, some cottage courts and those would largely be around existing development. There would also be neighborhood general, which would primarily be single family, but there's still the opportunity for duplexes, townhomes and maybe some small scale multifamily. For the T-4 neighborhood centers there is neighborhood small, which retains some small scale multifamily, has some larger clusters of townhomes, and some larger buildings are possible. Then in the center of those neighborhood centers would be neighborhood medium areas with larger multifamily (up to 12 or 16 dwelling units). Finally, there is the commercial cores, main street areas, which is like the North Side Marketplace, for example, or what one would think of as a traditional small town main street. Lehmann showed on the future land use map how all those areas are laid out. He pointed out the major streets within the area, Highway 218 to the east, Rohret Road to the north, Highway One to the south and he pointed out Maier Avenue that goes through the center of the area and also Kitty Lee Road on the east side. Lehmann also wanted to note that while it currently does not exist, the future Highway 965 is a major arterial that would connect all the way up to Coralville in the long term and would skirt the eastern edge of the landfill and would be a major arterial that would potentially be added to this area. Lehmann pointed out in this concept many of the features are similar to the old future land use map with the stormwater lake, park, and commercial area in the northeast and overall it's still largely residential. That being said, there are the neighborhood centers scattered throughout and it covers the full subarea. He also pointed out that on the far eastern edge there are some areas that aren't form -based land use areas, those are specifically commercial and commercial office areas that are existing with commercial development. Staff proposes that those would remain under the same commercial category. Lehmann also wanted to reiterate this is a future land use map, so while it looks very specific, it is a conceptual map showing one way that it could develop, how it actually develops will depend on property owners as they annex into the City and as they subdivide and rezone their land. At the time of annexation, they have to comply with City standards, which will attempt to do something like what is shown on the future land use map, but it's not going to look exactly like this concept. This map just shows some of those general themes that the City wants to see within the area, such as pedestrian linkages, neighborhood nodes, and an interconnected street network that disperses traffic. In terms of the way that it's laid out, the neighborhood edge area is generally along existing residential developments, and again it would be largely single family uses with maybe some duplexes or some cottage courts. The neighborhood edge is similar somewhat to an RS -5 zone. The next land use category, T-3 neighborhood general, is still predominantly single family, but it would also include some duplexes, it could include some cottage courts, some townhomes, and then some small scale multifamily as well. It's a relatively versatile zone and it would depend on the property owner as to what they'd be interested in. As they get into the neighborhood centers, those are the T-4 areas. Neighborhood small is largely used as a transition from those T-3 areas to the neighborhood centers. Also in some neighborhoods there may be small areas where there's, for example, streets that only have development on one side, the idea being that it can be really difficult to make it cost effective to build lower density homes along those areas. Lehmann pointed that out primarily along the park to the east, where there are some single - loaded streets, but they want that park to be a widely accessible, visible, and well -used resource. In the center of the neighborhood centers, is neighborhood medium, where there are larger scale Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 6 of 25 multifamily (up to 12 or 16 dwelling units). There are also the main street areas, there are only two main street areas proposed for this subarea and that is in the northeast and in the southwest but there are a number of other areas that are designated as open areas that would allow commercial uses. Lehmann showed a map to illustrate the difference between places where commercial is required, and places where commercial uses or other nonresidential uses are allowed. He also pointed out walksheds in the areas where commercial is required, in the northeast, and part of the reason for that is because it is right next to Highway 218 and there are requirements about no residential uses within a certain distance of the highway. That area isn't an appropriate place for residential, but it could be appropriate for some small-scale commercial uses. The other area is near an existing commercial district to the southwest. Lehmann noted there are other areas that would allow nonresidential uses, it may or may not be commercial, those are scattered throughout because one of the goals is to ensure that most people are within walking distance of one of the neighborhood centers. What the uses will be of course will depend on market forces and what property owners want to develop, but there are opportunities there. Lehmann noted perhaps things like childcare centers seems like it would be a good use for some of those areas as they're always looking for more of those across the City. He also pointed out some of the other special uses throughout this area. So, in addition to the neighborhood centers, they have two school sites that are identified, one is located next to the regional park in the northeast and that would be a site for a potential elementary school, they're also proposing a rec center in that area as well. Staff has identified a school site west of Maier Avenue as well and that site would be large enough to accommodate an elementary school as well as a junior high if that was needed in the future. There's also another park over there and a location for a future fire station which is a need in this area. Lehmann noted there are some private parks shown throughout the neighborhood as well, and to the west there's a large area that's a floodplain, depending on need and depending on sensitive features, there might be more or less of these and they might be located in different areas. Lehmann next discussed the thoroughfare map that is incorporated in the future land use plan, noting again it is just one way that the street network might look in the future. He pointed out some of the main routes through the area, noting staff wanted to make sure that there are a number of different routes so that not everyone is getting funneled to one or two roads, and the neighborhood streets are dispersed in each of those neighborhoods. Again, the future Highway 965 will be a major arterial going through the area to the west. With the neighborhood streets, staff would hope to see street trees and pedestrian friendly facades to ensure that it's a pleasant place to walk, a pleasant place a bike, a place where kids can walk to school, etc. Again, this is a future land use map so street design will depend on development but this is the vision of what they'd want to see because that can really improve traffic safety and traffic flow. Lehmann also pointed out a pedestrian passage network throughout the area with the goal to connect neighborhood centers to activity generators like parks and schools so that folks can easily walk or bike to those destinations. Lehmann reiterated this is a huge area, 1800 acres is a lot of space, and there are a number of different environmental factors that affect the way that infrastructure can be provided. First, the infrastructure that's currently being proposed under Highway 218 would service essentially the northeast part, but to expand further beyond that with gravity sewer, based on the topography and some ridge lines, there would need to be some additional substantial infrastructure improvements. For example, for the southeast area to develop they'd need a lift station to the south, for the northwest area to develop they'd need a lift station to the west, and then to the Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 7 of 25 southwest, that's within the long-term serviceable area, but it is not currently identified as to where the sewer service would come from. The Northeast would be expected to develop first, because of those infrastructure limitations and the other areas would depend on additional infrastructure investment. Elliott asked for more detail on the walkability of the area. Lehmann explained within the future land use map pedestrian passages are essentially a 20 -foot -wide right-of-way that would allow larger block lengths, because a large part of walkability is ensuring that there's connections so that it's easy to walk from one place to another. With a 20 -foot -wide right-of-way it would also have approximately a five -to -10 -foot pedestrian paved path that people can use to navigate easier and it wouldn't be part of the street network, it'd be a separate network that would be exclusively for use by bikes and pedestrians, a trail essentially. Padron asked if those pedestrian/bike trails would be right next to a street or just its own path. Lehmann replied most of them are through the center of blocks. The form -based zoning code is organized to allow larger blocks where there's a pedestrian linkage through the middle. Elliott asked about the lift stations, and why the northeast would develop first. Lehmann stated that is what they would expect because the sewer is coming under Highway 218 roughly in the center of that park because that's where the water sheds to and sewer relies on gravity for its most cost-effective service. In other areas a lift station would need to be brought into the development based on watersheds and the way that it flows. However, if a developer can show that they can use gravity sewer to service any area then it could be developed. Elliott stated the streets are put in when the development happens, correct. Lehmann confirmed that is true and it is during the development process, including subdivisions and rezonings, where they get into the nifty gritty of the exact street networks and connections and how the sensitive areas are preserved. This is just a conceptual plan. Padron noted the last time that they talked about a big development like this all the neighbors were concerned about the response time of police and ambulances to reach, because there's going to be more people. So, this plan shows a fire station there but it doesn't show a police station. Lehmann stated the fire station question really depends upon the amount of development and their response times; those are the things that they track. The preliminary plans show the fire station relatively far west in this development because they indicated an interest that they would like to be able to access Rohret Road and the highway rather than be located either on Rohret or the highway. Again, this is a conceptual plan so when fire identifies that there's a need for that fire station, that's really when that would come in. With regards to police, a lot of that's done by patrols, not necessarily tied to a central location so it would depend on changing patrol patterns. Connectivity is really important for any future development in this area and ensuring that there are connections to the south and the north is important and would also help provide a response time and it prevent bottlenecks that might otherwise arise. Signs noticed a couple of comments, one in particular in one of the letters received, questioning why the district didn't extend to the south of Highway One. Lehmann replied the real reason is somewhat arbitrary as it's in a different planning district and so this plan doesn't address that area. Staff also don't anticipate development in that area for some time and are trying to focus on those areas that they're expecting to develop first based on demand and infrastructure availability. Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 8 of 25 Elliott noted when she looked at the Carson farm concept plan, they had noted that there were larger lots based on the typography, and in her mind it seems like a more pleasant plan, the concept plan just looks more pleasant. Lehmann noted as a Planning and Zoning Commissioner what they think is more pleasant could guide their decision making, but he would say that while the concept plan shows grid blocks, he does not anticipate grid blocks due to the topography and anticipates it to be a lot more curvilinear. Again, it really depends on final development as it comes in. The concept shows grid blocks primarily to show that there's connectivity throughout the area so there are not bottlenecks to neighborhoods and that it's easy to navigate. Wade asked Lehmann to share just a little bit from the conceptual standpoint to the point of a developer approaching and the development and how this plan could look a lot different from actual execution. Lehmann reiterated the Comprehensive Plan is the vision for the area but in terms of the way that development is actually regulated, it's done by the zoning code and the subdivision code and annexations since most of this area is not within City limits currently. So as a property owners annex into the City, they do an application and include a rezoning as part of that. Sometimes they are zoned interim development, if they're not sure what they want to do yet, and sometimes they'll rezone to a specific zone and also include a subdivision with that. It's at that point where they actually lay out block and start requiring traffic studies, etc., based on what developers are proposing. It's also at that point they have to see where the sensitive features are and map it to ensure that they're protected. The concept plan is an idea of what the City would like to see and some of the land use categories that they think are appropriate within different areas and the logic behind it, from transitions from existing homes, proximity to the highway or single loaded streets. But it's up to the developer to propose what they want to do, and then Planning and Zoning and Council to make those determinations about whether those comply with this Comprehensive Plan. Lehmann also reiterated all annexations to the City are voluntary, the Comprehensive Plan has a policy about annexations, it is only in extraordinary circumstances that they would consider involuntary annexations. Hekteon also noted before any of this gets developed, it would come back to the Commission with at least three applications for the annexation, rezoning and a subdivision. Lehmann next went into the analysis of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment noting it is based on two approval criteria that Comprehensive Plan Amendments need to meet. One is that circumstances have changed and/or additional information or factors that come to light such that the proposed amendment is in the public interest. Second is that it is compatible with other policies or provisions of the Comprehensive Plan including any District Plans. With regards to the first criteria the original plan was adopted 20 years ago and many things have changed in the City in terms of demographics, development, regulation and policy. In terms of demographics and development, since the time the Plan was adopted the City's added approximately 12,600 new residents and almost 3000 of those are west of Mormon Trek. The City also anticipates an additional 19,000 residents by 2040 based on the Metropolitan Planning Organization's projections. Some other changes in terms of development are that most land east of Highway 218 is now fully developed and some areas are also redeveloping, especially in the Riverfront Crossings District. Major infrastructure projects have been completed that improve traffic capacity, such as Camp Cardinal Boulevard and McCollister Boulevard. Lehmann also mentioned the closing of Roosevelt Elementary School, but that is a major part of the Roosevelt subarea plan, which is a different subarea and not touched by this. Lehmann also noted Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 9 of 25 annexations are decreasing and that the City needs to start planning for future growth and expansion. A lot of recent residential development has occurred through redevelopment within the downtown core, which has been important as it helps ensure compact development and a livable city, but they also want to make sure that they're planning for different areas of the City as infrastructure investments are being made. In terms of regulation and policy, the most substantial is that the zoning code and subdivision codes were updated in 2005 and 2008 and the City also adopted form -based zoning districts for greenfield sites in 2021. The Amendment today is looking at expanding where those should apply for future development within the City. The City has also seen an updated Comprehensive Plan in 2013 and an updated Fringe Area Agreement as part of that in 2021. The City has also had an increased focus on climate action with the adoption of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in 2018 and an increased focus on social justice and racial equity with Resolution 20-159 in 2020. Lehmann showed a map from 2003 of the area and discussed how development is occurring within the Southwest District. At that time Iowa City had 62,000 residents and since that time there have been numerous new residential developments and commercial developments, not all are within this subarea, but he wanted to highlight some areas that were close as well. Iowa City is now at almost 75,000 residents and expects to continue growing. With that population demand, there is a need to find housing and ensure that they can have that population within Iowa City. With regards to climate action, social justice, and racial equity that City Council has increasingly focused on, in terms of climate action the goals are to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and reach a net zero emissions by 2050. One of the problems with the current future land use designations are they tend to lean towards the conventional zoning categories that would be built in the area, which has some issues as it relates to climate action. First, they're often single land use categories and low-density zoning often results in or contributes to higher greenhouse gas emissions due to spreading out different uses and having to drive to meet needs. Lower density also makes it harder to walk places and basically makes the personal car a requirement and auto -oriented development becomes the norm. Additionally, as more people drive there is traffic congestion. Form -based planning tries to address this is by looking at compact neighborhoods that can be easily traversed by foot, bike and bus in addition to cars. It's not to say that one can't travel through it by car, it still tries to provide a pleasant experience with that, but it wants to make sure that one can use more than just the car to get around. As a result, it seeks to improve the City's building and transportation systems by creating more pedestrian friendly streetscapes. With regards to the social justice and equity question, Lehmann noted the City is often focused on enhancing that often by approaching it through the lens of housing diversity and affordability. Again, one of the issues with conventional land use categories is that historically they have been used to promote racial and class segregation. In 1917 actual racial zoning was banned but there have been loopholes around it to try and use class segregation as de facto racial segregation as well. That includes using things like really large minimum lot sizes, or exclusively single-family zones where there are higher housing costs. Those items have worked with other policies that were racially motivated, such as redlining, slum demolition, and those sorts of things and Iowa City is not immune to that. Iowa City has racial covenants that are still on the books and 81 % of residential land is zoned for single family uses and over half of that is low-density single-family. That again plays into both of these factors of climate action and social justice. Form -based land use planning tries to address that by increasing housing choices, ensuring that there's a mix of housing types, which helps ensure a mix of housing price points. Staff believes that it is in the Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 10 of 25 public's interest to look at changing some of these policies to ensure more diverse housing options throughout the City. The second criterion for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment is related to ensuring that it is compatible with other policies in the Comprehensive and District Plans and other adopted City policies. Lehmann stated the proposed changes align with existing goals and objectives and they did not change the goals or objectives as they updated this plan. In addition, this amendment aligns with other policies such as the Council Strategic Plan, Climate Action Adaptation Plan, Black Lives Matter and Systemic Racism Resolution as all of those things work together to try and make Iowa City a better place. In terms of land use categories shown on the map, Lehmann stated the Comprehensive Plan for this area currently shows it as primarily residential at a density of two to eight dwelling units per acre. It includes some rural residential and some semipublic space and open space, in addition to small neighborhood commercial and mixed-use area. The Southwest District Plan largely follows that pattern and includes a mix of housing types such as large lot rural residential, single family, duplex residential, narrow lot townhouse residential, mixed use, neighborhood commercial, open space, public services and institutional uses. In terms of the uses that are allowed within the proposed future land use map, it maintains a lot of those similar uses, but it goes about it in a different way and uses form -based land use categories. It tries to look at similar building types and uses that are compatible with each other but interspersing those a bit more than the previous plan had done, where it was a more segregated pattern of development. The new future land use map shows a mix of building types throughout but does not include rural residential land uses as a type nor include future urban development as a type. It does continue to plan around neighborhood centers, but it includes more of those since it covers the full planning area. It also takes a closer look at streets than the previous map did with a goal of trying to look at all elements of the public realm that might make it a better place to live. In terms of policy, the existing plan already supports a lot of the goals within the Comprehensive Plan. There are goals to ensure a mix of housing types within each neighborhood, to encourage pedestrian oriented development, and to plan for commercial development and defined neighborhood nodes. There are also goals to preserve valuable farmland and open space, to preserve environmentally sensitive areas, and ensure that there are future parks with visibility and access. This map also ensures that those parks are open to the public with single loaded streets. Within the Southwest District Plan, the Rohret South subarea goals support the same goals for housing diversity, preserving natural features, streets that enhance neighborhood quality, and commercial development that serves local residents. It also discusses things such as adequate street and pedestrian access in space for neighborhood parks and trails, and then also establishing focal points for new neighborhoods. The Rohret South subarea specifically mentions a lake and park but also neighborhood centers and other such uses. Lehmann noted schools are another good neighborhood focal point as well. So based on all of these factors, staff believes these two approval criteria are met. Lehmann noted staff received public comments, those 13 letters were included in the agenda packet, and some of the concerns that are included in those were about involuntary annexation, housing affordability and housing for seniors. There were comments about looking at the area south of Highway One, looking at the design of Highway One and that the intersection of Kitty Lee Road and Highway One may be good for civic uses. There was a letter asking that the Maier Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 11 of 25 Avenue right-of-way be shifted a little bit. There was a letter from Kitty Lee Road residents who are concerned about traffic speeds, road design, and safety, and they ask that the separate primary street that's shown to the west be built first rather than using Kitty Lee Road as a thoroughfare. There was a request to incorporate a greenbelt from Hunters Run Park along Slothower for the proposed regional park and a concern the plan was too car centric and needs neighborhood centers and more bike paths and potentially more park around the lake. Taking these things into account, staff recommends the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend approval of CPA22-0002, a proposed amendment to the Southwest District Plan to update background information and the section on the Rohret South Subarea, as proposed in Attachment 1. In terms of next steps, presumably the Planning and Zoning Commission would make a recommendation, a public hearing would be set at City Council, right now that is anticipated for January 10, then there would be a public hearing in front of Council, potentially on January 24. Hensch asked if this Rohret South subarea is identified as a growth area in the current fringe area agreements. Lehmann confirmed it is part of the City's growth area. Hensch noted he has been on the Commission for eight years and doesn't recall any involuntary annexations in Iowa City during that time or even in the past several decades. Lehmann stated the last one that he is aware of that was attempted was somewhere on the east side of town but that was 30 plus years ago. Hensch asked if there was an involuntary annexation what are the parameters that are established now to describe that process. Lehmann stated there are parameters, but he admitted he is not familiar with them because it just hasn't happened. He stated there are 20/80 annexations, which is a separate process, depending on land area of land annexed. Hektoen noted Iowa Code would govern it, chapter 368. Hensch asked if this form -based code discussed here tonight, is this the same form -based code that was adopted for use in the South District. Lehmann said it is the same future land use categories and they anticipate that they would use the form -based code that's approved for this South District. Hensch asked if the lift stations, when those are indicated as needed, are those constructed by the City and paid for by the City, or does the developer have any role in the construction or paying for that. Also, are any of the two identified future lift stations in any sort of current City plan. Lehmann replied the two lift stations are not in any near-term plan, they're just identified in the 2012 sewer master plan as long-term projects. He doesn't think that there's any plan for them through 2040. In terms of who would build them, normally the City would as they are a substantial infrastructure investment, however, the developer could build them if they wanted to build them prior to the City being willing to build them, that's their prerogative. He noted it would depend on development, growth pressure, and interest by developers. It's all those factors that would lead to development and would cause the City to prioritize the lift stations. Hensch noted looking the Comprehensive Plan, it is really just a question of a vision of what the City is going to look like in the future and provide guidance on planning for that to happen. In particular they are talking about the Rohret South subarea, and this is just simply some more detailed direction that City staff has put together and then is adopted by the City to address the unique issues and opportunities of that particular planning district but any specifics are Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 12 of 25 determined through rezoning, annexations, and subdivisions. Hensch wanted to confirm any of the maps that people are seeing are just concepts for a vision, there's no reality to any of those because that will occur as there's voluntary annexations and then developers present subdivision, rezoning, and annexation plans to the City. Lehmann confirmed that is correct and added it's the same regarding the specific street layout, any concerns about a particular road layout, grid layout, where different facilities or structures would be located, there is no true answer to that as it will occur as the annexations, rezonings and subdivisions happen. Signs was intrigued in both the public comments from the meeting and in some of the letters they received regarding the concern about the involuntary annexation because he had not heard of that in the 20 years he's been here. Should an involuntary annexation ever occur, and Iowa City has a policy against it, it would involve significant public input at that point. Hekteon stated there's a State City Development Board that would hear that kind of application and before that there are public notice and public meeting requirements that the City would have to go through. Signs stated the norm is for a landowner or a developer to come to the City with an annexation request. Hekteon confirmed that is correct. Signs noted the other thing that he saw a lot of in the comments and the letters was concern about the city doing this, or the city doing that and as he understands the development process, development requests are typically driven by the landowner and/or developer and the City doesn't own any of this land. Lehmann confirmed that is correct and the City has no plans to buy any of this land other than maybe for a fire station or things like that. One other thing that's a little unusual with this area is that because they are proposing regional stormwater, the City would likely take a more active role in something like that, especially with looking at potentially using that as park land as well. Therefore, there are some areas where the City would take a more active role but most of the development of streets and all of that stuff is pretty much driven by private developers and landowners as they develop their lands. Padron asked regarding the City owning the land, there are public parks and open spaces here and the City will own those. However, she stated it seems like there isn't enough green spaces for her liking but remembers for the South District it was said that when a developer comes and they develop their land, they may choose to put green space on their development correct. Lehmann explained the City has a policy with minimum open space requirements so as developers come in there's a formula used to ensure that there's open space provided based approximately on the number of folks that would live within that area, three acres per 1000 residents. That will all be determined at the time of subdivision. In some cases, they'll pay a fee in lieu if it's expanding another park. In this case, the park land that is shown on the map is the regional park and is around 84 acres. But again, this is a concept plan and is more the idea showing the proportion of different types of future land use categories, and then also making sure to highlight things that they want to ensure are included in the area, such as emergency services, schools, etc. Hensch wanted to clarify the City currently owns no land in that area so any of these areas that are being discussed would result from a voluntary sale between the landowner and the City. Hektoen stated it could also come in the form of a dedication at the time of the subdivision. Townsend noted staff spoke to the Resolution 20-159 and to enhancing social justice and racial equity in the Community and that this form -based land use helps address these wrongdoings but Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 13 of 25 the City needs to address that affordable housing piece. How do they get to the place that people can actually afford these homes. Lehmann acknowledged that's tough. One of the ways they tried to do it is by ensuring there's a mix of housing types where even if on a square foot basis, it costs the same for new construction. New construction is often not affordable but if there are some smaller units mixed in with larger units it would be more affordable as a result. Focusing on a mix of housing types and ensuring that there's different housing types and a mix within each area and within the neighborhood centers and throughout the whole planning area. Lehmann added the City has an affordable housing annexation policy so as land is annexed into the City there's an understanding that 10% of units should be affordable and that is determined at the time of annexation. Affordability is defined within the Comprehensive Plan and could be both ownership and rental. Wade noted Highway One does not have a pedestrian lane and is that part of the plan to correct that. Lehmann stated a lot of the times where they see trail connections occur is at the time of rezoning, especially if there's a need for pedestrian connection of some sort. Because this is a developing area the City would probably expect any trail connections or pedestrian connections to occur as part of the rezoning process and as development occurs they would expand the trail network as part of that. Wade noted the City has seen such a drastic decline in annexations, but over a third of recent annexations was for civic land, so what is the context of that. Lehmann replied that the City annexed a fair amount of land for use for stormwater purposes in the South District as part of the regional stormwater management and the sewer plant, that is the Sycamore Greenway. Hensch opened the public hearing. Mark Alatalo (4053 Kitty Lee Road) wanted to discuss the thoroughfare map and how it relates to Kitty Lee Road. He acknowledged that everything on this draft tonight is just that a draft and that any development depends on plans submitted to City Council and there's a whole process for that but he wanted to speak to the draft itself and about the connection at the north side of Kitty Lee Road. Basically, where it makes a hard left turn, as it gets close to Highway 218, and that's where he is concerned. He is concerned that Kitty Lee Road would be used more as a primary road and not as it shown as a secondary road. He knows that there is a desire from the City to get that regional park and stormwater facility there, with an elementary school and with a recreation center, and Alatalo feels they want to do that sooner rather than later and the idea would be to use a City road in lieu of having to wait for a landowner to annex or develop their parcels and Kitty Lee Road is an attractive place to just tack onto the end of it. Also if there are some utilities there a developer doesn't have to build a whole own new road so there's advantages and cost savings as the developer. Alatalo feels like if development of that park or the school or the rec center is dependent on taking advantage of Kitty Lee Road in that way, it is not fair to the 14 landowners on that road. The 14 landowners are taking it quite seriously, they have already submitted a letter signed by nine of them on that street, and there's several of them here tonight. Alatalo also noted Kitty Lee Road is quite hilly and if someone is traveling fast at all, it would create unsafe situations coming over top of those hills. There are driveways on either side of those hills that are quite close and quite blind as it is already so introducing more traffic into that spot is going to make it unsafe for people to back out of their own driveways. He would Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 14 of 25 not want to see any more traffic on Kitty Lee Road then absolutely needs to happen. Alatalo acknowledged that a default way to control traffic speeds is to install speed bumps but that is really no one's first pick of how to control traffic, speed bumps are a band aid way to solve the larger problem of people being able to travel where they want at the speeds they want. The solution is having land that's annexed and developed that can support a primary road and the places where people want to travel to these larger areas like the park and the school. Alatalo referenced Langenberg Avenue on the south side of town before it connects to McCollister Road, people would cut up through Langenberg and it's just a rather dense residential area. So speed bumps were installed there and are still installed to this day, even though McCollister connects. Alatalo doesn't think that's fair for those property owners to be dealing with traffic that was not intended for the road, even though now there's a different road that's supposed to handle that traffic, and they've been dealing with that for quite a long time. He would not want to see that kind of situation come to Kitty Lee Road. Also on this map, the proposed primary street that is the first one as someone is leaving town is a less direct path or arguably the same amount of directness as it would be to cut across Kitty Lee Road and get back to all those areas or cut up to Rohret Road so in this draft of the plan he doesn't see how Kitty Lee Road would not be utilized as a primary road. All that to say Kitty Lee Road is not a solution for the overuse of traffic on Rohret Road, there's other better solutions including connections to Slothower, improvements to Maier and other arterial roads going in before Kitty Lee Road is utilized. His request for the Commission tonight is that this plan is not approved with that connection at the end of Kitty Lee Road. Barb Halm (4090 Kitty Lee Road) has lived on that road for 50 years and has experienced that road being a through road, it was Mormon Trek from the end of Benton Street straight to Highway One and there was a great deal of traffic they experienced and now it is being considered to be returned to that and she has a lot of safety concerns. To briefly describe that area, from Highway One it's very rural, there's the pasture and the back fence of Menards and then you come up over a hill but before you reach the crest of that hill you have no vision of what's on the other side of that hill. As you reach the top, there are three driveways right below the crest of that hill, hers being one of them. Every time she goes to pull out of her driveway, she is just hoping there's nobody coming over the hill. Now with it being dead end it's not as bad as it was in past years. Halm also acknowledged that when there is a big snowstorm, that road becomes impassable. In past years when it was a through road cars were off the road very frequently and in big numbers when there was a bad storm, there are no shoulders on that road. She invited the Commissioners to come out and just take a look at that road sometime and see what they're dealing with out there. In closing, she shared an experience she had just this last Saturday, a friend came to pick her up as she was getting ready to pull out of the driveway out of the blue she said every time she pulls out of the driveway, she's afraid a car's going to come over the hill. Halm asked how the Commission would feel if a friend that said that to them. Dan Black appreciated the opportunity to make a couple of comments and would echo what's already been said here and in some of the concerns that were in the agenda packet. His three greatest concerns really are the roads, Highway One, Rohret Road and Kitty Lee Road. He acknowledged that this is all preliminary but from a design concept right now they're showing a lot access on the Highway One and that might be necessary and needed, but he really thinks that they need to be talking sooner rather than later to the Iowa DOT with regards to their plans Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 15 of 25 for Highway One because this is a major entryway into Iowa City, it's of great importance for not only this kind of development, but also possible commercial development down the road here. So he really encourages them to get Iowa DOT as soon as they can on this kind of stuff. Black also said in defense of his comments to go south on Highway One, they've already leaped over Highway One and the development across from Menards is a pretty good-sized development on the south side so that was why he thought it should actually be included. He understands it's very nice and clean to make Highway One the boundary, but it's all so tangled up together and it just seems like it's prudent to take a look at that. Black also wanted to echo what his neighbors and friends on Kitty Lee Road had to say with regards to it being an old country road and it's going to need a whole lot of improvement to make it to make it safe and make it right for this development. He doesn't quite know who does it or who bears the expense but it's one that really needs to be factored in as they go down the road here. Rohret Road isn't a whole lot better, but it's not nearly as steep as Kitty Lee Road. He appreciates Commissioner Elliott's comments on the topography, he sees the same thing when he looks at the maps and the design concepts of straight lines and that sort of thing. He has spent a lifetime on that country out there and there's some nasty slopes and some nasty hills and it only seems prudent to design around some of these obstacles. He also acknowledged during snowstorms getting up and down some of those hills is extreme. Black also acknowledged he has been very appreciative of the staff's efforts to communicate and returning phone calls and talking through this, he has had a real good experience with staff. Maria Story (1223 Duck Creek Drive) lives on the first road past Highway 218 and was initially pretty opposed to some of the development ideas going on when she first got that letter back in January 2020. She attended the open house in early September and was really impressed with all the thought that had gone into the planning of this property including thinking about things like terrain and the neighborhood centers and she thinks that's been successful in other parts of Iowa City. Her big concern with the plan at the moment is just that commercial area that's proposed right on the northeast corner of the Highway 218 and Rohret Road. There's a lot of traffic on Rohret Road already and while she understands there's plans to help alleviate some of that traffic, they're talking about developing a whole other section of the City. So, in general she is supportive of the plan and thinks that its a good plan but would like extreme caution to be taken with specifically that commercial area because of the amount of traffic that's already there. Victoria Concha (4086 Kitty Lee Road) wanted to echo all the concerns for safety on Kitty Lee Road, she also lives on one of those driveways where none of them back down the driveways due to the hills. When her sons who are now young adults are over and they backed out in the driveway, she is terrified. They all turn around and drive straight down because one cannot safely go across that road as it is with 14 homes and they know that people going up and down that road. When her sons were young car dealerships used Kitty Lee Road for test driving cars, and the number of times her husband ran after cars because they almost hit a child terrifies her to think that that can happen again. Not just car dealerships, but anybody going down that road. She has lived on that road for going on 29 years and echoes the same concern about the snow removal. Again, they cannot get their out of their own driveways on snowy days, it will take multiple tries and when they do get out of their driveway they can't make it up that hill. Even in the summertime they drive slowly on that road and they know what it's like. There has been a number of times she has crested that hill and felt like she is going to hit someone head on. Concha added there are no sidewalks, no curbs, no shoulders, nothing, if a car goes off the road, it goes into their front yard or into a ditch and then they have to get it out of there. If there is a lot Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 16 of 25 of traffic going up and down the road the wear and tear on Kitty Lee Road will be immense. She did not live there when it was a through street but did live there when they put it in the Menards and had to live through that and the wear and tear on that front half of Kitty Lee Road is terrible. She can't imagine the construction vehicles going up and down Kitty Lee Road to try and do development for that number of housing that's going there. Another reason she is super concerned, she knows this is all concept and who knows how long before it's going to happen, and it all is based on development, but Carson has wanted to develop this area and has taken it to the City and been denied at least twice, and has now taken it to the County, so that is just waiting in the wings. They can say this is the future 20 - 30 years but it's closer than that if Carson wants to sell and wants to develop Kitty Lee Road, and if it goes through, they will all be impacted. She fears for anybody living in and trying to get up and down that road. Kris Sehr (4047 Maier Ave) has some serious concerns about being forced to annex. When they bought the property they wanted to live in the country, and still want to live outside of the City limits. She has no desire to live in the City limits and to be ignored, nor do many of her neighbors. Beyond that, they talked a lot about Maier Avenue, which is currently a gravel road, and she understands this is a concept and this is in the future, but obviously Maier would have to change significantly. In the northeast section there's already lots and lots of traffic from Kalona or from Sharon Center Road that uses that as a cut off. Lots of people go far too fast for a gravel road to get over to Rohret Road and the more they develop that area, the more that's going to happen. So again, if the plan is to develop northeast she thinks that there's going to be some kind of some consequences sooner than what they might think. Her driveway is a blind driveway, which scared her to death when her kids were learning to drive, the school bus would not stop at her house because of the little hill that was on and they didn't feel it was safe for a school bus to be stopped there. So that concerns her again, more traffic put there when there's not really great visibility. Sehr also noted there's a subdivision on the west side of Maier closer and she hasn't heard any talk about widening that road, but if they do, they're going to be taking people's yards. One of the other people that commented about moving that road to the east, which would be away from his yard, she can certainly appreciate. She acknowledged she hasn't been approached and been told if this happens, they're going to lose part of their front yard. Sehr asked if they have the choice to say, "No, I'm not annexing and you can't use my yard to widen the road" and that there's a lot of unanswered vagueness about saying owners never have to annex. She owns six acres, which is relatively in the middle of that Maier Avenue stretch, so if she says no to annexation, then does the plan get changed or will the City come back and say too bad, you don't have a choice. She has some serious concerns about that. She also would like to note that one of the things that was changed from the previous plan to the newer plan was the removal of the valuation of farm ground, which apparently means they don't care about farm ground anymore. Jill Tentinoer (4047 Kitty Lee Road) stated she lives at the very last house so the connection would directly affect her so her only ask is that Kitty Lee Road not be connected because it would be a de facto thoroughfare. Also they know that development is inevitable, but they do not want to be annexed. Kelsey Sehr (4047 Maier Ave) noted a big concern as they've seen a lot in the feedback is people worried about being annexed into the City. Again, if one chooses not to be annexed in what happens with like the sidewalks along Highway One, that's going to take quite a few people's front yards and some of those houses are very close to Highway One, and if it is Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 17 of 25 widened to put in a shoulder or sidewalks, people will lose their entire front yards. Same on Kitty Lee Road or Maier Avenue. So even though the City is saying that people aren't going to be annexed in, there's people have also lived there for their entire lives and that would be making major changes, even if they decided not to be annexed into the City because obviously they are going to need to widen roads, and then they're going to need sidewalks. Sehr also noted secondly, the safety concern. People do drive up and down Maier Avenue much over 55. They can put a 35 speed limit, but people are still going to go 65-70 and that's something that they've personally taken to the secondary roads many times about lowering the speed limit without anyone having any sort of solution or real concern about that. Victoria Concha (4086 Kitty Lee Road) forgot to mention about the annexation as she is also concerned about that. The roads and Menards already behind them, that's her backyard, is annexed to the City. The first half of Kitty Lee Road is City owned and the rest of it is County and she can't imagine that if everything across Kitty Lee Road becomes annexed to the City, and everything north is annexed, and everything south as annexed, they're really going to have this two mile stretch of land that is not annexed into the City. She knows her neighbors and the majority, at least, are not interested in that. She also wants to echo the concern about those feeder streets at the south end of Kitty Lee Road, that's about less than half of a mile so she is not sure how they get five blocks in there and how they have five streets. People should take a drive out there and take a look and see is it a good idea or not. Hensch closed the public hearing. Signs moved to recommend approval of CPA22-0002, a proposed amendment to the Southwest District Plan to update background information and the section on the Rohret South Subarea, as proposed in Attachment 1. Townsend seconded the motion. Signs acknowledged he totally hears the concerns from the residents of Kitty Lee Road and honestly shares the general concern about the traffic as this area develops, it's going to put a tremendous burden on Rohret Road in particular. Also one of the things that has been talked a lot today was Slothower extension up to Melrose, and he thinks that's going to be a critical piece of the puzzle, some of the additional major thoroughfares coming off of Highway One, heading north will be a critical piece of the puzzle. As far as the need to make a change, specifically about Kitty Lee Road in this plan, this is such a conceptual plan and having been on the Commission now for six or seven years, rarely do these things end up anything quite like what they're drawn in at this phase of the game. The public will have so many opportunities to give specific feedback and issues when these things do come before a Council and he is of the belief that probably the initial development is going to happen off of Rohret Road and not off of Kitty Lee Road coming in from the south just because that's where the development is happening now. The landowner who has come to the City before that's where they're looking at developing. Signs is generally in support of the plan, he doesn't see a need to exclude Kitty Lee Road or change the Kitty Lee Road piece of it because he doesn't think it's likely to end up being that way and there'll be plenty of opportunity, if someone comes forward with a plan that does show that to voice concerns. Hensch agreed and is completely sympathetic to people talking about the road issues but Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 18 of 25 remember that when this comes into the City they'll have to meet urban design standards and right now the road is at rural design standards. He would venture to guess that a right-of-way already exists on those properties that some people probably think is their property. But the right- of-way is actually there adjacent to the roadway and that's just how it is on all rural roads, they're 66 feet. The road may only be 25 feet, but then there is right-of-way land on both sides. He acknowledged sometimes the right-of-way isn't sufficient to meet the design standards and then there would have to be a voluntary agreement to purchase that right-of-way. He also agrees with Signs that this is a broad vision and this is not prescriptive, it's simply descriptive of that vision. He has had rezonings in his neighborhood that he wasn't happy with and they happened anyway so he understands the intense feelings, but stressed they need to just keep in mind that there's a lot of additional steps if this is approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and by City Council, that when specific plans come in for the rezoning and annexations and the subdivisions, that's where things have to have actual maps drawn and the layouts actually occur. Right now it's so conceptual and simply a vision. He would bet if they looked at this 30 years from now, it's going to look markedly different than it does now. He does support this because he thinks it's really important to have this vision for this District that doesn't exist now. It's already in the Fringe Area Agreement, all land that's adjacent the City, the area outside of that for two miles, and if it's a future land use growth area, the City has already said how the plans are to grow into that and they have to prepare for that. He is sympathetic to people with their concerns and acknowledged that's why it is very important that people participate in the public process. So when these rezonings, annexation and subdivisions occur, get your voice heard and bring these things forth, so that it meets your needs. Hektoen wanted to clarify if the City does engage in a public improvement project, such as construction of a street, sometimes they do exercise condemnation authority but that is different than annexation. However, that is a situation in which it may result in a less than voluntary arrangement, but compensation is paid, and negotiations are had. She noted it's pretty rare that they actually get to condemnation. Hensch added when land is taken by eminent domain, it is a citizen committee that listens to those concerns and develops that price. Hektoen noted appraisals are obtained and fair market value is paid. Padron stated she supports the plan as the way it is right now. Elliott stated she went on Kitty Lee Road and it's a beautiful area but acknowledged it is very hilly, so she hears what they're saying. She appreciates both the comments to explain the concept plan and staff's help with what the concept is, she supports the plan. Hensch stated on those areas with the slopes, there's protected slopes and there are sensitive slopes. The City already has regulations about impinging or disturbing those slopes so these roads will not go straight, because those slopes, depending on their status, can't be impinged upon, or there's pretty tight regulations about that. Likely they will end up with a curvilinear design because this is a hilly area. Signs noted regarding the walkability factor, and they hear this in every neighborhood replanning, the community is very strong on walkability and bikeability so the City looks for opportunities for that every chance they can, but the reality is they have land with contours to deal with along the way. Planning and Zoning Commission December 7, 2022 Page 19 of 25 Wade stated he had the opportunity to go through the letters and hear the voices tonight and appreciates everybody being involved in the process, understanding that this is just a conceptual process at this point, and not implementation of the road is going to connect or so on. For that reason, he thinks providing a guidance for growth makes sense. However, he does understand the neighbors on Kitty Lee Road being concerned about the traffic on that road and where concerns come into place as far as the topography, speed, introducing traffic calming, avoiding speed bumps, etc. He acknowledged that would be one of the considerations in the future from a development standpoint. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0. CASE NO. REZ22-0011: Consideration of an amendment to Title 14, Zoning to enhance land use regulations related to solar energy systems and further climate action goals. Lehmann noted this is a case that came before the Commission on November 2 because the Climate Action Committee wanted to make sure to address any goals or issues in the zoning code that might prevent the implementation for solar energy systems within Iowa City. Staff looked through the code and looked at best practices to see if there's anything else they can do to try and enhance some of those climate action goals. On November 2 staff came before this Commission with some proposals that included adding and clarifying some definitions, limiting regulatory barriers within the zoning code, providing regulatory incentives for projects that are aligned with climate action goals, and finally, a set of standards related to electric vehicle readiness and requiring that within parking areas. This Commission provided feedback requesting additional information on requiring chargers in addition to EV readiness and had some requests about applying it to handicap parking spaces. At this time, staff is still evaluating best practices and figuring out what other communities are doing because it's a pretty substantial step to move from EV readiness to EV chargers. Staff does have some good examples, but they don't have a recommendation yet so in the meantime, staff would like to continue with the other three items that were proposed on November 2 and then would bring before the Commission any EV related amendments once they have a recommendation formulated. Staff has drafted a revised zoning code amendment and removed all the regulations related to EV readiness. In terms of current regulations, there's two branches of regulations, one related to accessory solar energy systems and one related to utility scale ground mounted solar, which is a principal use. For accessory solar systems they're allowed administratively as mechanical structures, but they're not explicitly defined that way within the zoning code so that's one of the things staff wants to address. There are also some specific use standards related to screening, setbacks, and design that they're looking at changing to prevent potential barriers. With regards to utility scale ground mounted solar, those are for uses that are over one acre in size, it's its own principal use and is allowed provisionally in industrial and public zones and by special exception in most other nonresidential zones. It is not allowed in residential or form -based zones. Lehmann noted those regulations were adopted in 2019 and staff is not proposing to modify those. Staff is primarily looking at accessory solar energy systems and at some additional things they think will help try to address those climate action goals. In addition, staff has an administrative process for historic and conservation district overlay zones, typically everything within those zones that are exterior improvements are otherwise reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission. Memo: To: Kirk Lehman, City of Iowa City From: Black Hills Farms, LLC Managing Partner, Dan Black Topic: Planning S.W. District Iowa City, IA Date: December 22, 2022 Kirk, I read and reviewed the materials from the September 1, 2022 public meeting at Weber Elementary. I have also re -read a memo I sent to your attention in 2021 when the city was excepting comments on the S.W. District proposed Land Use Draft. I also attended your P -Z Meeting in early December, 2022. There are several items of continuing concern in the most recent Land Use Draft. As mentioned in my 2021 Memo and I reiterate here, by neglecting to include Hwy 1 and the IDOT in this initial planning for the S. W. District seems short sided and incomplete. I believe your Land Use Draft Map # 7 speaks to this very point with over 15 street accesses points on to Hwy #1. It seems only reasonable to have a discussion with the IDOT on a frontage road or four lane system, now rather than later. I continue to believe that it would be prudent to include the south side of Hwy #1 in this Planning District. An additional concern, is road placement that goes against contours and existing slopes. As pointed out in my 2021 Memo there are several possible road routes that follow relatively flat topography. A safer and less costly route. Other Thoughts: The whole S.W. District Plan, the Carson Lake Project and Iowa City's progressive nature, begs for "out of box" thinking. I read with great interest the community of Cumming, Iowa approving, the Middlebrook Development, an "Agrihood" concept that may include community gardens or perhaps even a small working farm. A concept worth exploring. Thank -you Kirk Lehmann From: Luke Eustice duke@thinkiowacity.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 9:01 AM To: Kirk Lehmann Subject: RE: SW Iowa City Plan A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Accidently sent this without finishing the email. The rest of my thoughts would be: After reading through all the plans, I hope that the city puts the infrastructure in place before they begin letting people build houses and putting more people on Rohret rd. More access points to get in and out of Rohret rd is a must and frankly should be done before building anymore houses. Expanding the elementary school and making it bigger is a must before adding any more houses. As I said, I will not be living on Rohret rd when all this comes to fruition, but my hope is the roads to sustain the increase of houses is done before anything else. It's not great now and by adding people it's only going to get worse. To impact the least amount of people putting in the access points and extending 965 should be of highest priority. If there was a way to get to Melrose that would alleviate a ton of traffic on Rohret right now. Thanks, Luke Eustice From: Luke Eustice Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 8:56 AM To: klehmann@iowa-city.org Subject: SW Iowa City Plan To Whom it may concern: I hope to not live in my current location on Rohret Rd. in 20-25 years, however I'm sure I will be affected by the cities SW IC plan in the next 8-10 while my kids are still in school. After reading through the plan it certainly seems like the thinking is very backwards in developing the SW side. Luke Eustice Director- Iowa City Area Sports Commission Pronouns: he, him, his Think Iowa City -The Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Luke@ThinklowaCity.com 1 (319) 337-6592 WORLD CUP O J FREESTYLE& WOMEN'SWRESTUNG `rj t� IOWA AHEA % CORALVILLE • In l ' I ' I I 2022 EMBER 10-11, 2022 WRI WRrteowonw UNff ING Prepared by: Kirk Lehmann, Associate Planner, 410 E. Washington St, Iowa City, IA; 319-356-5230 (CPA21-0001) Resolution No. ?-A- Resolution to amend the Southwest District Plan, a part of Iowa City's Comprehensive Plan, to update background information and to facilitate development that follows form -based principles in the Rohret South Subarea. (CPA22-0002) Whereas, the Iowa City Comprehensive Plan serves as a land -use and planning policy guide by illustrating and describing the location and configuration of appropriate land uses throughout the City; by providing notification to the public regarding intended uses of land; and by illustrating the long-range growth area limit for the City; and Whereas, the Southwest District Plan was adopted in 2002 as a component of Iowa City's Comprehensive Plan (Resolution No. 02-346) and sets forth the planning principles and subarea plan maps that served as a framework to guide future development decisions in a manner that benefits those living or working in the Southwest District as well as residents of Iowa City; and Whereas, the City anticipates extending a sanitary sewer trunk line under Highway 218 in 2023, which will allow urban development in the Rohret South subarea, bounded by Rohret Road to the north, Highway 218 to the east, Highway 1 to the south, and the fringe area to the west; and Whereas, in November 2021, the City Council adopted form -based zones and standards (Ordinance 21-4866) to guide future development on vacant land around the City beginning with growth areas in the South District; and Whereas, it is prudent to update background information and reexamine the concept for the Rohret South subarea prior to development in light of changes in policy over the past two decades, including utilizing form -based future land use categories; and Whereas, circumstances have changed since the Southwest District Plan was adopted, including continued growth and development in Iowa City, major regulatory changes including updates to the Zoning Code (2005), Subdivision Code (2008), Comprehensive Plan (2013), and Fringe Area Agreement (2021), and significant policy changes including an increased focus on policies that promote social justice, racial equity, and climate action through Resolution 20-159 and the adoption of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (2018); and Whereas, the Comprehensive Plan has goals that aim to ensure a mix of housing types to provide for households of all types; encourage pedestrian -oriented development and attractive and functional streetscapes that make it safe, convenient, and comfortable to walk; and plan for commercial development in defined commercial nodes, including small-scale neighborhood commercial centers; and Whereas, the goals for the Rohret South subarea are to encourage housing diversity, preserve natural features, build streets that enhance neighborhood quality, encourage commercial development that serves local residents, and reserve space for neighborhood parks and trails, among others as described in the Plan; and Whereas, the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed this amendment at its meeting on December 7, 2022 and determined that circumstances changed to the extent that an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan is warranted and in the public interest and the proposed amendment is compatible with other policies or provisions of the Comprehensive Plan. Resolution No. 23-25 Page 2 Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: 1. The Southwest District Plan, a component of the Comprehensive Plan, is hereby amended as illustrated and described in Appendix 1, attached hereto. Passed and approved this ?curl, day of January , 2023. Ma6i: i Attest: City Clerk J It was moved by Bergus and seconded by adopted, and upon roll call there were: AYES: X NAYS: ZI-7 City AttornQ 's Office (Sara Hektoen — 01/18/2023) Thomas the Resolution be ABSENT: Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas Attachment 1 SOUTHWEST DISTRICT PLAN ADOPTED OCTOBER 8, 2002 AMENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2021 AMENDED JANUARY 24, 2023 1 A i CITY OF IOWA CITY Department of Planning and GemmunityNeighborhood and Development 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 SOUTHWEST DISTRICT PLAN ADOPTED OCTOBER 8, 2002 AMENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2021 AMENDED JANUARY 24, 2023 Ir : MEG 4k m A CITY OF IOWA CITY Department of P!aRR Rn and GOMM RitVNeighborhood and Develoament Services 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 www.icgov.org At time of initial adoption City Council of Iowa City Ernest W. Lehman, Mayor Dee Vanderhoef, Mayor Pro Tem Connie Champion Steven Kanner Mike O'Donnell Irvin Pfab Ross Wilburn Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission Ann Bovbjerg, Chair Dean Shannon, Vice Chair Jerry Hansen, Secretary Donald J. Anciaux, Jr. Benjamin Chait Ann Freerks Elizabeth Koppes Department of Planning and Community Development Karin Franklin, Director Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director Robert Miklo, Senior Planner Karen Howard, Associate Planner Shelley McCafferty, Associate Planner John Yapp, Associate Planner John Adam, Associate Planner Kay Irelan, Graphics Tech Erin Welsch, Intern INTRODUCTION The Iowa City Comprehensive Plan presents a vision for Iowa City, provides a strategy for realizing the vision, and sets policies for the growth and development of specific geographic areas of the city. Since the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan in 1997, and its update in 2013, the City has embarked on a series of District Planning efforts in order to provide vision and guidance for development that is more closely tailored to specific areas of the City. District plans are intended to promote patterns of land use, urban design, infrastructure, and services that encourage and contribute to the livability of Iowa City and its neighborhoods. District plans are advisory documents for directing and managing change over time. They serve as guides to decision-making, public deliberation, and investments. The Southwest District Plan establishes planning principles, goals and objectives that relate specifically to the history and existing conditions of specific areas within Southwest Iowa City. The plan addresses issues of housing, transportation, commercial development, public and neighborhood services, and parks, trails and open space. Since the Southwest Planning District includes older neighborhoods, new subdivisions, and also areas that have yet to be developed, it is difficult to establish specific goals and objectives that would apply to all areas of the district. Therefore, the plan divides the district into four subareas: the Roosevelt Subarea, the Willow Creek Subarea, the Weber Subarea, and the Rohret South Subarea. While there are basic planning principles that apply to the entire Southwest District, the plan highlights specific issues and corresponding goals and objectives for each of the four subareas and illustrates a vision for future land use on plan maps for each subarea. The planning principles, goals, and objectives within this plan are intended to be consistent with community -wide goals and policies that are embodied in the Iowa City Comprehensive Plan. Establishing sound planning principles and a vision for the future will benefit citizens living or working in the Southwest District as well as citizens in Iowa City as a whole. The Plan is divided into two sections: The Southwest District: Past and Present, which describes the location, history and existing conditions in the Southwest District; and II. The Southwest District: Planning for the Future, which sets forth the planning principles, goals and objectives that will act as a framework on which to base future development decisions. This section includes a discussion of district -wide issues such as transportation and public infrastructure as well as more detailed guidelines for each of the four subareas in the district. Plan maps and concept plans in this section help to illustrate plan goals and objectives. Southwest District Plan 1 ^',-o 108,102 1/24/23 Planning Process The Southwest District Plan is based on the input of many— individuals, neighborhood groups, and other interested organizations. During the summer and fall of 2001, _— staff from the City's Department of Z—�'-- Planning and Community 71 Development collected background information about the area through historical research, interviews, and site visits. To kick off the public process, the City sent over 5,000 individual notices to invite area residents to a planning workshop on November 8, 2001. The workshop was also promoted through area schools, on the City's website and in the local newspaper. Over 200 citizens responded to this outreach effort and requested to be kept informed of the planning process as it unfolded. At the first workshop, participants used the background information gathered by city staff to inform their own knowledge and experience as they worked to formulate a vision for the district. Approximately 100 citizens spent the evening examining issues relating to housing, commercial development, transportation, parks and open space, and discussed ways to make the district more livable over time. On February 5, 2002, citizens met at a second workshop to build on the work accomplished in November. Participants worked in small groups to develop more specific goals and objectives for the plan. It became apparent during the workshop process that more specific direction was needed for different geographical areas in the district. A plan for the development of new neighborhoods was needed for the outlying areas of the district, while existing zoning, traffic, and redevelopment issues are a priority for inner neighborhoods and commercial areas. In addition, specific recommendations were requested by the City Council for the area bounded by Miller Avenue, Benton Street, Harlocke Street, and Highway 1. This area was placed under a development moratorium to allow time to complete a planning study to determine the most appropriate zoning and land uses for the remaining undeveloped land. A Southwest District Plan 48/98/9201 /24/23 2 smaller working group of citizens and planning staff was formed to help identify specific concerns and discuss possible scenarios for future development. The planning principles, plan maps, and concept plans contained in this document were developed from the public input gathered throughout the planning process. Citizens generated many of the specific policies and design concepts in the plan. A draft plan was presented to thepublic in July of 2002. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed and discussed the plan with citizens at several public hearings —� in August and September and forwarded their recommended draft to the City Council for review and adoption. The City Council discussed the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommended draft at a public hearing in September. After consideration of public comments, the City Council adopted the Southwest District Plan on October 8, 2002, making it an integral part of the City's Comprehensive Plan. In winter 2020, the City began a targeted update of the plan focused on background information and the Rohret South Subarea. The goal was to vision what future development may look utilizing form -based zones for greenfield sites in light of the planned wastewater service extension under Highway 218 in 2023. Public input was gained throughout the project timeline, including a public open house on September 1, 2022. The draft plan was posted in October 2022, after which the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed and recommended approval of the draft update at a public hearing in November. After considering public comments at a public hearing, City Council adopted the Plan Update on January 24, 2022. How Will the Southwest District Plan Be Used? The Southwest District Plan is intended to be a guide to development within the district for the next twenty to twenty-five years. As the City reviews subdivision and rezoning requests, the plan will be consulted to help ensure that new development fits into the surrounding neighborhoods. The City will refer to the Plan when setting funding priorities for public projects and services. Property owners, developers and others may also use the plan when making decisions regarding investment in the Southwest District. Continued citizen input will be important during the implementation of the plan. Private investment and neighborhood initiatives to enhance or improve housing and commercial areas and to protect valuable environmental and historic resources will be essential to the implementation of the Southwest District Plan. Southwest District Plan 1 ^',-x/08,102 1/24/23 3 Southwest District Plan 48/98/9201 /24/23 The Southwest District Past and Present ♦ Location ♦ History & Existing Conditions Southwest District Plan 48/98/8201/24/23 5 LOCATION Southwest Plan g District \\ I r - //� u I The Southw Planning District extends from the Iowa River west to t ity's westernth area limit. It is bounded on the north by Melrose Avenue a Grand Xd-o n the south by Iowa Highway 1. In the mid -1990's the City's gr has expanded westward to the future alignment of Highway 965, whi illskirt the eastern edge of the Iowa City Landfill. Southwest District Plan 48/98/9201 /24/23 6 LOCATION I a� �a .: —�weEN,oNs, � N / ; — — — — �/ lev / I FMIPV.tiSVY— � �L . i V _ Southwest Planning 'District The Southwest Planning District extends from the Iowa River west to the City's western growth area limit. It is bounded on the north by Melrose Avenue and Grand Avenue and on the south by Iowa Highway 1. In the mid -1990's the City's growth area limit was expanded westward to the future alignment of Highway 965, which will eventually skirt the eastern edge of the Iowa City Landfill. The growth area limit was further expanded in 2021 to account for new anticipated arowth. which added iust over 712 acres of land in the western and southern portions of the Southwest Planning District Southwest District Plan !W08/02 1 /24/23 6 Southwest District Plan 48/98/9201 /24/23 HISTORY AND EXISTING CONDITIONS The Southwest District consists primarily of residential development, although it also contains important commercial areas along Riverside Drive, Highway 1 and Mormon Trek Boulevard. The residential neighborhoods and commercial areas are linked to the rest of Iowa City by a network of arterial streets and regional trails, including Melrose Avenue, Benton Street, Rohret Road, Mormon Trek Boulevard, Riverside Drive, the Willow Creek Trail, and the Iowa River Corridor Trail. Along Melrose Avenue the District abuts University Heights, which is incorporated as a separate city. The land use map on the previous page is provided as a reference. It indicates the various land uses in existence at the time this plan was being updated in August 2022. Land uses remain similar to when the plan was originally drafted in June 2002deve4 _ed. Housing The map on the fallo Fiegprevious page illustrates the existing development pattern in the Southwest District. As one can see from this map, the residential uses in the District range from low-density single-family homes to high-density apartments in areas along the north side of Benton Street and along Mormon Trek Boulevard. While the area located east of Highway 218 is nearly completely developed, the area west of the highway contains low-density single-family subdivisions bordering large areas of agricultural land. A Mix ofHousing While much of the land south of Rohret Road and west of Highway 218 is still used as farmland. vestiges of early country living still remain in the eastern part of the district along Melrose Avenue and Benton Street. The earliest -known house of record is at 817 Melrose Avenue. Two blocks east is the Billingsley-Hills-Widness house at 629 Melrose Avenue, which was originally a 34 -acre country estate. Constructed in 1870, this Italianate structure is one of three former estates on Melrose Avenue listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The other two houses are the Cannon -Gay and Pratt -Soper houses at 320 and 503 Melrose Avenue, respectively. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 There are also a number of historic houses on Benton Street, including the Williams- Unash house located just east of Roosevelt School at 602 W. Benton Street, and the Cyrus S. Ranck house at 747 W. Benton Street, which was recently designated an Iowa City Landmark. Built at the turn of the century, the house was originally surrounded by a 22 -acre orchard. The current owners continue to maintain a large part of this property as natural woodland. The uasaRt-property across from the school was once occupied by another historic brick structure, the William Butterbaugh house, which was built in 1884 on a 160 -acre farm. Behind the house were several barns and other farm structures. In 1925 Charles W. Ruppert, Sr. purchased the property and rented it to William Sanger who operated a dairy farm at this location. The fe.^ howeyeYthe-house was abandoned and eventually demolished. It is now developed and includes the Prairie Hill Co -Housing project and a new public parkThe pai4 of the nisti:O. The earliest subdivisions within the Southwest District were developed between 1921 and 1924 in the area south of Melrose Avenue and north of the former Rock Island Railroad and Myrtle Avenue. These included Melrose Place, Circle and Court, as well as Brookland Place, Brookland Park, and Triangle Place. This neighborhood has narrow streets, and a wooded, rugged character that makes it intimate and distinct. Another early subdivision occurred along Miller and Hudson Avenues south of Benton Street. Many of the homes along these streets were built as a part of the Baily and Beck Addition, which was platted in 1927. Much of the area along Benton and Orchard Streets was platted in the late 1940s. A World War II aviation manufacturer constructed the small ranch -style homes along Douglas Street and Douglas Court, which was platted in 1954. Further development in the 1950s took place between Myrtle Avenue and the Iowa Interstate Railway (formerly the Rock Island Railway). Others areas south of Melrose Avenue and north of Highway 1 continued to develop through the 1970s in a rather ad hoc manner. Another factor in the development of Southwest Iowa City was an increasing need to house university students. The University expanded its west side dormitory space with the construction of Rienow Hall and Slater Hall in the late 1960s. In addition, a number of apartment blocks were developed among the small subdivisions. The Seville, Carriage Hill and Benton Manor apartment complexes were constructed at the top of the Benton Street Hill. Apartment complexes were constructed around "University Lake" between University Heights to the north and Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 ^',-0108,102 10 1960s -era single-family neighborhoods to the south. Additional apartment blocks were built along Oakcrest Street. Larger subdivisions in the Southwest District were not platted until after the 1960s. From the late 60s through the 70s, most of the area south of Benton Street and east of Willow Creek Park was platted and built. The subdivisions west of Willow Creek Park were all platted in the last two decades of the twentieth century. In the western portion of the Southwest District, development is occurring primarily in the area north of Rohret Road. The Galway Hills subdivision es -4e -was developed south of near the intersection of Highway 218 and Melrose Avenue. A new retirement community was FeseRtly- constructed in this vicinity, directly adjacent to West High School. West of Highway 218, Wild Prairie Estates and Country Club Estates continue their build -out near Weber Elementary School. Urban development Or net te-expanded VeFy 961OGMY south of Rohret Road due to the difficulty in providing sanitary sewer service. MaRy Gf "eSome homes in this area are located outside the city limits in Johnson County. These residences have private wells and their own septic systems. Since the plan was originally adopted in 2002, the Southwest District experienced additional development. Almost all land east of Highway 218 is now built out, and areas near the Iowa River and University have seen significant redevelopment following adoption of the Riverfront Crossings Form -Based Code in 2013. West of Highway 218 and north of Rohret Road, Country Club Estates and Wild Prairie Estates continued to grow, and additional development is expected in the Rohret South Subarea due to the planned extension of sewer service under Highway 218 in 2023. Public Institutions The Southwest District is home to a number of public institutions that serve the community. These institutions are markers of the district's individuality. Not only do they serve the citizens of the Southwest District, but they also bring people from other areas of the city to the district. The University of Iowa has a significant presence in the northeast part of the district, including the Boyd Law Building overlooking the Iowa River, several parking lots, and scattered properties along Melrose Avenue used as rental property and child daycare. In addition, the University influences development in the Southwest District because it owns much of the property directly north of the District, including the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Nursing, the university's athletic facilities, and several dormitories. The Iowa City Community School District has a number of schools in southwest Iowa City. Roth o^^rA. ,A'+ ;an4 Horn elementary school is -a -Fe located along Benton Street. Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 ^',-0108,102 11 Roosevelt elementary school was also on Benton Street until 2012, after which it was converted into an education center and was subsequently decommissioned in 2019. West High School has a large campus along Melrose Avenue and Weber Elementary School is located in the western part of the district along Rohret Road. These schools serve both educational and community purposes and are often a gathering place for people in the surrounding neighborhoods. One of the Southwest District's largest undeveloped properties is owned by Johnson County and was formerly the site of an important public institution. Located on Melrose Avenue near Slothower Road, the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm provided care to those who were unable to care for themselves, including both the indigent and the mentally disabled, from the 1850s until the 1960s. The intent was for the farm to be partially self- supporting. From its earliest days, farming was an important part of its operations. Residents of the historic poor farm were expected to do what farm chores they could manage in order to compensate the county for their care. In 1964, a newer facility was built on the site. Chatham Oaks, a privately run institution for persons with mental illness, is currently housed in this building. Johnson County continues to own and maintain the property and leases the remaiRiRg faF Jan to a'Aral farmer In 1977, the remaining wing of the original 1859 asylum building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This structure was restored by the County and opened to the public in 1990. In addition to the historic asylum building, a number of early farm buildings and the Historic Poor Farm cemetery are notable features of the site. Since a master planning effort in 2016, the County has hosted the Land Access Program which leases plots for small farming operations and has also leased space to various nonprofits including GROW. Johnson County, which grows and donates foods to local pantries, and the Iowa Global Food Project, which provides garden spaces for immigrant communities to grow their native foods. Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 ^',-0108,102 12 Transportation Melrose Avenue, Benton Street, Highway 1, Riverside Drive, Mormon Trek Boulevard and Rohret Road form the backbone of the transportation network in the Southwest District. These arterial streets serve two important functions, to provide travel routes for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians through and to different parts of the community, and to provide access to adjacent properties via collector and local streets. Highway 218, which cuts diagonally through the district, also provides access to the southwest portion of Iowa City, although its primary function is to serve motorists travelling through the metropolitan area. Many of these streets were also important in the early development of the district. Melrose Avenue was once called Snooks Grove Road and known popularly as the Poor Farm Road. Snooks Grove was a settlement located on Bear Creek in Poweshiek County. The residents of Snooks Grove Road eventually rebelled and it was renamed Melrose Avenue. This name became the basis for the naming of Melrose Place, Melrose Circle and Melrose Court. However, the origin of "Melrose" is not known. The topography in certain areas along Benton Street is quite steep. For years, what is now referred to as the Benton Street Hill was called Ranck Hill. The steep hill has always been difficult in the winter months. Irving Weber notes accounts of Roosevelt schoolteachers having to "gun" their engines and push their vehicles to reach the school. To the children living in the area, however, the hill was a popular location for sledding until 1952, when the City paved it. Rohret Road was named for Bavarian immigrant Wolfgang Rohret. He, his wife Katrina, and four sons had staked out a claim along Old Man's Creek in 1840. Wolfgang and his sons traveled the early road daily to and from Iowa City and their employment as construction workers on the new state capitol building. The Rohret sons were later hired by Lyman Dillon to plow the 100 -mile -long Dillon's Furrow between Iowa City and Dubuque. In 1856, Iowa City was the westernmost stop for the railroad. During that year, five parties of Mormon converts from England, Scotland, Wales, Norway, and Denmark passed through Iowa City on their trek to Salt Lake City, Utah, which they believed to be the promised land. The first party arrived in May and they spent four weeks at a camp along Clear Creek. While encamped, they built handcarts for hauling their belongings on the continuation of their journey. By the end of July, the last party left Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 ^',-0108,102 13 Mormon Trek Boulevard Iowa City for Utah with their handcarts in tow. Because of the late start, however, they encountered severe winter weather, and between 135 and 150 died en route. Legend has it that five Mormon graves are located near their Iowa City camp, but none have yet been discovered. The Mormon Handcart Park and Trail commemorate this camp and Mormon Trek Boulevard was named in honor of their journey. The decision in the late 1970s to construct Highway 218 as a diagonally -routed, limited -access highway through southwestern Iowa City has had, and will continue to have, a major influence on development in this part of the city. Highway 218 forms part of v.,hat ;^,i° even+, " y be the "Avenue of the Saints," an expressway between Saint Paul, Minnesota and Saint Louis, Missouri. While providing an important transportation route, Highway 218 is a substantial barrier separating the neighborhoods southwest of it from the rest of Iowa City. Melrose Avenue, Rohret Road, and Highway 1 are the only streets that bridge across the highway. Integrating and connecting the neighborhoods west of Highway 218 to the rest of the community will remain a challenge as the City develops westward. Trail connections under the roadbed may help to integrate new neighborhoods into the community and provide connections to important destinations, such as West High School, on the east side of the highway. Additional north -south street connections between Melrose Avenue, Rohret Road and Highway 1 will improve traffic circulation within the area and will help to connect these westernmost neighborhoods with neighborhoods east of the highway. Improvements to Melrose Avenue, Mormon Trek Boulevard, and Rohret Road in the past decade have improved the capacity of the arterial street system in western Iowa City. While there is some congestion on portions of Benton Street and Mormon Trek Boulevard near the University of Iowa campus during peak hours, level of service is generally adequate. However, there are still opportunities to better control access to improve safety ,,,.e6_+,,., dewy and appielents As development continues west of Mormon Trek Boulevard and along Highway 1, the demands on the arterial street system will increase. High vehicle speeds have been reported along long curvilinear streets near West High and in Southwest Estates, especially on streets like Lakeshore Drive and Duck Creek Drive. As a result, plans to connect Edingale Drive to Highway 1 have been met with some concern. As the property at 1160 Highway 1 West redevelops, attention must be Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 ^',-0108,102 14 given to traffic calming and connectivity to Horn Elementary, West High, and the University. Commercial Development The Southwest District contains extensive commercial development along Highway 1 and on Riverside Drive. Much of this development is in the form of commercial strips. Larger businesses line the Highway 1 corridor and provide goods and services to the greater Iowa City area. South Riverside Drive is composed of smaller commercial lots with many. individual access drives off of the roadway, y _ making it seem busier and more congested. The Riverside Drive commercial area has a long history and is I - in many ways the very model of post--_ 13 3 } World War II commercial strip m;. development. The area was annexed in the 1920s and remained mostly residential`_ for the next couple of decades. Following - the war, households began moving out Riverside Drive and businesses began moving in, finally outnumbering homes by 1959 and reaching saturation around 1970. Contributing to this was Riverside's changing transportation role over the years. It served as the converged route of State Highway 1 and U.S. Highways 6 and 218 and as the southern entryway into Iowa City. This made it an attractive place to locate filling stations and other auto -service uses and auto -oriented uses, such as fast-food restaurants. The growth of residential neighborhoods in areas to the west, the expansion of commercial uses along Highway 1 West and Highway 6 East, and the reorientation of Highway 218 far to the west in the 1980s effectively displaced Riverside Drive from its former entryway role. Since the adoption of the Riverfront Crossings Master Plan in 2013, several redevelopment projects have occurred on Riverside Drive which have improved the appearance and functionality of the street, provided additional commercial amenities, and added residents along the corridor. Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 ^',-0108,102 15 The Southwest District also contains a smaller neighborhood commercial area called Walden Square. This compact shopping center is located on Mormon Trek Boulevard near its intersection with Benton Street. Walden Square includes a neighborhood grocery ` store, several retail shops and restaurants, and a credit union. Unlike commercial _ !_ i * development along Highway 1 and Riverside Drive, which relies primarily on attracting Walden Square drive-by customers from the entire Iowa City area, the primary focus at Walden Square is to provide for the everyday shopping needs of the surrounding neighborhoods. While parking spaces are prevalent at Walden Square, neighborhood residents can also ride their bikes or walk to these shops via the Willow Creek Trail, which runs adjacent to this development. In addition, the Southwest District has seen significant commercial development at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 218. These developments, which are Primarily large commercial uses including car lots and home and garden stores, were driven by the extension of Mormon Trek Boulevard from Highway 1 to South Riverside Drive. Parks and Open Space The Southwest District contains a number of regional and neighborhood parks. Willow Creek Park and Kiwanis Park together provide a large regional park facility that not only serves the surrounding neighborhoods on the west side of the City, but also attracts users from other parts of town. The Iowa River Corridor Trail skirts the eastern boundary of the district. The newly devd Ned Ashton Park, located at the corner of Benton Street and Riverside Drive, provides a neighborhood access point and resting area for the Iowa River Corridor Trail. Brookland Park, at the intersection of Greenwood Drive and the Iowa Interstate Railway, provides both active and passive recreational opportunities for the surrounding Melrose and Miller - Orchard neighborhoods. The rit„ has Yege^tly ,gg„i.ed prepei4y alg^g Benton meet Hill Park across from the former Roosevelt Elementary tG-was developed into a small park with play equipment and a shelter DORG, fissions gentin,,e as to how this paFk might hest he developed to serve the surrounding residents. Tower Court Park is a small pocket park that is enjoyed by residents living along Tower Court and Oakcrest Street. Similarly, Harlocke Hill Park, acquired in 2004, is a small park serving its Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 16 neighborhood at the iunction of Harlocke Place and Harlocke Street. Villa Park, located west of University Heights, contains both active and passive areas and also doubles as a stormwater detention facility. Hunters Run Park serves the westernmost neighborhoods of the district. It is located west of Highway 218 along Duck Creek Drive. While this park consists largely of natural areas with trails, improvements have recently been made to provide more active park space. Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 ^',-0108,102 17 The Southwest District Planning for the Future ♦ Planning Principles ♦ Transportation ♦ Public Services and Facilities ♦ Southwest District Subareas Roosevelt Subarea . Willow Creek Subarea . Weber Subarea . Rohret South Subarea Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 18 PLANNING PRINCIPLES During the planning process, citizens discussed what was most valued in the Southwest District and those aspects that could use improvement. They also discussed principles that should be followed as new neighborhoods are developed in the future. Many of the specific ideas, concepts, and goals generated at the citizen planning workshops are included in the remaining sections of the plan. These principles also mirror those in the IC2030 Comprehensive Plan. The following citizen -generated principles provide the underlying framework for the plan: • Citizens stressed the importance of providing a diversity of housing in the District, including homes for first time buyers, mid-sized homes, estate -style homes, townhouses, condominiums and apartments. The appropriate design and mix of housing types is important to the creation of livable neighborhoods. • Citizens emphasized the importance of preserving and stabilizing close -in, diverse neighborhoods. Citizens expressed a desire for better enforcement of existing zoning and nuisance laws and a re-examination of existing zoning patterns in the older parts of the District. There is also concern about the encroachment of university uses into the neighborhoods south of Melrose Avenue. • Design issues are important to citizens. There was a desire expressed to establish design standards for higher density uses so that these uses would be well integrated into existing and future neighborhoods. Variety in building design is a desirable goal. Monotonous repetition of the same building along a street frontage or in a neighborhood should be discouraged. Citizens emphasized that buildings should be designed to be sensitive to the environment, the topography, and the surrounding development. • Citizens feel it is important to design new neighborhoods around a focal point such as a neighborhood commercial district, community center or park. The Sar"p I alae Future Land Use Map was developed with this principle in mind. • Citizens want to prevent sprawl and preserve the rural character of the far western and southern portions of the district. Although these areas are not likely to remain permanently in farm use, the plan encourages orderly growth. Urban densities should not occur until public facilities are in place and until areas adjacent to existing urban development are built out. • A safe, efficient network of streets is important to neighborhood residents. Emphasis should be placed on designing street networks that prevent cut -through traffic on local streets and provide safe travel routes for bicyclists and pedestrians. • Citizens emphasized the importance of providing good access to public transit. Expansion of transit service should be considered in areas where higher densities develop. • Trails, wide sidewalks, and bicycle lanes are viewed as important transportation links to neighborhood destinations. • With regard to parks, open space and trails, there is overwhelming support for creating an interconnected system of neighborhood and regional parks throughout the district. • Citizens expressed support for attractive, well-designed commercial areas that serve the daily needs of the surrounding residents. Design, accessibility, and types of commercial uses were important topics discussed at the workshops. Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 ^',-0108,102 19 TRANSPORTATION The transportation system in the Southwest District includes arterial streets, trails and wide sidewalks, and public transit. More detailed information about neighborhood transportation issues is included in the subarea sections below. Arterial Streets The only new arterial street corridor planned for within the Southwest District is the future extension of Highway 965 from Highway 6 to Melrose Avenue, and eventually to Highway 1. North of Melrose Avenue, the Highway 965 corridor will be located along the Hurt Road alignment and along the east side of the Iowa City Landfill south of Melrose Avenue. Highway 965 will not only provide an additional north -south link between Iowa City and Coralville, it will create an additional link in the regional arterial street system by connecting Highway 1 in Iowa City to Highway 6 in Coralville and beyond to North Liberty. While it's identified as a project in the Long Range Transportation Plan, t -The extension of Highway 965 through the district is not expected to receive funding through at least 20450dRnt0fiRd as a I^ Other plaeaed arterial street extensions that wH4-affected traffic patterns in the Southwest District included the extension of Mormon Trek Boulevard from Highway 1 through the South Central Planning District to Riverside Drive, and Camp Cardinal Read Boulevard from Melrose Avenue north to Highway 6 in Coralville. The extension of Mormon Trek Boulevard to Riverside Drive in 2008 wall created an additional east -west arterial street link, ^ I ♦roffin fnr^nRS 41; hw^ ochn.ein i4 Will likely r i It in r^.Ji Mian in firoffi^ n Q^ntnn meet. The extension of Camp Cardinal Kean Boulevard between Melrose Avenue and Highway 6 in 2007 will -created an additional north -south link between Iowa City and Coralville The construction and improvements to these roads facilitated additional growth in the area. The City has also recently converted some 4 -lane roads into 3 -lane roads, including much of Mormon Trek Boulevard. New traffic counts are not vet available to show the impact of these changes due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic which substantially reduced traffic from 2020 to 2021. For existing arterial streets, segments of Benton Street, Highways 1 and 6, and Riverside Drive have been identified as needing improvement. Sidewalk gaps and Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 20 inadequate bicycle facilities make the area less safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. In addition, peer—access control can be improved,Gnntrihi tes +n the higher +haR aveFage Gn"ison ,sates especially along thpRe streetsBenton Street and Riverside Drive. As opportunities arise through redevelopment projects, a concerted effort should be made to fill in the sidewalk gaps, consolidate driveways and/or shift the location of driveways to safer locations. In the case of Highways 1 West/6 East, significant pedestrian improvements are needed near the intersection of Riverside Drive and on the bridge over the Iowa River. While the addition of vehicle travel lanes is not currently being contemplated, both Benton Street and Riverside Drive will periodically be evaluated for improved turning lanes, bicycle facilities, and traffic control. Traffic control devices, such as traffic signals or signs, may be warranted if they improve safety and/or traffic flow without having a negative impact on other neighborhood streets. Because traffic control devices have the potential to increase the collision rate and/or increase traffic on surrounding streets, a traffic engineering study needs to be completed before additional traffic control is added to an intersection. Public Transit As a result of the City's major transit study and overhaul of the bus lines in 2021, tThe Southwest District is now served by a number of Iowa City transit routes, including the 8=Oakcrest, `"' StWiRdS olae^ "ie,•, `nom Gtp9Ft a^ + 10 — West Side beep Iowa City, and 12 —Highway 1 routes. The University of Iowa's CAMBUS provides service to the Hawkeye Park commuter lot and the University of Iowa Campus. The 8 — Oakcrest route serves Melrose Avenue, Sunset Street, and the residential areas along Oakcrest and Benton Streets with headways of 15 minutes during peak hours, 30 minutes during off-peak hours, and 60 minutes on Saturday. The 10 — West Iowa C toper -Route fesi isesttirectly serves residential, commercial, and institutional areas along Melrose Avenue, Mormon Trek Boulevard, and Rohret Road with headways of 30 minutes on weekdays and 60 minutes on Saturday. The 12 — Highway 1 serves Riverside Drive/Highway 6, the Highway 1 commercial area, Sunset Boulevard, Benton Street, and egrthe commercial/employment serfiders elnnn Riverside Drive and Highway 1 W cMreas . The nther rn-Aps picovide n Fal nnverage to the nrednmine+elv r cirlen4iel areas;of the Cnl WA,est Dis4rin4 innlndinn _n_Mormon Trek Boulevard north of Benton Street with headways of 30 minutes during peak hours and Saturdays, and 60 minutes during off-peak hours . Each of these routes terminates at the Downtown Transit Interchange in Iowa City_; ;'Rd tTransfers between routes can be made wherever routes overlap. As growth occurs in the Southwest District west of Highway 218 and south of Rohret Road, additional changes to transit service may occur. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 21 Moe ei Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 21 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Pedestrian trails within the city are used both for recreation and as transportation routes. Three two FegiG,armaior trails it -serve the Southwest District_ ia�the Iowa River Corridor (IRC) Trail, the Highway 1 Trail, and the Willow Creek Trail. The IRC Trail, Iowa City's Innnect at civ is part of a regional trail system that extends more than 12 miles, GUFFe^tly eVte^^'^ from Terry Trueblood Recreation Area to Rpnten Street on the a ant rime of the Iowa Rover, .where i4 nrnccec Park he Macbride Nature Area. Future plans ii;4ude-will extending the IRC Trail along the west side of the river from Benton Street south to 49.416—gis P�a*McCollister Boulevard. The Highway 1 Trail runs from Orchard Street to Mormon Trek Boulevard, where it connects with a side path that extends north to Coralville. A short on -street connection from the Highway 1 Trail links to tThe Willow Creek Trail, continues on through Kiwanis Park, Willow Creek Park, Walden Square shopping area, and on to West High School, `"' wen en,,,re ^ ial area, Future plans include extending the Willow Creek Trail under Highway 218 to Hunters Run Park and the County Historic Poor Farm property, and eventually to Melrose Avenue. A side path is also provided along Rohret Road. To the south, th^ `� �-^ w Greek Trail is manned to pedestrians can cross ander Highway 1 er-at a signalized intersection to -which connects to the commercial properties on the south side of Highway 1. Creek t^ the Inleia Rmypr where it .will n ant to the IRC Trail in the ViGiRity of N@PGleGR Bike lanes are provided on Mormon Trek Boulevard and Rohret Road. Iowa City's Bicycle Master Plan calls for bike lanes and/or sidepaths in the following areas: Benton and Sunset Streets: west of University Heights on Melrose Avenue: and south of Highway 1 on Mormon Trek Boulevard. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 22 Wide sidewalks within arterial street corridors enhance the pedestrian/bicycle network and are used to help connect neighborhoods to the trail system. An important objective of the plan is to continue Iling in the existing gaps in the sidewalk network in the district, as well as expanding connectivity throughout the pedestrian and bicycle network. As arterial streets in southwest Iowa City are reconstructed, it will be important to continue adding features such as wide sidewalks, bike lanes or wide travel lanes for bicyclists, and pedestrian -friendly bridges and underpasses. While many gains have been made since 2002 including trails and crossings along Highway 1, the City should continue to P -prioritizes sgeald be -g =e44G�the following pedestrian facility improvements: Fill in the gaps and improve the sidewalks along Riverside Drive; Fill in the gaps and improve 4_the sidewalk network along Benton Street; \Alden the Gid W.A.QlLs on ene side of -Penton Ctreet where n sihle-, As the district continues to develop, evaluate the need for new or improved pedestrian crossings; (`nnc.trl int ,e,idp sidewalks or trails alone Highway 1 OR order ton vete pedestrian/hinvnle a s to the Highway 1 13 al p er+ies As -Provide pedestrian and bicycle routes that improve connectivity, especially in well -travelled areas such as near the University of Iowa f campusani'�� t� a added to the H0ghway 1 n rridor pedestrian GFGGGiRgG will Reed to he es+ahlished llnno41nities fpr pedestrian GFGGGingG exist at the signalized intersen+inns A pedestrian 1 nderpass of Highway 1 13 ntentially he n ns+6113ted 1_.6iRg a 111iert nrininally hl lilt fpr overflo.ei from \AAIWAA Greek. Provide pedestrian facilities on the Highway 6 bridge across the Iowa River and at the intersection of Highway 1/Highway 6 and Riverside Drive. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 23 PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES Fire Protection The Iowa City Fire Department provides fire protection to the Southwest District. Fire Station No. 2, located at 301 Emerald Street, provides primary response to the District. Secondary response is provided by Fire Station No. 1, located downtown at the Iowa City Civic Center. First response times for the developed properties in the District average between four and eight minutes. However, response times for properties located on the periphery of the Southwest District can exceed eight minutes. As the Southwest District continues to develop westward, it is likely that response times will increase. To help keep response times low, it nla)�-will be necessary to secure land to FeIGGate develop a new Fire Station NO 7 farther cei i*h,e,ec* 9e .h,. it 06 Rearer to the g shin n n+er of en the far west side of the city. Arterial street continuity and secondary access are important to ensure adequate fire and emergency protection. A location on RehFet ZGa4a primary street with good access to the area would be appropriate. Sanitary Sewer Service Sanitary sewer is essential for development within Iowa City. Without public sewer service, development is generally limited to one house per acre. In such situations a private septic system is required and is controlled by the Johnson County Health Department. Because it greatly increases the allowable intensity of development, the construction of a sewer line can have as much influence on development as zoning laws. Sanitary sewer service in the Southwest District is provided by a series of major interceptor/trunk sewer lines and the lateral sewer lines which feed into them. Interceptor and trunk sewers are large pipes that provide service to an entire drainage basin and are usually constructed by the City. The City has a standing policy of recouping the cost of trunkline construction by collecting "tap -on" fees from developments that later hook into the sewer. In the Southwest District, the primary sewers are the Westside Trunk, Willow Creek Interceptor, and Southwest Trunk. Lateral sewer lines are smaller sewers that feed into trunk and interceptor sewers. Individual houses and buildings have service lines that hook into the lateral sewer lines. All of the city's sewer lines flow to eae Pf he City's two -wastewater treatment plants. The Aler+h 1 4a5;tA ere+er TFAQtmen+ Dhnt is ler;;tAd adja Gen++e the Ieuro Drier ner+h of Highway 6. The SAI-Ith 1A4;E#A3A4;#AF TFARtMARt PIA located to the north of Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 24 Napoleon Street on the far south side of the city. Thies& tav-plants treats raw sewage according to Federal and State requirements so that the treated wastewater can be released into the Iowa River. All of the existing developments in the Southwest District are adequately served by the existing sanitary sewer system. There are properties +p the outher+R peFt+eRof the r,,,,,,+.,, r16h Estates area Rohret Road and west of Highway 218 that cannot be further developed until the Abbey Lane Trunk Sewer is extended to the west side of Highway 218 Until theise improvements anis made, there will be no further expansion in this part of the &6i_d+w LLtK. Development in the area west of Slothower Road can utilize the landfill lift station to pump sewage to the Westside Trunk as a temporary measure until additional trunk lines, a lift station and the Abbey Lane Trunk sewer are constructed to serve the larger growth area south of Rohret Road. The provision of sewer service to the area south of Rohret Road and west of Highway 218 will require the Abbey Lane Trunk Sewer to be extended under Highway 218 and, for the far westerly portions of the growth area, the construction of a lift station. The Abbev Lane Trunk Sewer is scheduled to be extended in 2023. The 9 - Or"Mr.M. Water Service As development occurs, water lines are extended from adjacent subdivisions to serve areas of new growth. Individual developers are responsible for installing water mains within their subdivisions. Developers are also charged a water main extension fee that is applied to their share of the cost of building the city-wide distribution system. The City installed water main along Slothower Road from Melrose Avenue to the water main in the Country Club Estates Additions. The water main in the Country Club Estates Additions extends to the water main in Rohret Road and creates a looped system that Ye^e^+i„ „G+r6 tPd ^ V.43tPr Gtere e tank On the Sle+hev.,er .Pad. v+siRity to improves the resilience of the water supply system qre on the far west side of the city. For the same reason, it will be necessary OR the Rear fi 411re to loop the existing dead end mains along Highway 1 and lesated aleng Rohret Road oophora Aypnue Solid Waste The Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center abuts the western boundary of the Southwest District and is directly west of the proposed future alignment of Highway 965. The landfill has been in use since 1972, serving all of Johnson County and the communities of Riverside and Kalona in Washington County. The landfill has an Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 ^',-0108,102 25 estimated site life of 25 to 30 te-35-years. The current cell '^�-anre site has about 1300 out of 411 acres buried in refuse mainly on the eastern portion of the property. These , nn ,,..ems h,„e Much of this area has been capped and grass has been planted to stabilize the banks. The land on the west side of the site .he WndFl, .she ,.ems. +h , �Q,,.h ; rdpi: to „I I GapaGity and + ^reate a buffer between the landfill and any future develepme^*surrounding properties. Portions of the buffer area could be used for recreation and the landfill itself could be used for recreational purposes in the distant future. Besides landfilling operations, the City manages multiple recycling programs and a commercial compost facility at this site. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 26 SOUTHWEST DISTRICT SUBAREAS Weber The following sec above. The goals and illustrated on indicate the type addition, futur using dashe ne o� C Willow ns the plan refer to the four subareas it trated on the map 1 bjectives for each of these areas are hig hted in the text onceptual plan maps. These plan maps are or -coded to f land use or types of development intended for cific areas. In I extensions and possible new street configuration re illustrated The red lines on the plan maps indicate existing an ture trails and wide ' walks. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 27 SOUTHWEST DISTRICT SUBAREAS R Y me ••5 Weber Subarea 7J Willow Creek Subarea Roosevelt Subarea V1 BE4TON IT up •p O R g • ; m Y Rohret South Subarea ' R / r6• �NIVf,WAV�t SN i - R a -� b ummm e ' R u R The following sections of the plan refer to the four subareas illustrated on the map above. The goals and objectives for each of these areas are highlighted in the text and illustrated on a -conceptual plan maps. These plan maps are color -coded to indicate the types of land use or types of development intended for specific areas. In addition, future road extensions and possible new street configurations are illustrated using dashed lines. The red lines on the plan maps indicate existing and future trails and wide sidewalks. Southwest District Plan 1 ^',-o08,102v1 /24/23 24 F u ♦♦ GRANpgVE 1 G • 1 Willow Creek Subarea Roosevelt Subarea V1 BE4TON IT up •p O R g • ; m Y Rohret South Subarea ' R / r6• �NIVf,WAV�t SN i - R a -� b ummm e ' R u R The following sections of the plan refer to the four subareas illustrated on the map above. The goals and objectives for each of these areas are highlighted in the text and illustrated on a -conceptual plan maps. These plan maps are color -coded to indicate the types of land use or types of development intended for specific areas. In addition, future road extensions and possible new street configurations are illustrated using dashed lines. The red lines on the plan maps indicate existing and future trails and wide sidewalks. Southwest District Plan 1 ^',-o08,102v1 /24/23 24 ROHRET SOUTH SUBAREA The Rohret South Subarea extends west from Highway 218 and south from Rohret Road to the City's growth area limit. The vast na}eFitYMost of the land in this subarea is currently outside Iowa City's corporate limits and is used primarily for agriculture. The non-farm uses in the area can be characterized as large -lot semi - rural homes. T"^^^ "^ffl^^ ^ ^ located ffimaFity-along the south side of Rohret Road, along Kitty Lee Road, and -in the Rohret Court and Kessler Road area, and in other scattered locations. Topographically, the easteF^ poFtio^ much of the subarea consists of rolling hills with some flatter areas along the hills' crests. The'Land in the northeast portion of the subarea generally drains into the ^^^' ^^a'"^ ^ ^•^ Middle Branch Willow Creek which flows east through two pFimary, semi -wooded drainageways leading to a low area directly west of Highway 218. As -In the southeast portion of the subarea, the watershed drains south. West of Maier Avenue, water sheds west and then south to Old Man's Creek. The topography provides scenic vistas for the area but also creates Public Services and Facilities IR Arplpr Jo develop at urban densities, city services such as sewer and water will have to be extended to the Rohret South Subarea. 9nse Tthe Abbey Lane trunk sewer project in 2023 will +s -extend sewer servicesed west of Highway 218, which will make the northeast portion of this subarea Will hPA me suitable for urban development. It is, therefore, important to plan now for the future orderly growth of this part of the Southwest District. Once the northeast portion of the subarea develops, sewer will need to be extended west to the Old Man's Creek watershed via Southwest District Plan 48/98/9201 /24/23 51 a pressurized sewer main and lift station, according to the 2011 Sewer System Master Plan. To the southeast, sewer can be provided by a pressurized sewer main and lift station south of Highway 1. Both proposed lift stations to the west and south are planned, but not expected to be constructed in the near future. �}=Storm water management is also required is ify-to offset the detrimental effects of urbanization on downstream land use. The •^^^F' states +",+ Ot In this subarea, stormwater should be managed at the regional ^+^rm ,.,;a+e. ^ ntFGI fa^;r+„ upstream ^f k4igh ay 212 ^^ the Carren pFope4y. allewlevel with fewer, larger detention basins, which would reduce the number of smaller basins needed. This creates several benefits, including 6 -more efficient use of land resources, lower total maintenance costs, and a Gw-feradditional multipurpose uses. For example, the future land use map shows a regional stormwater detention lake in the northeast portion of the subarea which could accommodate recreational uses such as water activities, "^,&�^" trails. and other re^reation fa^ilities ^ -ild he developed , Rd the n ., ',ke amenities thate serve surrounding residential neighborhoods. It is based on a study fli �89t} may be 4s-suitable#jtNv for a future regional stormwater management facility.' In addition to recreational uses Ssuch a re ional facilit would rovide safe and efficient control of drainage from the undeveloped watershed and would reducetiew e# flood risk and damage in the downstream, developed areas. Additional study is reauired for the southeast and west portions of the subarea to evaluate future regional stormwater management options Form -Based Land Use The future land use map on p. 59 illustrates the potential future uses of propertv within the Rohret South subarea. It utilizes form -based land use categories to demonstrate characteristics desired in this subarea, including neighborhood centers, a mix of housing types, public parks, pedestrian routes between amenities, an interconnected street network, and adequate public services. There is some flexibility in interpreting and applying the future land use vision to this subarea depending on engineering constraints, environmental factors, and the preferences of individual Property owners. However, any development must be consistent with this vision and City regulations. } Iowa- ray, of iewa Gaya iewa Putin. WOFI(s Depa. neRt C)GtobeF 1996 2 Preliminary Desion Report for Carson's Lake. Reoional Storm Water Manaaement Plan for Iowa Cit Iowa. City of Iowa City. Iowa Public Works Department, October, 1996. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 52 Form -based land use represents a paradigm shift from more conventional use -based maps. Traditional land use maps are organized into four major categories: residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional. In other words, they identify areas for houses, for stores and offices, for factories, and for schools and civic buildings respectively. However, this future land use map utilizes form -based categories to determine what may be built where. This means that it focuses on how the built environmental may look and function first, and then the land use secondarily. As a result, it reflects the intended physical character of places, such as describing a "main street" area rather than a "commercial" or "mixed use" area. In addition, form -based land uses incorporate other elements of the built environment to create vibrant walkable urbanism, including the interaction of uses, civic spaces, thoroughfares, frontages, and building types. Iowa City's form -based land use categories are organized by the Natural -to -Urban Transect framework. 'Transects' are a hierarchy of physical environments ranging from the natural environment (Transect 1 or T1) to the urban core (Transect 6 or T6). The designation of each transect along this hierarchy is determined first by the type of place and intensity of development, and secondly by the mix of uses. This hierarchy replaces traditional use categories as the organizing principle for most of this subarea. Because the subarea is on the edge of Iowa City, it includes only designations from the T3 Suburban and T4 General Urban transects. RURAL I III I I III ITRANSECT 111111111 i URBAN NATURAL TRANSECT 70NF5 1URRAN TRANSECT ZONFS CIS! TRICT: qI;-W Also f Ti NATURAL T2 RURAL T3 SUB -URB T4 GENERAL URBAN T5 URBAN CENTER T6 URBAN CORE DOISTRICT Anv future annexations. rezoninas. and subdivisions must be consistent with the vision in this Plan. In 2021, the City developed form -based zones for greenfield sites at Article 14-21-1 Form -Based Zones and Standards. The Article has zoning districts and reaulations that are aenerallv consistent with this Plan and may be used to help in the implementation of its vision New Neighborhoods Given the eurreet-pattern of existing development and infrastructure constraints in the Southwest District, it is likely that new ered-- development in the Rohret South Subarea will begin deVeI^^i^^ fire+ OR +he�����near the intersection of Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 53 Rohret Road and Highway 218. This area is ia-closer p;G*�F4*to existing services than areas further west or south and development is expected to continue following the Abbey Lane trunk sewer as it extends west. As noted above, this area has -may been i^'^^* as;suitable for a regional stormwater detention facility. This „GI along with its -associated amenities which would further encourage new development �' in the ^^"^ast ^^I'i^^ remainder of the R.ehre#2ei+th Subarea. The a#anhed Gars^„ Lake Gnn^^nf ol,. future land use map illustrates how a regional stormwater facility can be integrated into the design of a new neighborhood. The following elements should be included to maximize the benefit of this public facility to all area residents and visitors to this part of the City: A park should be created around the entire lake with appropriate recreational facilities to allow for easy public access, views and recreational enjoyment. Amenities may include areas for a playground, picnic tables, and restrooms. A public street and bicycle/pedestrian trail ring the entire lake. The street wshould define the edge of the park_ are, in ' at least the ^^ *"^r^ "''f of fh^ hL^ Annrnnriate repreat nn;;' f;;^ili+i^c shnidd h^ IGGate 1 Within the narL Di ihli^ cfr^^t ,n,fn^,�^^f.i,n while the trail should apse - be IPA;;tp J nn fh^ mirth smdp of +h^ hL^ A hi^„^I^ipedestrian frail sh^„w . ^ the ^n+i.^ hL^ run through the park and tie into the broader trail system'" which connects to other Got L neighborhoods. OF OR smalle. paFkin^ In+c fnr 19 15 Aar^Other civic uses such as an indoor recreation center and/or elementary school should be located near the future park to provide mutual benefit to all uses involved. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 54 Given the drainage issues in this area, if a stormwater lake is not constructed, a public park with a smaller water feature and public amenities, including trails, picnic tables, playground and restrooms, &I;Guld-MaLbe considered in lieu of the lake. The Ye^^^,^,^ndPd GORGePtS fer GleVe'^^^,e^* eYeun^"h^'a4^ design considerations above shwould also apply to the park if it does not include a lake. Regardless, a regional park of some sort is needed in the Southwest Planning District. This Plan also shows neighborhood centers spread throughout the subarea, along with an interconnected street and pedestrian network. Neighborhood centers serve as a focal point for nearby residents and can include a mix of commercial, residential, and institutional uses, such as schools, parks, fire stations, or other civic buildings. Interconnected streets and pedestrian routes diffuse traffic and make it easier to get around the area using multiple modes of transportation. These centers help to Promote walkability and address the needs of those living nearby. Care must be given to the design of new neighborhoods to preserve the natural features of the area, including woodland areas, streams, potential wetlands, and steep slopes, and minimize the need for extensive grading. The Gity'S ce„S;+,„e Areas Map shows a GiqRifiGaRt,-400dIRRd ;-ZQRGrhe ciih�re� The Impact of development on these e^' ntheY 490d.e^' a;eeC features should be minimized in compliance with the City's Sensitive Area's Ordinance and significant trees preserved. It m�be appropriate to use the semi -wooded ravines for trail corridors and open space which. Tis ould also provide connections between future neighborhood parks in the Rohret South Subarea and to other neighborhoods in the Southwest District. In addition, other public parks and private open space areas may be appropriate for recreational use of nearby residents and for stormwater management as the area continues to develop. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 55 7 4 1111 1� IM i G � �07 0 4 1111 1� IM i Housing It is likely that a-wajq4ty—Much of the housing developed in the Rohret South Subarea will be I^�^^,single-family homes due to market forces. However, a variety of housing types and styles should be provided for persons of various incomes and family types, including singles, couples, families and retired persons. In addition, development should be compact and orderly to help preserve agricultural uses until such property is developed and to help ensure the efficient provision of public services. As illustrated in the GGRGePt plaR OR the fGIIGWiRg pagefuture land use map, much of the subarea is proposed to be Transect 3: Suburban (T3). Neighborhood Edge areas - which allow single-family, duplex, and cottage court building types - are located near existing, large lot development. Much of the remainder of the subarea is designated Neighborhood General, which also allows townhouse and small-scale multi -family uses. All T3 areas should contain a mix of building types, though it must be at a scale that is consistent with typical single-family homes. Other areas are designated Transect 4: General Urban (T4), which allows denser buildings adjacent to neighborhood centers and major thoroughfares. Neighborhood Small areas provide a transition from T3 areas by allowing house -scale multi -family and cottage court building types. Neighborhood Medium and Main Street areas comprise the core of neighborhood centers and are located along major thoroughfares, especially where a street only has buildings on one side and open space on the other (called "single -loaded" streets). These areas allow block -scale multi -family buildings up to 3.5 stories, which the area RAI#!;. Af the PFBPBSed lake ;;R(4 sn, rth r.f Dr.hretDoad is most ate fnr mix of meelii rn to high density c gle lake will n vide a eater ni Mber of residents e v increases access to this significant public amenities and supports Y. In additien the higher ,tensity hei icing sheuld be. IeAated Rear a4erial streets, sueh as RehFet Read, and with geed aGeess ommercial aFeauses. Main Street areas are also identified near Highway 218 as a noise buffer for residential areas.G^,en the nhamnter of the c;mdp of the IaLe mcc. When sewer service is extended under Highway 218 it will be possible for some e# the e;iGti;g large lot residential properties to connect into the City sewer system upon annexation. When these properties have better access to City services, the existing large lots could be further subdivided in accordance with T3 Neighborhood Edge standards if property owners decide to do so. Southwest District Plan 1 ^',-o08,102v1 /24/23 55 " npm.g anmmppa4Neiqhborhood centers with a mix of commercial, residential, and institutional uses are ideally located throughout the subarea to provide a focal point for nearby residents. Areas designated as "open" would allow but not require a wider variety of uses, including small-scale commercial uses that are compatible with adjacent properties. Areas shown as T4 Main Street are intended for commercial uses on the ground floor. These should be constructed as a more traditional to bp c illi is+ro+^rf on +h^ pongn+ nl�n\ Thic =A; ^ RI RrPR shni ld h^ wing R 'main street" mode4 area with hoph buildings afe AA.R.q#,-,Ate4-at the front lot line and parking fs provided on the street or, behind the -buildings. Ideally, :P#e commercial buildings should be at least two stories high ;��to give definition to the street with residential or office uses located above where appropriate Attention should be given to PP-ublic amenities such as benches, garbage receptacles, a -bus stops, and bicycle parking .- Neighborhood centers are shown on the future land use map surrounded by T4 areas to help support ges�the viability of commercial development which depends in part on the residential density of the immediate area. ^ a4fflents ^r ^ff ^^^ ^he kj "^ Civic and institutional uses can also be an important component of neighborhood centers, which may include places of worship, fire station, or a recreational center,.,^U'd ^'^^ h^ ^ ^+^ ^ �'^^^ +Uq ^ 'n+n +h^ GnmrnprGORI RrpA Rnd ^ -ld be i c^.J +n n vi.J^ R Miff^r h^fiu^^n LJin h.u�i Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 56 frnm \A/ hor Flmmpn4;ira nn Rnhro# R-Qad If a faro sM4inn is smtpd ;i4 i n ono n�4inn ;irfl;inont to nhhnrhnnd n ;I Oho GON his 4hn n nr4i inifii 4n Pqt;iblmqh got0vo ;inrJ novon nrPqPnnP thm-oh c ;WN rlosinn �nrJ 4h The future land use map shows a recreation center and elementary school near the proposed regional stormwater lake and park. Another civic center is located on the future alignment of Slothower Street/Landon Avenue which proposes space for a park, fire station, an elementary school, and possibly a junior high school. While a fire station is needed in this subarea, it may also be developed sooner in another neighborhood centers if the neighborhood grows quickly. Similarly, an emergency siren will be needed for this area as it continues to develop west and south. Transportation The thoroughfare map is a component of the future land use map included on P. 60. It shows a potential hierarchy of streets that support the goals of this Plan, including a well-connected street network with multiple routes to destinations, pedestrian connections between neighborhood centers and parks, and smaller block sizes and thoroughfare types that support the form -based land use categories. It also includes streets that directly abut major parks and the lakefront to help ensure a highly visible and substantive means of public access and high-quality of public spaces and view corridors. The FnajG4:*Most of the a44e4a4-maior street framework in this subarea is established between Rohret Road, Highway 1, and Highway 218. The only new major aFterial street planned fe -is the extension of Highway 965 a-n-!!lugh the west side of the subarea, which will provide an additional north -south link for a4eria4- volumes of traffic. As land is annexed to the City and is -developed in the Rohret Cn„+h C„harea improvements to the existing a4e4a4-maior street system will likely be needed. For example, as resideRtia-I .1n„elnmmen. nnn.in„ns west alGRg Rohret Road must continue to be improved to City standards, including pavement, storm sewers, and sidewalks, ,will be ^^^.i^„^,f 49 tl;P PI.4 As traffic patterns develop, turning lanes may be needed at key intersections such as Dohro4 Romer✓ 1 MArmnn TrnL nn, Jn„^rd ,nd Rohret Road / Maier Avenue. ,4eeAeete Highway 1 A diaggRal n onM4ion that fnlln.us the topeglFaphy of the RrPa IWA, I'd be apprepriate. Other important through-Majer seNesieF treets in the Rohret South Subarea w4 -must include a -new north -south ^^Ilon+or s.rnn.,„ns. of Highway 24 -9 -and east -west connections to serve the future neighborhood centers and planned commercial,4 institutional, wand recreational area ^n^ arn„nd. the nrnnnsed ^*nrmwater lake. Maier Avenue is an existing north -south link between Rohret Road and Highway 1 that -,-a446 will continue to be a -n -important Ii^I, to ^II^,., r ^ice^^'^ Of this area in facilitating access to both between Highway 1 and Rohret Road. As land eventually develops to urban densities in this and Maier Avenue is paved, it will be subject Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 57 to additional traffic pressure. To keep traffic moving at appropriate speeds for a residential area while allowing for traffic circulation between Rohret Road and Highway 1, the future land use map proposes realigning Maier with Wild Prairie Drive to the north and incorporating a neighborhood square, Off Ce* ^*^r^^^* ^^ ^r and median improvements should be designed ; .^ hAa;er A„eRue. These physical changes to the roadway should e^, a -help controlling the speed of traffic, while still allowing for circulation between Rohret Road and Highway 1. Additional north - south collector streets along the Slothower Road / Landon Avenue alignment to the west and parallel to Highway 218 to the east will further help distribute traffic which will reduce impacts on all through -streets. East -west connections are shown throughout the subarea for the same reason. In all cases, attention must be paid to street design to ensure appropriate speeds. For local streets, traditional neighborhood design with an integrated system of narrew streets and alleys, sidewalks, trails, and street trees should be the model for nnany 9 *;P1;W:ARohret South neighborhoods. The traditional grid street pattern will discourage high traffic speeds and disperse traffic. Whereas urban residential densities are proposed, alleys in the rear may be used to relocate will RIWAA utilities to he lerated in the rear, thereby alloying more spaGe for the planting of right of way tree alGRg residential street^ Aue�and reduce the impact of driveways and garages on the streetscape, which de-emphasizes the automobile and creates a more people -friendly neighborhood. However, direct property access from Rohret Road, Highway 1, and the future Highway 965 should not be allowed, so alleys or an alternative point of access will likely be necessary. The use of architectural features such as front porches or other frontage types further contributes to this goal. In addition, pedestrian connections should be provided to promote walkability and linkages between neighborhood centers, school sites, parks, and within longer blocks. Because of the rolling hills and drainageways in -throughout the ViGiRity of the subarea, an integrated street grid may need to be somewhat modified to respond to the topography, though connectivity must continue to be prioritizedin this area.re-Aalleys should be encouraged, but where they are not feasible, the impact of driveways and garages should be minimized to the extent possible, such as by locating garages behind or to the side of the front fagade of the house or by utilizing shared driveways. Where the t^^^graph„ is flatter the ^„n•iline,r ^tree*^ around the lake sheuld tr,nsitien to possible, a more traditional grid system should be utilized to maximize connectivity, which makes an area easier to navigate, disperses traffic, reduces traffic spaces, and encourages walkability. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 58 Care should be given to ensure the accessibility to and quality of public spaces and view corridors. `^ th aRY ReW 66l"G'^^GO^^ reg ieGt 'It will be important to ensure that a highly visible and substantive means of public access to the lake is provided such as using- single -loaded streets along the lakefront ,.e StFORgly eRG96IFaged. Because of the rolling hills in this area, care should also be given to the design of the buildings that can be seen from across the lake or other public spaces. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 59 ON --------- — - Care should be given to ensure the accessibility to and quality of public spaces and view corridors. `^ th aRY ReW 66l"G'^^GO^^ reg ieGt 'It will be important to ensure that a highly visible and substantive means of public access to the lake is provided such as using- single -loaded streets along the lakefront ,.e StFORgly eRG96IFaged. Because of the rolling hills in this area, care should also be given to the design of the buildings that can be seen from across the lake or other public spaces. Southwest District Plan 01 /24/2348/08/82 59 ----------------------------- MM 01111 t---xw----- MI h!MIRI!1!ARl _MIM -_- N�EMy11L -_ -0 ..1110.. IlTiming of Development ` fe& ^f nn,:e. n.,^,..^ The far;verter„ PG140GR of Development in the Rohret South Subarea 06 ^^' likely to de„elen in the Ghert term dup to +he IenL ,.f will largely depend on the provision of public services and #aG&L-sthe demand for new housing. Thi” eree dPE;igRated "fi-Ie �FhQIA Qeuele eet" OR the Ia^ map GIR theIiia^ page.He a small area near the intersection of Highway 218 and Highway 1 could develop currently, much of the rest is dependent on the expansion of the sanitary sewer system, watersheds boundaries, and development interest. Prior to development, land must be serviceable by City infrastructure and must be annexed. zoned. and subdivided. In general, dOevelopment should ^^' ^r^^eed i„+e this area „„til occur in a compact manner with properties adjacent to existing urban development axE-built out first. \AMen GIeveIOPMPIAt At iirIll dAIAGitiec henemec r 6ihle aRG1 a late m detailed nlenc should he rdeve!Gped for this area Goals for the Rohret South Subarea Encourage housing diversity in new neighborhoods. Preserve natural features and topography. Build streets that enhance neighborhood quality. Encourage commercial development that serves local residents. • Reserve space for neighborhood parks and trails that connect to other areas of the City. • Provide adequate street and pedestrian access to recreational facilities and other public amenities. Establish a public focal point for new neighborhoods, such as a lake or park. Southwest District Plan 01/24/2310,108,102 ^',-0108,102 60 ^F �Z� L RAND p 046 0 s o a a°a°emo � •° ; e •� • veo avo g ° gm. pLo o�p a¢ 001 yp�ugg, om 00 lb ° - B9 Qb 0 b e� O°p °• o Po Vp qGO , q 00 ❑ I I goo FF ° °° oaov°eo°oeooP \ p oomgv° vppeeoo a a a eeo 0 oa 0 peob o9MO4301S v — g L v. a 9 . E E_ J A= z z z z E °1 E E. � W 6 a° i n cn1' Em 111 nip i2 7. 0 CL Z L a Q J 3 y a<n� Co W0O = O 3� y L L 0 L Y O 00 3 UnirLL0 U- . o O Q � b c$ $ d cmma §, L a-0coua Ih ❑ d o. �dm°n � mmmmgbamm� O __ o Q ® vE i° a o°m �°oo $. v � � �a Bomo9 8 •�� veo 0 oa �oa��gg a saamme � � a is mo � e e� vo m. c a Opo edL o 0 00 ° Qp oov ooao� m o ■ •- 0 T m y o a b a N N o� L� ry ry n D p a a f z f ¢' ¢ a' _ • ,t t u 0 U F N 0 0 Z Z L Z R i1 J R j CL to ~ L i N w 3 O rncq m o-0 ttoir=0 Appendix A Southwest District Plan Map Designations Large Lot/Rural Residential Suitable for large lot single family development in areas not suited for more intensive development due to natural limitations, i.e. soil, slope, unavailability of sewer and water utilities. Development Density. approximately 1 dwelling unit/acre Single-Family/Duplex Residential Intended primarily for single family and duplex residential development. Lower density zoning designations are suitable for areas with sensitive environmental features, topographical constraints, or limited street access. Higher densities are more appropriate for areas with good access to all city services and facilities. Development Density 2-12 dwelling units/acre Narrow LoVTownhouse Residential Suitable for medium to high density single family residential development, including zero lot line development, duplexes, townhouses, and narrow lot detached single family housing. Development Density 6-12 dwelling units/acre Low -Density Multi -Family Residential Intended for low-density multi -family housing. Suitable for areas with good access to all city services and facilities. Higher density zoning designations may not be suitable for areas with topographical constraints or limited street access. Development Density 8 -15 dwelling units/acre Medium- to High -Density Multi -Family Residential Intended for medium -to high-density mufti -family housing. Suitable for areas with good access to all city services and facilities. Higher density zoning designations may not be suitable for areas with topographical constraints or limited street access. Development Density 16-44 dwelling units/acre Future Urban Development Areas within the growth limit that are not yet served by City services and may not experience substantial development within the lifetime of this district plan. As development becomes imminent in these areas, the City will develop more detailed land use and street layout concepts to supplement the current plan. Public/Private Open Space Indicates existing open space that is important for the protection of sensitive natural features and/or to provide for recreational opportunities and protect the aesthetic values of the community. An open space designation on private land may indicate that an area is largely unsuitable for development due to environmental or topographical constraints. While these areas are best reserved or acquired for private or public open space, development may occur on privately held land if a proposal meets the underlying zoning requirements and the requirements of the Iowa City Sensitive Areas Ordinance. Vegetative Noise and Sight Buffer Useful public facilities, such as limited -access highways or landfills, can produce undesirable side-effects. In these areas a substantial vegetative buffer should be maintained or established to separate residential development from these uses. Alternatively, where appropriate, nonresidential uses can be used to buffer residential areas from highways, landfills, and other such uses. Public Services/Institutional Areas intended for civic, cultural, or historical institutions, public schools, and places of assembly or worship. Iowa City does not have a zone that designates institutional uses as the primary, preferred land use. However, there are a number of zones where these uses are permitted or provisional uses. Development proposals are subject to the requirements of the underlying zoning designation. Land that is owned by a public entity is typically zoned Public (P). Neighborhood Commercial Areas intended for retail sales and personal service uses that meet the day-to-day needs of a fully developed residential neighborhood. A grocery store or grocery store/drug store combination is preferred as the primary tenant in a Neighborhood Commercial (DISI 1) �eaearea. Specific site development standards will apply in these areas to ensure that commercial development is pedestrian -friendly and compatible with surrounding residential development. Office Commercial Areas intended for office uses and compatible businesses. In some cases these areas may serve as a buffer between residential areas and more intensive commercial or industrial uses. General Commercial Areas intended to provide the opportunity for a large variety of commercial uses that serve a major segment of the community. Mixed Use Areas intended for development that combines commercial and residential uses. An area may be primarily commercial in nature or may be primarily residential depending on the location and the surrounding neighborhood. Commercial uses will typically be located on the ground floor with housing above. Development is intended to be pedestrian - oriented with buildings close to and oriented to the sidewalk. Appendix A Southwest District Plan Map Designations Intensive Commercial Areas intended for those sales and service functions and businesses whose operations are typically characterized by outdoor display and storage of merchandise, by repair businesses, quasi -industrial uses, and for sales of large equipment or motor vehicles, or by activities or operations conducted in buildings or structure not completely enclosed. Retail uses are restricted in order to provide opportunities for more land -intensive or quasi - industrial commercial operations and also to prevent conflicts between retail and industrial truck traffic. Special attention must be directed toward buffering the negative aspects of allowed uses from any adjacent lower intensity commercial areas or residential areas. FORM -BASED LAND USE CATEGORIES TRANSECT3:SUBURBAN Neighborhood Edge A walkable neighborhood environment of detached, low - intensity housing choices, supporting and within short walking distance of neighborhood -serving retail, food and service uses. Building types are house -scale with a small -to -large building footprint, which may include single-family homes, duplexes, and cottage courts. Building height should typically be up to 2.5 stories. Neighborhood General A walkable neighborhood environment of detached, low - intensity housing choices, supporting and within short walking distance of neighborhood -serving retail and services. Building types are house -scale with a small building footprint, which may include single-family homes, duplexes, cottage courts, townhouses, and small multiplexes. Building height should typically be up to 2.5 stories. TRANSECT 4: GENERAL URBAN Neighborhood Small: A walkable neighborhood environment of attached and detached, moderate -intensity housing choices, supporting and within short walking distance of neighborhood -serving retail and services. Building types are primarily house -scale with a small -to -medium -footprint, which may include cottage courts, townhouses, small multiplexes, and larger multi -family buildings with courtyards. Building height should typically be up to 2.5 stories. Neighborhood Medium A walkable neighborhood environment of attached and detached, moderate -intensity housing choices, supporting and within short walking distance of neighborhood -serving retail and services. Building types are primarily house -scale with a small -to -medium -footprint, which may include townhouses and larger multi -family buildings. Building height should typically be up to 3.5 stories. Main Street A walkable, vibrant district of attached, moderate -intensity. mixed-use buildings, supporting neighborhood -serving ground floor retail, food and services, including indoor and outdoor artisanal industrial businesses. Building types are block -scale with a medium -to -large -footprint, which may include townhouses (and stacked townhouses), large multi- family buildings, and main street buildings. Building height should typically be up to 3.5 stories. OTHER DESIGNATIONS Open Subareas: Open subarea designations may be applied to T3 Neighborhood General, T4 Neighborhood Small. or T4 Neighborhood Medium land use designations. The subarea indicates that a wider range of uses should be allowed. However, buildings must maintain the same form and character of the base land use category. As such, open subareas provide additional flexibility that can allow them to function as a neighborhood center of non-residential uses. Public or Private Civic/Park/Open Space Indicates existing or potential civic or open spaces on public or private land that is important for a variety of reasons, which may include the protection of sensitive natural features, the management of stormwater, the provision of private, shared passive or recreational opportunities for adjacent properties, or the protection of the aesthetic values of the community. This designation may indicate that an area is unsuitable for development due to environmental or topographical constraints. Development may occur if a proposal meets the under- lying zoning and subdivision standards.- Item Number: 9.d. A MEN CITY OF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 24, 2023 Resolution vacating approximately 266 square feet of public right-of-way located at the northwest corner of S. Riverside Drive and the Iowa Interstate Railroad and authorizing conveyance to FFI Farms, LLC; Kevin C Kain Revocable Trust; and Lindsay R Kain Revocable Trust (VAC22-0002). ATTACHMENTS: Description Staff Report Preliminary PZ Meeting Minutes Resolution STAFF REPORT To: Planning and Zoning Commission Item: VAC22-0002 GENERAL INFORMATION: Applicant: Contact Person: Owner: Requested Action: Purpose: Location: Location Map: Size: Existing Land Use and Zoning: Surrounding Land Use and Zoning: Prepared by: Emani Brinkman, Planning Intern and Anne Russett, Senior Planner Date: October 19, 2022 Shawn Hitchcock Scannell Properties shawnh(cDscannellproperties.com Noah Decker & Wade Wamre Shive-Hattery n de cke r(cDs h ive-h atte ry. co m wwa m re (aD s h i ve - h a tte ry. co m City of Iowa City 410 E Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Vacation of the public right-of-way adjacent to Riverside Drive To incorporate area into proposed development Northwest corner of Riverside Drive and Iowa Interstate Railroad right of way 266 Square Feet Riverfront Crossings — West Riverfront (RFC - WR) North Riverfront Crossings — West Riverfront (RFC -WR) South Public (Iowa Railroad) East: Riverfront Crossings — West Riverfront (RFC -WR) West: Riverfront Crossings — West Riverfront (RFC -WR) Public Meeting Notification: Property owners within 500' of the subject property received notification of the Planning and Zoning Commission public meeting. Vacation signs were posted on the site at Riverside Drive. File Date: September 30, 2022 45 Day Limitation Period: NA BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The applicant, Scannell Properties, submitted a request to vacate approximately 266 square feet of City right-of-way located at the northwest corner of S. Riverside Drive and the Iowa Interstate Railroad. If granted, the vacation would allow for an increase in the developable area of the property at the southwest corner of Myrtle Ave and S. Riverside Drive. The City recently acquired the 266 square feet of land in order to create a pedestrian tunnel under the Iowa Interstate Railroad right-of-way. The project ultimately did not move forward because the Iowa Interstate Railroad had concerns with how the pedestrian tunnel would impact their tracks. The City is still committed to provide a pedestrian connection in this location and is currently working with the Iowa Department of Transportation to make improvements. The plan is to narrow the street to allow for a sidewalk to be placed on the west side of S. Riverside Dr. between the bridge abutment and the curb. This will require narrowing the travel lanes and adding a protected barrier between the new sidewalk and vehicular traffic. ANALYSIS: The following factors are to be considered in evaluating a vacation request: a) Impact on pedestrian and vehicular access and circulation; b) Impact on emergency and utility vehicle access and circulation; c) Impact on access of adjacent private properties; d) Desirability of right-of-way for access or circulation needs; e) Location of utilities and other easements or restrictions on the property; f) Any other relevant factors pertaining to the specific requested vacation. a) Vehicular and pedestrian circulation and access to private property: The right-of-way is mostly paved and previously used to access the now closed commercial uses at 529 and 527 S. Riverside Dr. Access to the properties along the western side of S. Riverside Drive will be maintained with the proposed vacation. The proposed vacation is a relatively small area and access can still be provided to private properties from S. Riverside Dr. The proposed vacation is being requested to increase the buildable area for the proposed student housing development at the southwest corner of Myrtle Ave and S. Riverside Drive. b) Emergency and utility and service access: The right-of-way is not needed to provide public utility services or emergency access to private properties. 3 c) Impact on access of adjacent private properties: Since the City did not construct the planned pedestrian project, this will not affect surrounding properties. The proposed vacation will return property to its previous condition. Specifically, the property was privately held prior to the City purchasing it and the current owners now wish to purchase it back since the City no longer has a need for it. d) Desirability of right of way for access or circulation needs: Staff has determined that there is no need to maintain the right-of-way for access or circulation needs. e) Location of utilities and other easements or restrictions on the property: The right-of-way does not contain any City utilities. Private utilities have been contacted and asked to identify any utilities currently on-site. If the right-of-way is vacated, easements will need to be granted for any utilities that may exist, or alternatively, the utilities will need to be relocated. f) Any other relevant factors pertaining to the specific requested vacation: Staff does not believe there are any other relevant factors pertaining to the specific requested vacation. NEXT STEPS: Upon recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission, the proposed vacation will be reviewed by the City Council. The City Attorney's Office has received a purchase agreement. The City Council will discuss both the proposed vacation and the conveyance of this land. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the approval of VAC22-0002 a vacation of the public right-of-way located at the northwest corner of S. Riverside Drive and the Iowa Interstate Railroad right of way, subject to the retention of any necessary utility easements. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Location Map 2. Zoning Map 3. Vacation Exhibit Approved by: D Danielle Sitzman, AICP, Development Services Coordinator Department of Neighborhood and Development Services G N p O P m � c p, m � E � m ti �E m m b � �a ao i .A& N ! ♦ y' �a b � a 0 II LOCATION: PART OF LOT 2 OF A SURVEY IN LOT 3, IIsm SECTION 16, MR, RBW, OF THE 5TH PM. POC JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA REOUESTOR: RNERFROMWESTLLC PROPRIETOR: CRY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA SURVEYOR WADE O. WAMRE, PLS COMPANY: SHR'6HATRItY, INC. RETURN T0: 2223RD STREET SE, SUITE 300 1 CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA 52401 I wwamre®3M1Ne-MfisI .om ----- 31336447227 PLAT OF SURVEY AUDITOR'S PARCEL NO. 2022062 Part of Lot 2 of a survey in Lot 3, Section 16, Township 79 North, Range 6 West of the 5th P.M., Johnson County, Iowa 13. k 1 . I `ti zz 1 0 25 50 100 �0�� 18 0 1 •C,00� P` T o o K I SCALE IN FEET O 13w 6 1 OF IIsm SII POC Go� q� QP40p SET MAG NAIL FND. 112" OQ�GOTc�O�' IK II REBAR W/ CAP#15980 � Q'gst ' ^6, I -SII 1 IS 88°40'53° W) 5�G I w ----- _N 69°56'- ------ 154_12'-.- > to I!. ALUM.(S88.5,5'34"VI) I� 13. k 1 . I `ti zz 1 0 25 50 100 �0�� 18 0 1 •C,00� P` T o o K I SCALE IN FEET O 13w 6 1 OF )gym O POC 1�e q� QP40p SET MAG NAIL IS 88°43'48"W) N89'55'49'E I INTERSECTION OF THE NORTH LINE OFLOTZOFASURVEYINLOT3, RECORDED AS Off^ 0G� °� POINTOFCOMMENCEMENT I FND.5/8' Io'0 POINTOFSEGINNING I . (11.81') SEC. 16, T79N, RI AND THE WEST I REBAR W/ =z ok Ism 11.81' ROW OF SOUTH I ALUM.(S88.5,5'34"VI) I� - RIVERSIDE DRIVE 1) N89°5C24'E 1 ---172.17. )� 25' -14 89°6424' 12 1 - 188.60' FIND 314" IN FND. sIB" ``3 'y REBAR S89°5425" REBAR `r ,.L��O ) `U (12.04') 1 �v 63, --- PARCEL -� P0.2022062 OB 12.04' 1 P�O�1p 266 SOFT. I I C2 1tioF 411 o 1061 cd' FIND. 1' I Q��OF 91 IRON PIPE I k / SEE DETAIL 'N zr WoOND (N 74°49'22' E) ,DIN P, z N 75°36'39' E 101 I 7.61' ' FND. REBAR" I SURVEYLEGEND • FOUND MONUMFNT AS NOTED CURVE TABLE O SEI S'8' RE9AR WI ORANGE CAP#17585 AREA: 0 SET MAG NAIL 26(1 O RECORDED AS (Cl) POC POINTOFCOMMENCEMENT DATE OF SURVEY: POB POINTOFSEGINNING 05232022 ROW RIGHT OF WAY S D4°2248' E PL PART OF LOT 2 O T z DA N a N 0 oRAwN REFERENT DRAWING I WADE WAAR , ACT PEUS WADED. TTE R, INCLS I SHNENATTER T I. I 2223RD ST IDS, IO ,SUITE 900 LEONE RAPIDS, IOWA U401 PHOFAX 3 319afi4 1 FAX 313NA-0251 I ww6nre�6ANe4utmy.can REOUESTOR: RNERFRONTWESTLLC ATTN: STEVE LONG 22D SE BIH ST sun 200 DES MOINES, IOWA 50309 OWNER CRY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA 410 E WASHINGTON STREET N)WACITY, IOWA 52240 I CURVE TABLE CURVE LENGTH RADIUS CHORDBRG CHORD DELTA (Cl) 3n2.00' Cl 58.78' 3]]2.00' S D4°2248' E 58.77 000°53'34" (C2) 3n2.00' C2 18.59' 3772.00' S 03°4733' E 18.59' WO°1857 (C3) 9363.36' C3 41AW 9353.36' S73'2207W 41.0 000°101T (C4) 17.29' 21.07 N4W33'08•E 16.81' 47°1039" C4 17.29' 21.W N4V"'26•E 16.81' 047°1755 (G5) 646' 9355.36' N 7YOT17• E 6.4G GO°02'22• C5 6.46' 9355.36' N73'18'43'E DAY 000°0222 (C6) 17.52 13.07 N33°29'17E 16.23' W'13967 C6 17.51' 13.00' N 3VW3 Ss 16.22' 077 WlV ((M 152.80' 9363.36' N 7Y46'14'E 152.67 075808' C7 15265' 9363.36' N73°5739"E 152.85' 000°5607 20.099 780 3378.00' S 06°112' E 25.09' 002(CC) ' S 05°0004•E 25.08' I 000.2]48' PIATORSURVEYBOUNDARY BASE OF BEARINGS: EXISTING LOT LINE IOWA REGIONAL COORDINATE SYSTEM: ZONE 10 CEDAR RAPIDS RENSON WADE 0, WPMW PLS 17565 e duly Il�mae4U"d 1 pmp, Llsmm Mm 17565 My u"m-I ymm 1" DmarnOv 31. P.w. m.n..n ..... sy.1...m: STM P.M. SHIVC-FIA=ERY 1' -foo' ARG H ITE C TU R E+EN GI N E E R I N G T_20zz_1 Iowa 1 Illimu I IMium I MbeouH " ..,sw,.u•nm". Planning and Zoning Commission December 21, 2022 Page 12 of 16 Signs stated notwithstanding his comments about the large cul-de-sac nature of the development, he is in support of it too and thinks its a fantastic mix and hopes it is developed with the way it's been laid out. Hensch agreed and is generally never in support of cul-de-sacs or bulbs but this is just a tough site and there's not really any other option. Iowa City is running out of developable land and he likes this application. Wade stated he is on board considering the challenge and the topography. It's a nice layout, it looks walkable for the neighborhood and it's nice to see the commercial area whether that ends up as a coffee shop or whatever, it's a draw to the neighborhood. Padron also stated she supports this development. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0. CASE NO. REZ22-0015: Location: North of W. Benton Street and west of Orchard Street An application for a rezoning of approximately 3.52 acres of land from Low Density Single Family Residential with a Planned Development Overlay (OPD/RS-5) and Riverfront Crossing - Orchard (RFC -0) to Riverfront Crossing - Orchard (RFC -0). Russett stated the applicant has requested a deferral to January 4, the next commission meeting, staff is still working through some conditions with them. Signs moved defer application REZ22-0015 to the January 4 meeting. Elliott seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0. CASE NO. VAC22-0002: Location: Northwest corner of S. Riverside Dr. and the Iowa Interstate Railroad An application for a vacation of approximately 266 square feet of public right-of-way to increase the developable area for the proposed redevelopment at the southwest corner of Myrtle Avenue and S. Riverside Drive. Russett explained this is a vacation of 266 square feet of public right-of-way along South Riverside Drive. The area is just north of the Iowa Interstate Railroad. Russett showed the zoning map of the area noting this is a public right-of-way. The background on this vacation is the City recently acquired this 266 square feet and the purpose of that acquisition was to help with installing a pedestrian tunnel under the Iowa Interstate Railroad, however that project is not going to be moving forward because there were concerns from the Railroad regarding the tunnel Planning and Zoning Commission December 21, 2022 Page 13 of 16 under their right-of-way. The City is still committed to providing a pedestrian connection on the west side of South Riverside Drive so now the City is working with the Iowa DOT to narrow the street along South Riverside Drive and install a sidewalk between the curb and the bridge abutment. She added this will also include some type of protective barrier for pedestrians in that area. So again, there will eventually be a pedestrian connection, but it will not be a tunnel and therefore the City no longer needs this 266 square feet right-of-way, so the property owner is asking that it be returned to private property. Russett noted the Commission saw this rezoning several months ago for proposed development on the corner of Myrtle and Riverside Drive and returning this right-of-way to the property owner adds a little bit a square foot to their buildable area. Russett stated there are several criteria that need to be reviewed when looking at a vacation of public right-of-way and staff has reviewed all of these criteria and find that they have all been met. The first criteria is that whether or not there's an impact on pedestrian and vehicular access and circulation. She reiterated this is a very small area, only 266 square feet, and pedestrian and vehicle access will not be impacted through the vacation. The second is will there be any impacts on emergency and utility vehicle access and circulation. Russett confirmed this right-of-way is not needed to provide any utility services or emergency services to the site. The next criteria is impact on access of adjacent private properties and there will be no impact as this vacation essentially returns the property to its previous condition, which is private ownership and not public right-of-way. Next is the desirability of the right-of-way for access or circulation needs and since the pedestrian tunnel is no longer a viable option for that pedestrian connection there's no need for the City to maintain that right-of-way. Next is the location of utilities and other easements or restrictions on the property and there are no City utilities within this 266 square feet. Russet stated private utilities have been contacted and she didn't hear back from any with concerns about the vacation and staff has not found any other relevant factors pertaining to this specific vacation request. Staff is recommending approval VAC22-0002 a vacation of public right-of-way located at the northwest corner of South Riverside Drive and the Iowa Interstate Railroad right-of-way. In terms of next steps, City Council will need to set a public hearing and staff anticipates the public hearing to be on January 24 where Council will consider both the vacation and conveyance of the right-of-way. Craig assumes the City paid for it and now the property owner will have to pay for it back. Russett confirmed that's correct. Wade asked if the tunnel that was previously going to go through there is completely off the table, is there ever a chance that that's going to be revisited. Russett doesn't believe so, the City had been working with the Railroad for quite a while trying to address concerns but at this point feels it is not going to work so they're working with the DOT for an alternate design. Wade noted this is going to increase the need, right now people are sneaking through on the street or on that little gravel portion which is pretty dangerous. Planning and Zoning Commission December 21, 2022 Page 14 of 16 Elliott asked if there is a timeframe for the alternative. Russett is unsure but can ask Public Works. Craig asked what's the status of the development on the site. Russett stated they are currently going through the final platting process, design review and site plan review and then the final plat will go to City Council. Hensch opened the public hearing Kirsten Frey (attorney, Shuttleworth and Ingersoll) is representing the applicant stated she has been working with Sara Hekteon recently on the purchase agreement for the 266 square feet of right-of-way that was originally acquired in connection with a tunnel that's not going to get built. She acknowledged they are planning to pay for the acquisition of the right-of-way. Hensch closed the public hearing. Wade moved to recommend approval VAC22-0002 a vacation of public right-of-way located at the northwest corner of South Riverside Drive and the Iowa Interstate Railroad right-of-way. Padron seconded the motion. Wade noted the only comment he had was the concern if there was an opportunity that it might be revisited by the railroad, he'd be reserved in making the sale but it sounds like that's out of scope. Signs noted he is in support of the vacation item but wanted to take the opportunity to comment in general on the development. As he has discussed at a previous meeting, he is extremely disappointed to learn that the proposed project for this property has been converted to a student housing project, which is not at all what was presented to this Commission and it has gotten some of the commissioners thinking about ways they can avoid that in the future. Craig agrees with Signs and this project was just not done in good faith. Hensch agrees but noted they know with any rezoning anything that is presented to them is just a concept and they have to think about the all the possibilities that could be constructed within that particular rezoning. Padron supports this vacation and has the same feelings regarding the senior housing becoming student housing. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0. Prepared by: Anne Russett, Senior Planner, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240; (VAC22-0002) Resolution No. 23-26 Resolution vacating approximately 266 square feet of public right-of- way located at the northwest corner of S. Riverside Drive and the Iowa Interstate Railroad and authorizing conveyance to FFI Farms, LLC; Kevin C Kain Revocable Trust; and Lindsay R Kain Revocable Trust (VAC22-0002). Whereas, the applicant, Scannell Properties, has requested that the City vacate and convey to the adjacent property owner approximately 266 square feet of the public right-of-way located at the northwest corner of S. Riverside Drive and the Iowa Interstate Railroad; and Whereas, this portion of right-of-way is not currently utilized by the public for access or circulation, and no public water and sanitary sewer utilities exist on this portion of the right-of-way; and Whereas, at its meeting on December 21, 2022, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the vacation; and Whereas, Staff has determined that this portion of right-of-way serves no benefit to the public and recommends approval of the vacation and conveyance; and Whereas, at its January 10, 2023, Council adopted a resolution declaring its intent to consider the conveyance of this right-of-way to FFI Farms, LLC; Kevin C Kain Revocable Trust; and Lindsay R Kain Revocable Trust, authorizing publication of public notice of the proposed conveyance and setting a date and time for public hearing on this matter; and Whereas, following public hearing on the proposed conveyance, the City Council finds that the conveyance of the subject property for $11,900 is in the public interest and constitutes fair market value. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that 1. That portion of S. Riverside Drive right-of-way north of the Iowa Interstate Railroad that is Part of Lot 2 of a survey in Lot 3, Section 16, Township 79 North, Range 6 West of the 5th P.M., Johnson County, Iowa, known as Auditor's Parcel 2022062, are hereby vacated. 2. The City Council does hereby authorize the Mayor and City Clerk, upon approval of the City Attorney, to execute all documents necessary to convey its interest in Auditor's Parcel 2022062, as shown on the plat attached hereto to FFI Farms, LLC; Kevin C Kain Revocable Trust; and Lindsay R Kain Revocable Trust via Quit Claim Deed for the price of $11,900. 3. The City Attorney is hereby authorized to carry out any actions necessary to consummate the conveyance as required by law. Ordinance No. 93_?6 Page 2 Passed and approved this 24th day of January , 2023. Mayor Approved by r Attest: ' City CI rk City Atto ey's Office (Sara Hektoen 01/19/2023) It was moved by RArg,,s and seconded by Dunn adopted, and upon roll call there were: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: the Resolution be Alter Bergus Dunn Harmsen Taylor Teague Thomas LOCATION: PART OF LOT 2 OF A SURVEY IN LOT 3, IIsm SECTION 16, MR, RBW, OF THE 5TH PM. POC JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA REOUESTOR: RNERFROMWESTLLC PROPRIETOR: CRY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA SURVEYOR WADE O. WAMRE, PLS COMPANY: SHR'6HATRItY, INC. RETURN T0: 2223RD STREET SE, SUITE 300 1 CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA 52401 I wwamre®3M1Ne-MfisI .om ----- 31336447227 PLAT OF SURVEY AUDITOR'S PARCEL NO. 2022062 Part of Lot 2 of a survey in Lot 3, Section 16, Township 79 North, Range 6 West of the 5th P.M., Johnson County, Iowa 13. k 1 . I `ti zz 1 0 25 50 100 �0�� 18 0 1 •C,00� P` T o o K I SCALE IN FEET O 13w 6 1 OF IIsm SII POC Go� q� QP40p SET MAG NAIL FND. 112" OQ�GOTc�O�' IK II REBAR W/ CAP#15980 � Q'gst ' ^6, I -SII 1 IS 88°40'53° W) 5�G I w ----- _N 69°56'- ------ 154_12'-.- > to I!. ALUM.(S88.5,5'34"VI) I� 13. k 1 . I `ti zz 1 0 25 50 100 �0�� 18 0 1 •C,00� P` T o o K I SCALE IN FEET O 13w 6 1 OF )gym O POC 1�e q� QP40p SET MAG NAIL IS 88°43'48"W) N89'55'49'E I INTERSECTION OF THE NORTH LINE OFLOTZOFASURVEYINLOT3, RECORDED AS Off^ 0G� °� POINTOFCOMMENCEMENT I FND.5/8' Io'0 POINTOFSEGINNING I . (11.81') SEC. 16, T79N, RI AND THE WEST I REBAR W/ =z ok Ism 11.81' ROW OF SOUTH I ALUM.(S88.5,5'34"VI) I� - RIVERSIDE DRIVE 1) N89°5C24'E 1 ---172.17. )� 25' -14 89°6424' 12 1 - 188.60' FIND 314" IN FND. sIB" ``3 'y REBAR S89°5425" REBAR `r ,.L��O ) `U (12.04') 1 �v 63, --- PARCEL -� P0.2022062 OB 12.04' 1 P�O�1p 266 SOFT. I I C2 1tioF 411 o 1061 cd' FIND. 1' I Q��OF 91 IRON PIPE I k / SEE DETAIL 'N zr WoOND (N 74°49'22' E) ,DIN P, z N 75°36'39' E 101 I 7.61' ' FND. REBAR" I SURVEYLEGEND • FOUND MONUMFNT AS NOTED CURVE TABLE O SEI S'8' RE9AR WI ORANGE CAP#17585 AREA: 0 SET MAG NAIL 26(1 O RECORDED AS (Cl) POC POINTOFCOMMENCEMENT DATE OF SURVEY: POB POINTOFSEGINNING 05232022 ROW RIGHT OF WAY S D4°2248' E PL PART OF LOT 2 O T z DA N a N 0 oRAwN REFERENT DRAWING I WADE WAAR , ACT PEUS WADED. TTE R, INCLS I SHNENATTER T I. I 2223RD ST IDS, IO ,SUITE 900 LEONE RAPIDS, IOWA U401 PHOFAX 3 319afi4 1 FAX 313NA-0251 I ww6nre�6ANe4utmy.can REOUESTOR: RNERFRONTWESTLLC ATTN: STEVE LONG 22D SE BIH ST sun 200 DES MOINES, IOWA 50309 OWNER CRY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA 410 E WASHINGTON STREET N)WACITY, IOWA 52240 I CURVE TABLE CURVE LENGTH RADIUS CHORDBRG CHORD DELTA (Cl) 3n2.00' Cl 58.78' 3]]2.00' S D4°2248' E 58.77 000°53'34" (C2) 3n2.00' C2 18.59' 3772.00' S 03°4733' E 18.59' WO°1857 (C3) 9363.36' C3 41AW 9353.36' S73'2207W 41.0 000°101T (C4) 17.29' 21.07 N4W33'08•E 16.81' 47°1039" C4 17.29' 21.W N4V"'26•E 16.81' 047°1755 (G5) 646' 9355.36' N 7YOT17• E 6.4G GO°02'22• C5 6.46' 9355.36' N73'18'43'E DAY 000°0222 (C6) 17.52 13.07 N33°29'17E 16.23' W'13967 C6 17.51' 13.00' N 3VW3 Ss 16.22' 077 WlV ((M 152.80' 9363.36' N 7Y46'14'E 152.67 075808' C7 15265' 9363.36' N73°5739"E 152.85' 000°5607 20.099 780 3378.00' S 06°112' E 25.09' 002(CC) ' S 05°0004•E 25.08' I 000.2]48' PIATORSURVEYBOUNDARY BASE OF BEARINGS: EXISTING LOT LINE IOWA REGIONAL COORDINATE SYSTEM: ZONE 10 CEDAR RAPIDS RENSON WADE 0, WPMW PLS 17565 e duly Il�mae4U"d 1 pmp, Llsmm Mm 17565 My u"m-I ymm 1" DmarnOv 31. P.w. m.n..n ..... sy.1...m: STM P.M. SHIVC-FIA=ERY 1' -foo' ARG H ITE C TU R E+EN GI N E E R I N G T_20zz_1 Iowa 1 Illimu I IMium I MbeouH " ..,sw,.u•nm".