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ITEM 3. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA).
Hayek: This is the opportunity at each City Council meeting for members of the public to
address the City Council on items that are not on the agenda. So if there's
something that is not on tonight's agenda that you would like to bring to our
attention, I invite you to step forward. We ask that you sign in, uh, verbally give
us your name, and limit your comments, please, to five minutes or less.
Gravitt: My name is, excuse me, my name is Mary Gravitt, and I'm here about a quality of
life situation. Two mothers have approached me about their children being
bullied in high school. One girl, one woman told me her daughter was in the
lunchroom and this girl comes up to her. She says, `I don't like you. I want to
fight you.' The next day she posted on her Facebook, `I don't want to fight,
Emeril. I want to shoot her,' and I hope you've all been listening to Diane Green
and OnPoint radio and understand how serious this situation is, and guns aren't
that bar ... hard to obtain even in Iowa City, because you should remember that
from the massacre of `91 that happened in the University of Iowa with a whole
Psychics Department got wiped out. So, the second mother came to me. She's
complaining about her daughter being bullied. She went... each of these mothers
went to the proper authorities. They went to the principal. They went to the
Superintendent, and so on and so forth. No results! The second mother said that
her daughter, they attacked her daughter and her daughter fought back, but her
daughter and her three friends got the blame. Now this ... this is not acceptable.
Because school is supposed to be a safe place, and we just had that incident in
Connecticut. I don't want that to happen in Iowa City! I like Iowa City because
it's peaceful. But, you have to do something about bullying in schools. Only
reason these girls are getting bullied, because they' adjusted to the Iowa City
middle -class environment. They're going to school. They're studying languages.
They're doing very well, but it's some people that can't stand that and they want
to go back to their old environment, but these girls know, and their mothers don't
like it, and then, cursing on the bus. Now I know there's a sign on the bus that
said this, this, this and this. Sign is so small you can't even see it! Cause I asked
the bus driver, `What's that sign about,' because you gotta read every sign on the
bus. You don't know when the bus is going to stop running. But you know, you
get on the bus, you want to go where you want to go, and you want to go there in
peace. You don't want some ignorant people in the back, and what's the use of
having a sign on the buses that says, `No cursing,' when the person is so ignorant,
apparent the person is illiterate anyway! And I'm here to talk about disturbances
in the Library! Last night I'm ... I was in the Library. The man had on the
headphones and he's just saying loud, okay, singin' loud. Then when he gets off
there, he gets on his cell phone and tells all about his Christmas life and his life
that I don't even want to hear about, and nobody else wants to hear about! And
the reason he can get away with those things is no security in the Library. If...if it
was up to me, 911 would have been called and he would have been hauled out.
Because we need to have a good quality of life, a quiet quality of life, and I've
been here so long when it was quiet. And I'm just saying all these things need to
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be attended to, especially when someone can post on their Facebook that they
want to shoot somebody! And I'm tired of hearing about shootings and funerals
and ... and all kinds of things. I don't know about anybody else, but that's just the
way I feel about it. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you. Anyone else, uh, for community comment? Geoff, can you get him a
microphone there?
Dundon: (clears throat) Hi, um, the thing that I wanted to bring up tonight and...
Hayek: Sir, could we get your name first?
Dundon: Oh, I'm sorry! Andy! Sorry about that.
Hayek: And your last name.
Dundon: Dundon. D- u- n- d -o -n.
Hayek: Thank you!
Dundon: For anybody who wants to write that down! Um...
Hayek: For our minutes.
Dundon: Yeah! The reason I wanted to comment tonight was because I wanted to make a
comment, uh, a few comments about the MegaBus, um ... here in Iowa City. I live
in downtown Iowa City, urn ... and where I live, it's, uh, Capitol House
Apartments over on, uh, south Dubuque Street. Now that's private property, but
yet there are a lot of people (clears throat) excuse me. There are a lot of people
who ... uh, park on our property, specifically just to get out and go and use the
MegaBus and get on the MegaBus. There are also people who like to sit out
there, who ... who like to sit outside on the sidewalk and wait for the MegaBus,
and they don't want to move! They don't want to move. So I guess my ... my
...my whole thing is, if we're going to say ... there needs to be limits I guess, or
there needs to be ... my concern is ... if there is ... if...if...if this is a building where
we have, where... private property, where it's private property, um, there needs to
also ... there needs to be limits as to ... where people can park and where they can't
park. And, that's just been ... always been a concern, and it's been a concern ever
since MegaBus has been, uh ... uh, in Iowa City. Um, I also, you know, you see
that tons of times. We've got people that come out of our building who
constantly telling people, no you can't park here because it's private property.
Sometimes they listen; sometimes they don't. When they don't listen they ... their
cars end up getting' towed.
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Hayek: Andy, thank you for your comments. I would encourage you to contact the
property manager for that facility. Thank you. Anyone else before I close down
community comment?
Sweet: (mumbled) ... sign in aren't we?
Hayek: If...if you wouldn't mind, thanks!
Sweet: My name is Ellen Sweet and I live at 1219 Oakcrest Street and I am very unhappy
and displeased with the process and the result of the Oaknoll expansion.
Uh ... early on I asked about what was coming and uh, they said well, just wait,
wait, wait. Oaknoll will tell you. So, uh, on uh, May 30th, I believe it was,
Oaknoll invited us over and did a razzle dazzle sales pitch about how wonderful it
was all going to be with lily ponds and everything. And uh ... my neighbor asked
about, um ... whether there was going to be a problem with shade, and they said,
`No, you're not going to have a problem with shade.' Okay, fine. We went to the
Planning and Zoning, uh, meeting on June 21St and that was another one of those
you can talk for five minutes and then we just don't want to hear from you after
that. And, uh, I talked about another issue I had. So I had two issues, one of
which was possibly the shade, which they said wasn't a problem and then also
access to Spring Street. Okay, on, uh, November 28th they asked for a ... uh,
modification to the height of the building. So my neighbor and I went in and we
met with the folks there, and my neighbor again asked about the shade. And by
then he had himself done calculations, and found that his house, um ... on the
winter solstice would be completely in shade all day. And, also mentioned that,
you know, the shading would start somewhere in October and end in February.
Um ... my house isn't quite as, about half of my house is behind the building,
although it's a little hard to tell because we really don't have much information.
So I don't know how much it's going to impact me. But, um ... I find it very
disappointing that, um, nobody was looking out for us ... when that whole design
came down. And um ... why they really, really didn't want much input from us.
Nor did they really give us any valuable information for what was going to
happen. Uh, the impact of all of this winter shade, which of course as you know,
everybody flocks to Florida and Arizona and elsewhere to just enjoy even more
winter shade in the winter, so you can imagine how we feel about that. Um... it's
not only that the lack of light is unpleasant, but it is depressing. And if you have
problems with Seasonal Affective Disorder, it is not a good situation. It also
raises the rates of your heating and your lighting, so your expenses are going to go
up, and I have no idea how that would affect property value and the possibility of
selling ... at a later time. So I'm very unhappy with the process. Um, it's very
disappointing. Any of you have any questions?
Hayek: Well ... we're not set up during the community comment portion of the meeting to
...to get into a ... a dialogue with people who address us. It's not on the agenda
and we're ... we're unable to talk about it, but ... if you want to follow up and
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contact us individually or send a communication to the entire Council, you
certainly could do so.
Sweet: Okay. Well I would request at least at this late date somebody look at that issue
about the shade. So that we would have some concrete information, on exactly
what is going to happen to us.
Hayek: I'll talk to staff and if could, uh, get back to this resident that would be good.
Anyone else? Okay! We'll move on to Item 4, Planning and Zoning matters.
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ITEM 4b AMENDING THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY MEDIUM
DENSITY SINGLE - FAMILY (OPD -8) PLAN FOR 6.53 ACRES OF LAND
LOCATED AT CAMP CARDINAL BOULEVARD, RYAN COURT, AND
PRESTON LANE TO CHANGE TOWNHOUSE STYLE UNITS TO ZERO
LOT LINE DWELLINGS. (REZ12- 00024)
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Initially, any
ex parte communications to disclose?
Throgmorton: Nope!
Hayek: Jeff!
Davidson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and Members of the City Council. I'm Jeff Davidson, the
Director of Planning and Community Development for the City. Uh, the request
you have before you from Southgate Development Services is to revise a ... their,
it is a rezoning to amend the OPD plan, uh, specifically for Lot 39 of Cardinal
Pointe Subdivision. Uh, you see here on the location map; uh, just to orient you
here's Camp, uh, Cardinal Boulevard; um, Kennedy Parkway's up here at the top
of the map; Ryan Court; Preston Lane. Uh, this is the area ... um, here's an aerial
view. Uh, here is the existing plan, uh, which shows Lot 39 and the townhouses
that are part of the existing, uh, there are ... a total of 39. That just happens to be a
coincidence — 39 units on Lot 39. Thirty -nine townhouses that are shown right
now with, as you can see, an open space that would have been maintained by the
homeowner's association, uh, that is part of, uh, the current layout. Um ... here is
the proposed layout. Uh, and you can see from the previous plan that there were
already duplexes around the outside, uh, of Ryan Court here. Those would
remain, although the lots would be made slightly larger so that there is a, uh, loss
of three lots, and then you can see the interior would be configured for the duplex,
uh, units on individual lots. Uh, the net here is that the total number of units
would be reduced by 21. There would still be a... uh, mix of unit types in the
subdivision, uh, as before — single - family, townhouses, there's even a ... a, as you
can see from here, a commercial lot, uh, up in the corner, uh, there. Um, let's see,
the ... the other requirements of the subdivision in terms of fagade design and, uh,
things to prevent monotony of the subdivision would remain in place. Uh,
recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission was for approval.
Are there any questions?
Payne: So Lot 39 will be resubdivided into these separate lots?
Davidson: That is what this action ... yes, the ... the rezoning... it's a planned development. So
it'd be done as part of a ... an amendment to the planned development. (coughing
in background; difficult to hear)
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Hayek: Any questions for Jeff?
Dobyns: Jeff, at a future consideration I ... the ... the 2d projections of this didn't do it for
me in terms of getting a sense of what they look like. So it'd be nice to see
something else in the city that is similar, just to get a sense of what they would
look like. (coughing in background)
Davidson: Okay. Anything else?
Hayek: Thanks, Jeff!
Davidson: Thank you!
Hayek: This is a public hearing. So ... anyone else is invited to ... weigh in as well.
Siders: Mayor, Councilmen, Members ... my name is Glenn Siders with Southgate
Development Services. I don't know that I need to make any comments, but I am
available if you have any questions or I'm available to respond to anything.
Hayek: Thanks, Glenn. Anyone from the audience? Okay. I will close the public
hearing. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion?
Champion: Is a zero lot -line, is that a duplex? Tell me the difference between the two. I
should know, but I don't.
Siders: It is kind of a duplex. A zero lot -line actually has a property line physically
running through the center of the structure. So you have two lots.
Champion: Okay. Thanks, Glenn.
Hayek: I would note that this is supported at P &Z, unanimously. Doesn't seem to be a
controversial ... further discussion? Roll call, please. First consideration passes 7-
0.
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ITEM 4c DESIGNATING THE JEFFERSON STREET NATIONAL REGISTER
HISTORIC DISTRICT AS A HISTORIC OVERLAY (OHP) ZONE.
(REZ12- 00027)
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Any ex parte
communications to disclose? I have a few to disclose. Uh, if I can go ahead and
get started (laughs)
Champion: I thanked some people for coming in the audience tonight, does that count?
Hayek: Um, I ... I talked, uh, briefly with, uh, Council Members Mims, uh, Throgmorton,
and Dobyns who expressed, uh, I think general support for, uh, the district. Um, I
talked to, um, Council Member Dickens who at the time had not made up his
mind, uh, on ... on the issue. I talked to the City Attor ... or the City Manager, uh,
Tom Markus, who, um. ... uh ... talked a little bit about the process and ... and
expressed general support. Um, and then I talked briefly to Ginalie Swaim of
Historic Preservation Commission who asked me if she should contact, uh,
Members of the Council and I encouraged her to do so. I think I hit everybody.
Dickens: Yeah, I had a couple Historic Preservation people contact me...at...at the store,
so...
Throgmorton: I ... I talked with Ginalie Swaim on the phone. Uh, I ... I suppose after she spoke
with you. We had a brief conversation. Um, I drove around down Jefferson
Street with my wife and talked with her about it. Um ... I don't think I've had
other conversations — direct, personal conversations with anybody.
Hayek: Is that it? Okay. Jeff!
Davidson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor! Uh, the Jefferson Street Historic District was listed in the
National Registers of Historic Places in September of 2004. That is a national
designation. The Historic Preservation Commission, after consideration, is now
recommending to you a local, uh, district designation and that's the action you
have before you for consideration this evening. Uh, designation of the district,
which you see here, uh, wou ... the significant things that it would accomplish is it
would require Historic Preservation Commission review and approval of any
significant changes to the exterior of buildings in the district. That would
obviously... obviously include removal of a building. And it would also allow the
Board of Adjus ... Adjustment to waive or modify certain zoning requirements to
help support the continued use of the historic structure. You might recall with the
Parish Apartments project, uh, this provision was used to allow some parking in
the front yard of that property, uh, when it was reconfigured, uh, in order to save
some of the mature trees, and that's the kind of flexibility that you have, uh, with
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either the landmark or the historic district, uh, designation. Uh, because historic
districts are established by a zoning overlays, this also required, uh, action by the
Planning and Zoning Commission. Their recommendation is also for approval,
based on their assessment of the Comprehensive Plan, and the consideration of
the district. Uh, high concentration of historic buildings, and I have a couple of
pictures to show you. Um, of significant buildings. Uh, as well as ... and ... and
the desire to preserve those structures. Uh, also the City's strategic plan has a
goal of stabilizing neighborhoods around, uh, the city core. That's part of your
strategic planning, uh, your adopted strategic planning initiatives. Uh, so staff,
Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Historic Preservation Commission all
recommend approval. I would point out, Mr. Mayor, that you may need to
conduct a straw poll. There ... there was ... there has been, um, protest petition
filed by owners representing 34% of the district. 20% triggers a super- majority
by the City Council, 6 of 7 votes are required to approve this. Uh, because of the
recommendation for approval, if it looks like Council is not inclined, uh, to
approve it, we would suggest that you defer your vote and have the required
consultation with the Planning and Zoning Commission, uh, at that point.
Hayek: Okay.
Davidson: Any questions? Oh, I did have a few, just ... just to familiarize yourself with the
structures in the district. Lot of us remember Irving Weber saying Church Street
has no churches on it. Jefferson Street has all the churches. There are several
(laughter) Uh, you see the Park House, uh, and uh, several structures, again, I
think most of us are familiar with the district. Uh, and these are the ... the
contributing properties that are part of the district. Uh, any further questions? I'll
put up the...
Hayek: When do you want the straw poll vote, uh, at the close of the public hearing?
Dulek: Yes, because that's (mumbled) time you'd have to make, um, the decision. Yeah,
you continue it, but also P &Z meets on Thursday, so their agenda could get
amended to put on their agenda in two days so we could know what P &Z wants
and so ... uh, whether they want a consultation between then and January 8th, or
just go back on your January 8th agenda.
Hayek: All right. We'll take that up if that's an issue.
Davidson: Any questions?
Throgmorton: I ... I do have a question for ... for Jeff, uh, and it...it really has meaning only
depending on what the straw poll turns out to be, but do you happen to know what
percentage of the area is occupied by St. Paul's Lutheran Church?
Davidson: I don't, Jim, I'm sorry.
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Throgmorton: Uh, maybe it would be useful to find out, depending...
Champion: Why?
Dickens: The University isn't bound by the rules of the historic...
Davidson: That's correct, as a higher level of government they're not subject (both talking)
local...
Dickens: They're still included in this area, or... in the map here.
Davidson: Yes, the, uh, the ... I believe it's called (both talking) Stuit Hall now, the ... the
rehabbed art building is included.
Dickens: And is there a reason why it's so big? Is it for the ... all the...
Davidson: Um, you know, Terry, again I ... I am not the expert on this. My understanding is
the ... the desire is to have the district constitute a logical, uh, grouping of, um,
similar type structures. In other words, consistency through the district, and this
was the, uh, area that was determined to have the consistency necessary for the
district. You'll recall that in Iowa City we have... districts ranging from the very
large, Northside and Longfellow, to very small, Woodlawn or The Cottages along
Muscatine Avenue, which I think is even just six units. So there is some variation
based on that consistency measure.
Payne: And does it overlay exactly the national district, I mean, would the local district
overlay exactly the national district?
Davidson: I do not know for sure, but at...at least it's ... it's, if it's not exactly the same (both
talking) Do you happen to know?
Hayek: (several talking)
Davidson: Oh, I didn't know you were here. Why didn't you say something? (laughter)
Miklo: (mumbled) Uh, yes, this is the exact boundary of the National Historic District
and that's why it's large, and that's why it includes a couple of the University
properties.
Throgmorton: Does it have to be?
Miklo: Um ... it doesn't necessarily, uh, it's ... um, one of the criteria of a local district, or
the criteria of the local district, is basically the same as the national district. I
think all of our others are at least the size of the national district, uh, maybe a little
bit larger.
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Davidson: Any other questions?
Throgmorton: And ... and it's not reasonable to potentially imagine, uh, removing some
buildings, uh, or properties from the proposed district?
Miklo: The ... you could possibly move some on the edge, but once you get into the
interior, then you don't have a consistent boundary and I don't think that would
be possible, or comply with the ordinance. I do not know the acreage of St.
Paul's (mumbled)
Hayek: Okay, thanks, guys! Stick around. Um, so ... this is a public hearing. From the
looks of it, there are many people in the room who would like to weigh in. Um,
what I'm going to ask is that, uh, people try to limit their comments to three
minutes, if at all possible. The reason being, we want to get through as many
comments as possible. Um, I'd ask that you, uh, sign in and also give us your
name, um, and to the extent we have multiple people addressing the City Council
on this item, I would encourage you to give us new information. If you've
already heard someone before you talk about a point, um, you're free to reiterate
it, but we're generally better served if you give us new perspective or different
piece of, uh, information. So ... with that, uh, we'll go forward.
Launspach: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, City Council, my name is Phil Launspach. My family
owns some properties in the 400 block of Jefferson Street, and primarily the ... the
first and I think most important question I'm going to ask you tonight, um, for the
Historic Preservation planning meeting, for the zoning meeting the property
owners were all notified by the City in advance. For the City Council meeting we
got no notification. You'll see very few property owners here because we got no
notification whatsoever about this meeting tonight. It was only through word of
mouth we heard about it, and I'd ... I'm not sure that that's policy of the City.
Hayek: Okay. Thank you for that.
Swaim: Hi, my name is Ginalie Swaim, and I'm the Chair of the Historic Preservation
Commission. Um ... (laughs) thanks. I'd like to just quickly address some
common misperceptions and some basic questions about the process, um, in a
historic district, and based on Jefferson in particular. One question is why is this
so important right now? And it's because in the past we learned in a very difficult
way two hard lessons. Uh, one is that just because we value businesses in old
buildings, that doesn't mean we can protect them. Um, the Red Avocado and
some buildings on Jefferson Street, or on Washington, if they had been protected
in a district, they would still last. So, um ... our valuing those businesses is not
enough. We learned that in 2006 we can't protect our town from a tornado.
However, there was a silver lining in those swirling clouds in that if we, um,
because we had historic districts in this town, we were able to bring Iowa Avenue
back, and in fact, uh, it's better than it has been for decades and insurance
companies were willing to cover, um, more than you would expect, and the
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legislature was, um, made up the difference, and that's all because this was a city
with districts. And those are lessons from the past, but as Jeff pointed out, we
also have a lesson for the, uh, future practice in place (mumbled) Comprehensive
Planning and the Central District Plan, and what's unique about Jefferson Street is
that a mixed -use zoning was deliberately applied to it so that we could have small
businesses taking root in some of the other buildings and add to the synergy that
we've got between the North... or the Market Place on the Northside, and the
Downtown and the Campus, so it's kind of a unique opportunity and economic
strategy for a historic district. There are very few like that. Another question — so
when will a property owner need to apply for approval? As Jeff said, for any
construction projects that require a building permit, and that makes significant
changes to the exterior. Will we tell them what color to paint the building? No!
(laughs) That's a common misperception. Will we control interior changes?
Absolutely not! Well, isn't getting this kind of approval a burden and difficult? I
think that most of the people who've gone through this application process, and
that's been hundreds, would say no. Over 90% of the applications in the last, uh,
since 2006, have been approved by the Commission. It generally takes within
three days to three weeks, depending upon the level of, uh, changes. Well, won't
this cost the property owner to have to make changes according to our guidelines?
Sometimes it will. There are some higher quality materials that may be required,
but everybody knows that higher quality will last longer and add to the building's,
um, investment and save you money in the long run. But sometimes, and a lot of
times, you can actually save money by what we suggest. We encourage reusing
and repairing materials. We think this is a very green approach because it keeps
the green stuff in your pocket, and because it keeps materials out of the Landfill.
You get free expert advice on design and techniques, and ... oftentimes we can
come up with solutions that you might not have considered. Here's... here's an
example. A few years ago on Summit Street, a property owner was having a lot
of water damage because of the ... the porch roof. And he came to us, um, wanting
to change the roofline of the porch for better drainage. We sat down and talked
with him and came up with a solution that ... a membrane roof would do a fine job
of that, and it would be flat. It wouldn't require the roofline change, and it would
save, uh, quite a bit of money. So that's where there are lots of opportunities to
actually save. Um, one might ask why a property owner on Jefferson should have
to have another layer of regulation. Well, you know, it's a given that there are
property owners whether you're in a historic district or anywhere who are going
to object to regulations and restrictions. But there ... it's also a given that if you
own property in a town there are restrictions. There's on terms of zoning and
building codes and traffic and parking. It's just part of being a community.
Another question, how can the Council justify voting yes when some of the
property owners oppose this? I think the question is basically answered because
this is a community asset and I think some of our speakers tonight will attest to
that. And sometimes things are done in the best interest of a community. Has
there been any precedent for this kind of vote? Yes, actually, two times that I
know of When the Carnegie Library was going to be, wanted to be ... we wanted
it to be designated as a landmark, the owner opposed it. Um, but the Council
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voted unanimously for it to be a landmark because they recognized that it was a
community treasure. And in the Northside Neighborhood, there was over 50% of,
um, opposition to the neighborhood being, uh, local district. Again, the Council
saw the overwhelming support for it, and this was, uh, another vote for the greater
interests. And finally...
Hayek: Thanks. Sorry, I was going to ask you to wrap up. Go ahead.
Swaim: Oh, I've got one part. What if the current property owners already take good prop
...good care of their properties, and many of them do. That's great, and we thank
them. But we can't assume that the property owners in five years in case the
buildings are sold are going to have that same level of devotion and that same
understanding and connection to the community. When you've got 37 out of 38
primary buildings that are historically sig ... significant, you can't count on future
owners having that kind of, uh, care in mind. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you!
Trimble: Hello, my name is Alicia Trimble and I am the Executive Director of Friends of
Historic Preservation. I will keep my comments brief because I know there's a lot
of supporters here who would like to give comments and I know you guys would
like to go home at some time... sometime tonight! Um, there's just a few things I
want to point out. Everyone here wearing a `Yes' sticker, and maybe some
people who even aren't. If you guys can all raise your hands, they're all in
support of the Jefferson District; as well as I know that you have received many,
many letters from supporters. I was also just handed a note by Sara Clark asking
you to please recognize that there are 20 other supporters in the lobby who
couldn't fit in here tonight. I'd also like you to point out that Friends of Historic
Preservation submitted to Council a resolution, point... pointing out some, not all,
we couldn't fit them all on two sides of a sheet, of the finer points of why
Jefferson Street deserves to be protected and um, I also want to point out that, two
points. One that 97% of this district is contributing. All but Neumann Center on,
uh, the corner there, 104, um... and that I believe... Ginalie said over 90 %. When
I left the commission as chair ... chair of the commission, I believe 97.5% of all
applicants that came before the commission were, their applications were
approved as submitted to us. It's not an arduous process. And oftentimes you
end up leaving with a lot more than you... you could have ever imagined. Thank
you very much.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Marks: Good evening. My name is Nathan Marks, and I'm chairman of the congregation
at St. Paul's Lutheran Chapel at 404 E. Jefferson Street. I also represent the 121
congregations of the Iowa East District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod,
who own the property. I come to you tonight in respectful protest of the Jefferson
Street historic overlay zone. While we at St. Paul's appreciate the importance of
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historic buildings throughout Iowa City and acknowledge that some properties
may see benefits from such designation, we do not believe that the benefits
outweigh the costs of forcing objecting property owners to abide by additional
regulations and ask that the overlay zone be redrawn to include only property
owners who wish to be included. I ask for you to consider the following key
points in your discussions and decisions about the Jefferson Street historic
overlay. When this overlay zone was proposed a few years back, it never made it
out of the Historic Preservation Committee. I asked what has changed since then
to make it a viable proposal now. Second, of the 12 individuals who spoke in
favor of the overlay zone, at the October 11th Historic Preservation Committee
meeting, none were property owners in the zone. Of the eight individuals who
spoke in favor of the overlay zone at the November 15th Planning and Zoning
Committee meeting, none of those individuals were owners of property in the
zone. Of the 35 individual submitting correspondences to the City Council
meeting packet, that were in favor of the overlay zone, only two individuals
indicated that they were owners of property in the zone. All of the 14 individuals
submitting correspondences to the City Council meeting packet that were opposed
to the overlay zone owned properties within the overlay zone. While the resell
value of some properties may increase with the historic overlay zone, some
properties will be severely decreased. St. Paul's Chapel is currently landlocked.
In the event of needed expansion, we would need to move to a larger property and
the current property be sold. The proposed overlay zone would significantly
decrease the actual resale value of a sanctuary that is not easily, or perhaps not
even possibly, converted to a commercial space without massive external changes
to the fagade. And finally, contrary to what was said at some by ... by some
members of the Planning and Zoning Committee, brick and stone buildings
require much more maintenance than simply tuck - pointing. Caps and seals need
to be replaced over time. The cost difference between Indiana limestone and
reinforced concrete are great. With little to no return on investment... over the life
span. This increased cost would be difficult for a non - profit organization which
has no definitive way to increase revenue. As noted in a letter from Reverend Dr.
Brian Saunders, President of the Iowa East District of the Lutheran Church
Missouri Synod to the Historic Preservation Committee. We would not want to
see our work prohibited for lack of funds because of an increased cost due to the
overlay zone. I urge you to consider the voices of the individuals representing
properties within the overlay zone, and the financial impact it will have on them
and vote no to the Jefferson Street historic overlay zone. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Randak: My name is Leigh Ann Randak. I'm an Iowa City resident and support, um, the
designation of this historic district. But I also come here today as, um, a member
of the Board of Directors of Preservation Iowa, which is a statewide non - profit
that advocates for historic preservation in communities, working with the
Department of Economic Development, Main Street Iowa, the State Historic
Preservation Office, and so forth, in helping local communities, um, take
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advantage of the benefits of historic preservation. And I just wanted to, um... uh,
remind ... you that ... um ... historic preservation, in addition to contributing to a
community's... positively to a community culturally and aesthetically. It also has
economic advantages and it has been shown in many communities throughout the
state, Dubuque being one, that historic preservation, um, areas immediately
surrounding districts or areas of historic preservation, um, have seen increase...
it's contributed to an increase in property values. Um, retail and restaurant
revenue, and employment, and while it's not the single contributing factor, it is,
urn ... um, been shown to be, um, contributing to that. And this is an important
area to Iowa City's history, um, but preservation could also be economically
advantageous to the neighborhoods and business districts surrounding it. Thank
you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Small: Hi, my name is Andy Small and I live in one of the houses that's on this property
that's, uh, being currently rezoned. I've been a homeowner since 1995. I
purchased the house. It had been on the market for over a year, and uh, was in,
uh, serious dilapidated conditions. Um, I was 23 and really had no idea what I
was doing when I purchased the house. That was back when it was far easier to
get loans for houses and urn ... over the past 16 years the house that's... that's on
the very corner, the 2125 has been in constant need of repair and I've kept up on
repairing it. Um, I am a little concerned that it's really down to the last two things
that need to be repaired, and that would be new siding or another layer of siding,
since it already has currently seven layers of siding on it. Um, it was at one point
on the corner and it has been actually moved over 100 feet so there's no part of
the house that's square or plumb. Um, the interior's cracked, and I know this has
nothing to do with the interior, but the exterior has the older 8" vinyl siding which
is, uh, aluminum, and after looking into the cost difference between aluminum
verse the, uh, with cement board. Gentleman, Bob, from staff here said, `Or
wood,' which you'd have to repaint every six or seven years, uh, for someone like
me who has a small business and is a single parent, that would be a considerable
burden. Um, I know in this area it's primarily rental properties, and I understand
that there is concern, um, particularly in one stretch where there are, the bunch of
bed and breakfasts that have been purchased and that this all seems to have been
stemmed from that purchase, um... for all the people who have `Yes' stickers on
their shirts, um, I would love to see the number of hands that actually own
property in this area or live in this area. Um, I'm sure it would be less than five.
Um, as an owner who lives in a home in this area, I feel confident the current
regulations are sufficient to bala ... balance out the needs of developers and
homeowners who own property in this area, without additional layers of rules and
regulations, that tax us. I am not a rental property owner. Um, but I do have a
daughter, and I don't know if she would like to live that close to downtown,
considering that though the exterior of the houses are, uh, they're... they're
attractive. I will give them that. Um, most of those houses are rental properties,
uh, there are no businesses in that area of...actually, uh ... that I know of. There
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are churches and uh, the businesses are just north of this area, and just south of
this area, and this is kind of a ... this is a buffer area, where very few people own
most of the houses. I stopped by today to see how many people that's turned in
the proposals against this, and uh, though there were only 14 people, they
accounted for 28 of the houses and I'm not sure how many houses there are. I
believe there are just under 40, but that seems to be a significant number higher
than the 32% that was mentioned earlier in this meeting. Twenty -eight over 40, I
think that's higher than 32 %. I'm not very good at math so I wouldn't know.
Um, in conclusion I would just like to respectfully ask each of you to think about
this and please consider the fact that some of us actually own houses here and
we're doing our best to keep them up, you know, my house looks so much better
now than it did previously and it looks so much better with new windows and new
siding, but the $20,000+ to do it, you know, considering that the property taxes
are almost $4,000 for a house in this area is, uh, is a little bit more than a single
person like myself could bear. With that I just would respectfully ask you to deny
this application and thank you for your time.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Thiede: Good evening, I'm Charles Thiede and I've both lived and worked in this area for
over 20 years. I'm the Facilities Manager at First United Methodist Church. And
I lived at 420 and ... 405 E. Jefferson Streets, back in the 70s. Um ... just really to
put us in ... in history here. This is Irving Weber's church and although our church
didn't start out on that corner, uh, our first services were held in 1839 on the
southwest corner of Dubuque and Iowa Avenue, where Atlas is now. In 1840 the
Board of Trustees... applied to the Territorial Legislature for ... would help if I
could read (laughter) ... the west half of the church reserve in block 67 and in 1843
the building was finally enclosed and roofed, and ... on the 13th of January of that
year, the Board of Trustees filed bond and applied for the deed from the Territory.
And our congregation has been on that corner ever since. Uh, but not in the same
building. The ... that building that was completed in 1843 burned and was
remodeled in 1884, and then in 1906 the entire thing was completely destroyed,
which sent Irving Weber over to the balcony of the Englert to go to Sunday
school class. I realize as the facility's manager how expensive it is keeping up a
building. But, we are committed to being a downtown church with all the joys
and headaches, and I ... feel that, uh, the loss of historic structures in the
neighborhood would really change the complexion of the neighborhood to the
detriment of the neighborhood, and I urge you to ... vote for the designation.
Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Futrell: Hi, my name is Susan Futrell and I live at 311 Fairchild Street. Um, I don't live
or own property in the district that's being considered, but I do own a house that
my husband and I live in in the Northside Historic District and uh, rental property
that's in the Longfellow District, so I have some firsthand, um, appreciation for
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the benefits of having historic overlay in a ... in a neighborhood like both of those.
Um, I'm speaking in favor and I hope you'll vote to support this for a couple of
reasons. The district in question here is really at the heart of historic Iowa City
and I think for many of us, it's ... um, it almost was surprising to realize that it had
not already been protected because of the location so close to the heart of town,
and also because the ... the buildings now are so well preserved and well
maintained that it's ... it's quite intact for a historic district. Um, I think we've
learned in the Northside that overlaying the historic district doesn't change the
character of the neighborhood fundamentally, and in fact what it's done for us is
help support property owners who want to maintain their houses, paint, uh, do
upkeep in maintaining the val ... the value of our homes, and also making it feel
more worthwhile to put that kind of care and ... and, uh ... investment into the
houses. So I think protecting this district that is currently surrounded almost on
four sides by other protected districts in town is in a way a ... um ... a benefit to the
whole community to protect what the City already has invested in neighborhoods,
like the Northside and the Market, uh, North Market and downtown area. Um, I
also wanted to say that as ... we had an experience a number of years ago of
having to do some repair on our property, um, as well as some maintenance on
our property in the Longfellow neighborhood, and in both cases we went through
the process with the ... the commission. I think, um, it...it was very
straightforward. We were able to use modern, inexpensive materials to do an
...an appropriate kind of, um, repair, and in fact the, um ... the Friends of Historic
Preservation and some other organizations actually have resources to help
property owners who are protecting historic buildings. So I think as a ... a single
person owing a home, this could in fact help support the kind of, um, upkeep that
you want to do on your home. So, uh, just in closing I want to encourage you
again to, um, understand the concerns of some of the property owners who are
afraid of what might happen to their properties, um, look at the districts that
you've already protected and see that those fears, um, generally have not come
true and that in fact preserving this area will help to reinforce the investment that
the City's already made in a historic heart of town. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Clark: Good evening, I'm Maeve Clark and I live at 428 Clark Street, and I'm on the
Board of the Friends of Historic Preservation and I would like to reiterate just a
point about historic preservation and the tour of historic homes last year was not a
tour of historic homes but it was a tour of historic buildings, and the majority of
the buildings were in this district because it was about the Civil War and many of
the buildings that existed in Iowa City during the Civil War are in this area,
including the Bostick House where the, correct me if I'm wrong here, the City
Council met and the Civil War soldiers were mustered into the war. So I would
just like to impress upon you if at all that it does have a extremely portant...
important historic significance for Iowa City, and I urge you to remember that
when you're considering this resolution. Thanks!
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Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Michaud: I'm Pam Michaud and in spite of my frequent visits here, I am trying to cover
new material every single time, and there's a plethora of it (laughter) so I'm never
at a shortage for words, unfortunately. Uh, my heart goes out to anybody who
lives in their house and tries to be downtown with a, and raise a child. Um, I did
that for many years. I've been in my house for 22 years on south Johnson. Um...
as evidenced by, uh, 30 years of Historic Preservation Commission, uh, or Friends
of Historic Preservation awards, 30 years and let's say an average of 30 projects.
That's 900 little projects by little people who care about their house. Um, I
consider myself a little person. I have, uh, some property that I rent on College
Green Park and am extremely happy with that. Uh, so far the park is not
overshadowed by a high -rise and I'd like to keep it that way, just for your future
reference (laughter) Case there was any doubt! Urn ... the thing about the ped
mall and Chauncey Swan and Jefferson Street is that they basically are
everybody's backyard. It is a public commons. When you have four active
churches on one ... on like three streets, then it becomes a public commons, and
I'm sure that there are plenty of people who will disagree with me about property
rights, but from my point of view of being on the Historic Preservation
Commission, representing College Green for over 10 years, I'll tell you we bend
over backwards to make projects affordable and well designed for people. For the
person, Andy Small, who's concerned about the cost of repairing his siding or
replacing it, uh, we ... we have over the years shown up with hammers and help
from the Salvage Barn to enable these repairs. Um, we will help people that are...
are stressed about this and um, of course I'm not volunteering anybody at this
point, but urn ... there are resources out there and we will try to come up with the
most cost - effective way for people to maintain their projects. We've also
streamlined the application process so that simple window replacements, uh, are
...can be, uh, approved by staff and chair. Um, for those who are concerned
about short notice of agenda items, I would just like to say we are all desperately
looking at your iden... agenda items because the rampant development in Iowa
City in the last ... 12 or 15 months has been head-spinning ... for most of us. And
so we're just trying to get a little control over the situation, and now that the fact
that landowners have to look at the agenda is almost consoling, but um (laughter)
I've been here so many times, um, for so many occasions that seem so pressing,
uh, I would like to encourage you to make this his ... historic district because it is
everybody's concern. I ... when I go to big cities, in other countries; big cities in
this ... in this country, I always look for a trend, historic neighborhood. In Europe
it's going to be City Center. I'm looking for medieval streets; I'm not looking for
high- rises. I'm from Chicago and I will definitely take a canal architectural tour
and enjoy the hell out of looking at a lot of high- rises, but this is our city; this is
our college town, and it should have that ambiance. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
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Reynolds: Hi, my name is Christina Welu Reynolds and, um, I don't know how many people
here tonight actually live in this area, especially those of us who have `Yes'
buttons on, but I recognize 50 to 75% of the people with `Yes' buttons who live in
the immediately surrounding areas. We're here because we care about the
community of Iowa City. Many of us are property owners. I'm a property owner,
but I also know that I'm part of something bigger, which is a community. I get
things from Iowa City. I get the road system. I get the bus system. I get the
schools. I get the sidewalks. I get the lighting. We have to give something back.
We're not a community of take, and as property owners, I can't be about me and
mine. I am part of a neighborhood. I am part of a community. And when we
look at some of these houses, we're scared that the potential is that they could be
lost, maybe in a year from now, maybe in two years from now, maybe in five...
but we have a responsibility. We are stewards of our property, and my property is
more than just 619 Brown Street. My property is part of a neighborhood. It's part
of a historic district. It's part of the Northside. It's part of Iowa City. Many of us
walk and run and eat and dine and entertain ourself in the Jefferson Street area. It
needs to be preserved. Um ... the other thing that I wanted to say is that it is
important that we look down the line. When I moved to Iowa City back in 1992,
and I remember what south Gilbert Street used to look like. I understand
progress, but sometimes too much is too much of one thing. Once these buildings
are gone, they're gone, and I know that there's a concern of expense. Both my
husband and I are public school teachers here in Iowa City. We own a historic
house. When we bought it it was cheap and it was dilapidated. We have been
fixing it up according to what the Historic District ... we have not felt any affects
of it, because we know that when we replace a window, when we replace a sill,
we're doing it in the way that they did a hundred years ago, and my house is a
hundred years old, and if we continue those practices, you won't have to replace
anything for another hundred years. I doubt we can say that about some of the
new construction that we have been seeing going up. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Christiansen: My name is John Christiansen and I live at 827 Dearborn and the Dearborn
Conservation District, which is, uh, adjacent to the Longfellow, uh, Historic
District. I'm the Chair of the Johnson County Preservation Commission. Our
jurisdictional area is all of Johnson County, with the exception of Iowa City,
which is superbly served by the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission.
The county commission supports the City's desire to designate the Jefferson
Street Historic District as a local landmark district. We strongly support the
safeguarding of historic homes, buildings, and neighborhoods — every place in
Johnson County, and particularly here in the heart of historic Iowa City.
Hayek: Thank you.
Molleston: My name is Missy Molleston. Um, my husband is a principal in the housing
group. They own 424 E. Jefferson, and they are greatly in favor of historic
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overlay. Um, there is a business in this district, and it's G -Spot Hair Design in
424 Jefferson. We actually live on North Gilbert Street, in a historic district and
we have got nothing but great things to say about being in a historic district. We
feel like it increases our property value and protects us, rather than costs us more
money. Um, the building on 424 Jefferson Street was not purchased with hopes
of a big payoff down the line from a developer, but to house a business in a
historic district in a near downtown location. Um, that was what I came to say,
but I just want to make some comments about some other comments that were
made. Um, I don't think vinyl siding pays in the long run. It does warp and
discolor, and does need to be replaced, unless you want to live with the warp and
discoloring, and a good paint job can last 20 years if you maintain it. Old
windows can be refurbished at equal or less cost than buying new vinyl windows,
but uh, Friends of Historic Preservation just had a workshop on it. Um, and the
most important thing, once these buildings are gone, they are gone. So I think
they need to be protected. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
Ross: Hi, I'm Brandon Ross. I, uh, I actually live up on Rochester Avenue. I, uh, I
came to Iowa City and just with the expectation of staying here, uh, two years.
That was 24 years ago. Uh, one of the reasons why, uh, I stay here is because of
all the beauty that was the downtown. It seems so idyllic. And what I would say
to you today is that, um, that your historic preservation, you're preserving of... of
Iowa City's history is, uh, in that sense is preserving the soul of the City, is
bringing people in from out of state. I'm from Boston. Uh, we have architecture.
So, you know, we're ... we're pretty snobbish (laughs) so you know I completely
fell in love with downtown, and that's true, as someone said a few, uh, comments
back about the, uh, complete changing of downtown. The past couple years
there's been such developments, uh, the whole thing that happened on
Washington Street, which was a pain to just about everybody. We really don't
want that to happen, and it's to the commercial interests I believe of the City to
preserve as much because all we really have is the center, uh, I don't think that
people really say, hey, honey, let's ... let's go walk, uh, past, uh, that nice parking
garage that they just built down there. Uh ... how bout those four -story apartment
buildings right in the middle of downtown? Let's just go by there and have an ice
cream cone. You know, I think people have a ... a very big sense of place and
where they are, and I think that all of us really appreciate this, but we don't think
about it so much, but when it's taken away then we suffer. And uh, my daughter
goes to Horace Mann, uh, my wife works at Preucil School of Music. I'm in town
a lot. I do freelance writing; I do some teaching, and believe me, I live up on
Rochester. It's a pleasure to walk down and come into town, and to have a ... have
a real place. So I would say that it's a great commercial consideration for the City
would be one of the big things and uh, I appreciate your time. Thanks so much.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments. (laughter) Return the pen, Brandon! (laughter)
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Bennett: My name is Mary Bennett and I came to college here in 1972, and actually for 38
years I've lived in the center of my universe here. I work at the State Historical
Society which is a half a block away from here, and I walk this corridor all the
time, and I consider it a very critical piece of the puzzle of overall Iowa City. It's
kind of a futile exercise to worry about having a wonderful central business
district if you don't have a beautiful link over to these older areas of town, like the
Northside. I frequently go to Hamburg Inn. I like to look at the old, uh, Park
Hotel, which tells me about the early brick makers and bricklayers of Iowa City.
That entire magnet toward that area is through this corridor. I have great respect
for the tiffany windows at the Congregational Church. The history that, uh, Irving
Weber embodies in the Methodist Church. I don't need to tell you all that history
but it's there, because there's stories connected with it. Very personal
connections that I feel to those buildings. I know Oscar Wilde walked down that
street. So I have a really wild imagination. I have a fantasy trip when I walk
down that street because part of my overall appreciation of Iowa City. When I sit
at home on Sunday and watch hours and hours of those presentations for the
building you're considering on the corner of College and Gilbert and I think of
these transformations you're making in my neighborhood. I live at 1107
Muscatine, which is just about six blocks from here. So this is my neighborhood,
my sunshine you're talking about. The areas that I walk through every day, the
air I breathe, so if you're going to make a change of such great magnitude in this
downtown area, things I can't possibly block given the forces of money in this
town. Please throw me a bone and save me my little neighborhood over here,
that's full of character, it's full of magic, it's got lots of quality and detail in its
construction, and it's a remnant of the past! I really wish Irving Weber was here
to remind us of all of that, not let it slip from our memories so easily that we're
going to change something irrevocably, because each of those buildings needs to
be placed in context. You can't just save one church or one Bostick Hall because
its history seems richer than the little house next door. Because it's really part of
a neighborhood and it's part of that larger puzzle, and those larger districts. And I
really applaud this young woman who talked about being a property owner in this
town is not just the street you live on. It's the neighborhood that you live ... you
live in, and this is my neighborhood. So I urge you to keep this overlay in place,
and I also want to say, because I work in the profession, that your Historic
Preservation Commission does tremendous work with this community, and there
are grants available from the State Historical Society of Iowa, a historic resource
and development program would probably help St. Paul's with some of the work
they need to do with that roof, because I got a similar grant for a little church in
Dallas County so they could have a dry basement and good drainage. So don't
always look at this being a problem. It's actually a wonderful opportunity. So I
encourage you to look at the economic benefits, the beautification, and of course
that rich history that we just can't dismiss. So thanks for your time.
Hayek: Thank you.
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Biger: Hello, I'll try and be brief. My name is Matthieu Biger and I live on, uh, 519 N.
Johnson, right next to, uh, Preucil and North Market Square Park, and also belong
to the, uh, Northside Neighborhood Association. I'm on the Board of that
organization, and um ... myself, my family live not only in the Northside
Neighborhood, but also, uh, we work, uh, either downtown on the University
campus. Uh, my son goes to daycare at, uh, First United. Um, the Little Angels
there. Um, I ... he's a toddler and he walks around these neighborhoods, and I
want him to be able to walk past those houses when he can appreciate them even
more than he does now, um, when he, you know, 10, 15 years he, uh, when, you
know, in five years when he's going to Horace Mann, thank... thankfully, and
then, uh, afterwards when he's going downtown, uh, to go buy some toys at Akar,
he's going to cross that area and I ... and I want him to, uh, to be able to
experience that, um ... um, you know, in its ... as we've established historical, um,
beauty. So, thank you, and also I'm from ... I'm from France so I have a lot of
snobbish ideas about architecture (laughter) but... I've... I've also seen a lot of
neighborhoods that, you know, even Paris, if ..there's a lot of 19th century
buildings, but nothing 200 years older and that's because at some point someone
decided because everything was squalid and, you know, to replace it with
something grand, but this is not squalid. As was discussed already, it's in really
good condition now, thanks... thanks to the efforts that were already done by
current owners, um, so now is the I think the time to preserve it. You know, it
still could be a time capsule so ... (mumbled) do that. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Dull: My name is William Dull. Uh, I don't even live in Johnson County, although I
did, uh ... for approximately 40, 50 years, since 1964. And I, uh, believe over
(mumbled) five decades there's been a real change in, uh, the concept of
preservation in Iowa City. Uh, there were a lot of lovely old homes back in the
60s and 70s have been torn down, and I'm afraid the same phenomena is going to
happen on Jefferson if, uh, preservation is not addressed. As it turns out, I
happened to live at 320 E. Jefferson, um, in ... a home that was built in 1880, from
uh ... 1981 through 2010 when I sold it and moved from the, uh ... from Johnson
County. I'm here to encourage the Council to, uh, address the issue of
preservation in Iowa City and strongly consider this, uh, plan. It'd be a real
shame if my old home ... was altered in some fashion, uh, it'd be a real shame if
these old buildings, other than my old home, were altered. I hope that you, uh, do
the thing that is correct for Iowa City and support this resolution. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you. (unable to hear person away from mic) You know what we're gonna
let others speak first, uh...
Wright: Good evening, I'm Mike Wright. I live at 225 N. Lucas Street, and I'm the
Coordinator of the Northside Neighborhood Association, which uh, does
incorporate a good number of these properties. One thing that I always like to
bear in mind with historic preservation is that it does more often than not tend to
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Page 22
be a value -added proposition for a community. Um, cities as diverse as Atlanta,
Dubuque, Philadelphia and Little Rock have all noted increases not just in
property values within historic districts, but with increases of...of adjoining
properties to historic districts, and one of the most dramatic has actually been in
Dubuque. Downtown Dubuque there are, uh, and this is documented, property
values in the downtown historic district increased about 50% over the last 10
years. The adjoining properties increased about 7 %. Excuse me, 9 %.
Throughout the rest of Dubuque the increases in property values were more like 3
to 5 %. It made a very big difference in downtown Dubuque. Jobs created by
historic preservation create an awful lot of bang for the buck, so to speak. Um,
per dollar, historic preservation projects produce more jobs than new construction
or industrial expansion. It does of course mean we have to deal with additional
regulations, and none of us particularly like regulations, whether we're living with
them or whether we're administering them. But such is the price of living in a
community. Um ... our home on Roosevelt Street here in Iowa City was within the
Longfellow Historic District. We moved a few years ago. And I can attest that
working with the Historic Preservation on our project in that house was pretty
painless. It was a very, very simple, straightforward process, and uh, I don't
believe it cost us any more to construct to the Historic Commission's value,
excuse me, the historic district's values, uh, than it would to do it any other way.
But Jefferson Street, um, is a little bit different here in Iowa City. It's a
remarkably intact, and for the most part, a beautifully maintained stretch of
properties and as ... has been pointed out, once they're gone, they're gone. These
are properties that cannot be replaced. And if you go down Jefferson Street at this
time, I bet most of you have at one point or another, you can actually feel a sense
of history, particularly along the, uh, the 300 block of Jefferson. Those ... that's a
remarkably intact and um, almost in some ways a time capsule, uh, at the south
edge of the Northside Neighborhood. These properties are key to the historic and
to the human scale of that neighborhood, and ... and I do believe add an awful lot
also to the value of the Northside Market Place. There are a number of businesses
there. There are bed and breakfasts, there's a salon, um. ... and the feeling of that
neighborhood is unchanged. And once again to draw Dubuque into it and I, you
probably are sick of me talking about Dubuque, but they do historic preservation
very well in Dubuque. There's a very similar type neighborhood along south
Bluff Street in Dubuque. Formerly residential houses; now for the most part
businesses, mostly service businesses, a few offices, but the feel of that
neighborhood is unchanged. The history of that neighborhood is still intact, and
that's what historic preservation can do. It does not disallow transitions for
neighborhoods. What it does allow is that the basic feel, the basic structure of a
neighborhood can remain unchanged, even while its uses do change. I think
that's something we could do very easily and continue to do very well here in
Iowa City. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
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Carlson: My name is Nancy Carlson and I live at 1002 E. Jefferson and I'm one of the
6,000 people who drive down Jefferson every day. So when you talk about this,
no, I don't live ... I live 10, no four ... six blocks away from it. But I drive down it
every day. It's part of my neighborhood, as other people have said. And so... for
some of these other districts that are farther out and more isolated, yes, maybe the
people surround... just surrounding it are the ones who should talk about it. But
when you have a ... an area this close to downtown where at least 6,000 people
drive through it every day, it doesn't belong to the people who live there. It
belongs to the community. Uh, I'd like to do a little comparison. You know,
have you ever heard the thing about the... a glass and is it half full or is it half
empty. If you look at the glass and you say that it's half empty, you have a
negative point of view and you don't want to do ... you are ... live in fear of what is
going to happen. If you ha... if you look at the glass as half full, you look at it as
an opportunity. I think when we look at this as a... as being designated as a
historic des... district, we have to ask ourselves, are we looking at this through
rose - colored glasses, thinking that this is half full, or is it half empty? You'll end
up with two different points of view; you'll end up with two different conclusions.
My final remark is about a remark that was made, uh, at the last City Council
meeting in relation to the, um ... structure going up downtown on the corner of, uh,
Linn and, uh, Gilbert. Uh, there was a gentleman from north ... from uh, the
Northside Neighborhood who said, when the University shows their icon image
for, to draw people in, do they show Phillips Hall? Do they show, or do they
show the Old Capitol? One of the symbols of the University is the Old Capitol
building top ... which is one of the oldest buildings, if not the oldest building, on
the University campus. So I think we need to think about that. Uh, you know,
this is a great symbol for our community, uh, of what we ... what we respect and
honor. It ... we ... it has been given the honor by the National Register. Now we
need to make the further commitment to say we respect and honor this even more.
Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you for your comments.
Gravitt: My name is, uh, Mary Gravitt. I don't live downtown. I live in, uh, Towncrest,
but today I was walking through the ped mall and I noticed that the only decent
lookin' buildings were the old buildings that used to be stores and so forth. They
...they give the ... the neighborhood in the ped mall class. You can ... because, I
guess because of my age, I remember when those buildings represented a small
town, and though Iowa City is growing like a spider, it's still important to
preserve the old, and to preserve the antiques if you don't want to say old, and
when I was walking down the, cause I came off the bus and I walked through that
hotel, and the first thing I thought about was Harry Potter! Because in the book
Harry Potter when, uh, Rawlings is describing the neighborhood and where he
goes to buy his wands, the neighborhood looks like those old stores. And you
have to preserve your history. It's okay to have all these new fangled buildings,
but I'm so glad that ... that building next door to where that's monstrosity's being
built in the ped mall didn't get torn down, that nice historic building. So I ... I
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suggest that you preserve your history. I'm from Philadelphia, and I suggest that
you preserve your history, and another thing, don't let all the green spots get
covered by these gigantic, uh, apartment houses. Because Philadelphia... it was
happening like that in Philadelphia, and somebody read the history where it was
supposed to be a `county town' with green spaces. They sued the City and they
won, and we got what little green spaces that were left. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
Cilek: Hi, my name's Gregory Cilek and I'm Chairman of the Cilek Family Historical
Society (laughter) where we were, uh, where I was, uh, I was born two blocks
from here, uh, 58 years ago and then, uh, over ... over 50 years ago we moved to
Brown and Gilbert, northender like you met, and we, uh, we understand, um, the
value of character and that's what I want you to consider here. You are really the
stewards of character on this issue. The character of our town. I myself, and I ... I
feel for Mr. Small, but I also had to, um, I didn't have to. I chose to renovate our
family home and the, um, Northside Association was very helpful in ... in getting it
done. Uh, I considered it a tremendous investment. Uh, yeah my taxes went from
something like $2,500 to $12,000 but um, I'm thinking I'll get that on the other
end eventually, but what really distresses me is ... in the 70s I saw houses get
destroyed and really ugly apartment buildings get built right between two
beautiful houses. I even saw some, uh, apartment buildings become legal just by
attaching a board to an old historic home right near, and that still exists in the
neighborhood, and I cringe even... and I ... I drive through, uh, up Gilbert and past
these buildings, particularly the 300, um, in the 300s there on Jefferson, and I just
can't imagine that anyone could let that, uh, potentially be gone, and I don't have
much new to add except for perhaps the thought that will the stewards 100 years
from now be sitting around protecting, uh, potential student warehousing
buildings that could be in here, like we're trying to do today for the people who...
you know, designed and built these things 100, 150 years ago? There was a
whole period of not caring about that anymore, but fortunately we've developed
as a society to, uh, understand that's a real treasure, and I ask you to preserve the
treasure of my town. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
Kinsey: Hello, I'm Joni Kinsey and I've spoken up here a number of times for different
purposes and uh, long time ago it was especially on the cause of exactly this --
Historic preservation back when the original historic preservation plan for Iowa
City was being adopted, and the first historic districts were being approved, there
was a great deal of disregard for historic preservation, and thankfully we've come
a long way since then. We've done all sorts of ... different kinds of zones, from
conservation zones to historic districts and so forth, and it has really made a huge
difference since the 21 years that I've lived here. I don't live, uh, near there, this
district, anymore. I did for some ... almost 20 years. So I'm kind of an outsider's
voice at this point, but I still very much — as all of these people who've spoken do
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— care about this district, as I suspect many, many, many Iowa Citians who are not
even here tonight do care about the historic preservation of this district as ... as
we've all heard. The one thing I'd like to add that's not been said is that I, uh, am
an art historian of American art and architectural history and I teach at the
University of Iowa, and I do include architectural history and preservation issues,
as well as cultural issues that pertain to history and the built environment in my
courses. I do occasionally, uh, actually even require my students to do historic
tours of Iowa City, to even write about historic structures that they see, certainly
the churches in particular are instructive on this street that we're dealing with
here, but even as much are the vernacular homes and I just want to emphasize that
they have an educational value, not only to courses such as mine but to average
individuals, to help us understand where we've come from, and hopefully where
we will be going in the future in, um, the way in which our towns can be built.
So, one of the last points I want to make is that like doctors, you all have a great
deal of responsibility and uh, onus on you to do a good duty, uh, to do the right
thing, and certainly the first premise is to do no harm, um... in this case, doing
nothing is not a direct act to tear down these structures, but ultimately it could
mean that and it probably would mean that in the future. So I'd like to emphasize
your own historic role here as not just stewards of the present, but as stewards of
the future, as well as the past, as you look forward towards what you will be doing
tonight or if you defer this til another night, uh, to what this will mean for this
town and its future inhabitants. Thank you.
Hayek: Thank you.
Hawtrey: I'm Jim Hawtrey. I live on Dodge Street. I'm not in a historic district, but I'll
give you a little tiny bit of history there. When I moved to Dodge Street, there
were a few families on the street. Now there's ... two — myself and I have limited
time left on this earth probably, given the gray hair. And if you...
Champion: (both talking) die it then you won't have it anymore! (laughter)
Hawtrey: I can't do that. (laughs) I've always thought I have to be... stay honest to my
head! (laughter) Any rate, if you do nothing, look at Dodge Street. Now I must
say that Dodge Street has improved because we had a landlord there that has done
things to maintain the quality of the houses, but they are all student housing, and
students, though they move to a house because they want to live in a house, don't
care as much for a house as a family, and that's all I have really to say. Thank
you.
Hayek: Thank you. So we've ... we've had about a ... a little over an hour of community
comment. Um ... are there others who ... feel it's important to weigh in during this
public hearing? That was kind of a subtle discouragement (laughter) I worry
about the Council and this audience losing, uh, losing steam, and we've been
going for three (coughing, unable to hear) three and a half hours. Is there
anything else that is salient and will help us, uh, make our decision, and that does
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not involve Brandon Ross, no sir, we're not going to go back there (laughter) but
thanks for the pen! No, Brandon. You ... you, I'm not ... cause if I open it up to
you I open it up to everybody else to get a second bite at the apple. Appreciate it.
Okay. Is there anybody else who hasn't spoken who needs to?
Dulek: You want to take the straw poll before you close it (both talking) Yes. Before
you close it.
Hayek: Okay!
Champion: Oh!
Hayek: That's right. Okay, um, well ... who, uh, who would be in support of this district,
at least based on what you've heard?
Champion: I would definitely be in support.
Payne: Yes.
Dickens: I wore my Northside t -shirt last night to bed (laughter) hoping for some
inspiration. I bought it up at the North Market Square at the ... the park there.
Hayek: Actually you know what? If...if...we're already at six (several talking) right?
Dickens: Well I was going to go yes.
Champion: Oh, yes! (clapping)
Dickens: Based on (clapping) ...
Throgmorton: You should keep on speaking!
Hayek: Yeah, yeah, I know it!
Mims: I'll move first consideration. (several talking)
Hayek: Okay, uh (several talking) Uh, I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs
gavel) Uh...
b. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Should I do that again?
Hayek: Yes.
Mims: Move first consideration.
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Payne: Second.
Champion: Second.
Hayek: Moved by, uh, Mims, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Let's turn right back to
you.
Dickens: Well ... I have a lot of notes here. Uh, the number of people that were protesting
that ... that did bother me in the area, and it seemed to be ... the whole area seemed
to be pushed by the purchase of the Bostwick House, which is very historic, and
seemed to trigger the whole... pushing it a little quicker here. Um, history is very
important to me. My wife always says I talk about history too much, but Iowa
City's important. So ... probably the biggest thing is watching Phil and Greg back
there, after Greg spoke. Phil slaps him on the back or they slap each other on the
back. They both went to high school or junior high together and to see them, they
have their differences but they both want the same thing. So ... that's what did it!
Hayek: I think, uh ... uh ... I think this is incredibly important to ... to support. Um,
neighborhood stabilization is one of our utmost strategic priorities. Um, we ... we
identified that and we have done a lot, um, in the last year or two to start the
process of, um, doing more to protect, uh, the areas near downtown, um, a lot has
occurred to the benefit of the near northside, which is the area most affected by,
uh, what's proposed. Um, we've made a lot of investment, uh, in our downtown
and near -north downtown, uh, area. This ... this area straddles that, or ... or is a
buffer in between it, um, I think it represents a strategic, uh, entry point for the
community. It's a highly visible, uh, area, um ... uh, I understand the opposition
through the petition process, but my ... from my perspective the ... the public
support for this is, uh, is overwhelming, um ... the ... both the Historic Preservation,
uh, Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously
supported this; staff supports this; I think this is a unique community asset,
um... and... and I ... I also, I agree with the, uh, with the arguments that ... that, uh,
these sorts of districts can have a... a net economic gain, um, a spin -off effect,
some sort of...greater than the ... the whole greater than the sum of the parts, uh,
impact and I think this, uh, is critical to our downtown and our... and our near -
northside, and I think we've seen the threat historically to the areas near
downtown. That was mentioned several times this evening. Um, and based on
recent experience that threat is ongoing. I think we have an opportunity to do
something important, um, and significant and I would be supportive.
Mims: Yeah, I would echo a lot of what Matt has said. I ... I come from a background
where my ... I am a really, really strong proponent of property owners' rights. At
the same time, as property owners, we also have some responsibility to our
neighbors and to our community. And to me that's what this is really about. If
you look at this area, you ... I don't care which side of the issue you're on, you
can't argue but what there are a lot of incredibly historic buildings within this
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area. Um, again, the location of it, so close to downtown, as a transition area or a
traffic way to the east. Um, as Matt mentioned, the strategic plan that we did a
year and a half ago or whatever, almost two years ago now, in terms of
neighborhood stabilization. I think it is key to that. As also ... also as he
mentioned, we have just seen so many situations of developers buying up multiple
adjacent homes, tearing those down, and putting up mega - apartment buildings
that really have a very negative impact upon that kind of, uh, family- oriented, or
at least a balance, of family- oriented neighborhoods with student housing, and so
I think given, for me, you know, the location, the number of historical buildings,
the ... what we've seen with the housing being torn down, um, just makes this a
critical area that needs, that we need to put some additional protection on. So I'll
gladly be supporting it.
Champion: Well, I knew all along I would support it because I'm really, I'm in favor of this
kind of overlay on ... on older neighborhoods. It's been proven to be beneficial to
the community, and to the neighborhood, and it ... I haven't seen anything
detrimental happen to anybody with ... with this overlay. I ... I think this Jefferson
Street, I have never seen so much input from people who don't live on Jefferson
Street! This is obviously important to people who live in Iowa City, who have
seen what has happened to some of our older neighborhoods and respect them.
And I just want to thank everybody for coming out tonight, and all the people who
have stopped in to talk to me, that this is a very important thing to Iowa City.
Thank you for coming!
Payne: I just ... I'm not going to repeat what everybody said, but I definitely agree with,
uh, what both, uh, Susan and Matt and Connie have said. I think it's very
important to our ... to our neighborhood stabilization to do ... to do this and it's part
of our strategic plan.
Dobyns: The first thing I learned about city government I was taught by my colleague
Michael Maharry, who I think was your predecessor on the Historic Preservation,
and he said the ultimate definition of an historic neighborhood is a place where
Irving Weber would stop at every property (laughter) and tell you a story, and I
think this is the ultimate definition of that because I think Weber got so tired he
could only walk 100 feet away and he's been standing there ever since! (laughter)
Dickens: I do have Irving's, uh, entire set of books and some of `em are signed by Irving.
He was good friends with my wife's grandmother and so ... I'm proud of this!
Hayek: Good!
Throgmorton: Well funny! Maybe I should say just a couple words. Uh, it's ... it's a real treat to
be able to vote for this, uh, and there's no way I could be as eloquent as you
collectively have been. Thank you, uh, the only thing ... the only other thing I ... I
guess I think about is that, you know, I've lived here for 26 years and I worked in
Jessup Hall for most of that time, like 24 years, and I have, uh, literally walked or
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biked down Jefferson Street thousands of times in ... in that period, uh, so I think I
know deep in my bones what that means for this city, and it's ... it's a great
feeling, and it just, uh, you all use the word sense of place, character, community
identity — all that's wrapped up in those buildings. So it's a real pleasure to be
able to support this.
Hayek: Roll call, please.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Hayek: First consideration passes (clapping)
Throgmorton: So moved!
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton (clapping in background), seconded by Payne.
Discussion? (clapping in background) ...aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries
7 -0. How are we doing? Do we want to take a break?
Throgmorton: We should take a break.
Hayek: Okay. (BREAK)
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ITEM 4d CONDITIONALLY REZONING .22 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 221
AND 225 NORTH LINN STREET AND THE ADJACENT .07 ACRE LOT
ASSOCIATED WITH THE MIDAMERICAN SUBSTATION FROM
NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION RESIDENTIAL (RNS -12) TO
CENTRAL BUSINESS SERVICE (CB -2). (REZ12- 00028)
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: Okay, let's start up the meeting again. If we could quiet down out there in the
audience that'd be great. Thank you. (reads Item 4d)
Dobyns: Move first consideration.
Payne: I have to recuse myself.
Hayek: Actually we need a public hearing first too, Rick, so...
Dobyns: Okay! (laughter)
Hayek: Council Member Payne will be recusing herself, uh, given her employment at
MidAmerican. Um, so ... this is a public hearing. (bangs gavel) The public
hearing is open. Is there any ex parte, uh, communication to disclose?
Mims: No.
Hayek: With that, let's, uh, turn it over to Jeff!
Davidson: This project should seem a bit familiar to you. Uh, this is the location at the
corner of Linn and Bloomington. Several months ago you had a, uh, project
which, at that time, also included... this property, uh, on Bloomington Street, and
here's an aerial view. It currently includes two of the, uh, two of the residences
that was ... that were included in the original proposal. Uh, the zoning also
includes the MidAmerican substation here, although it is not part of the
redevelopment project, and you can also see that there's a gravel driveway here.
The ownership of which is at least supposedly split between the ... the owners of
the adjacent residences, uh, I'll have a little bit more to say about that. Uh, the
proposal from Northside Commons LLC is for a rezoning from RN 12 to, uh,
C132. The goal is to build this building, uh, at the corner. Uh, the developer has
attempted to take into consideration the concerns, uh, that were expressed at the,
uh, during the consideration of the previous project. You will recall that Council
did, uh, approve a Comprehensive Plan amendment but not the zoning for the
project at that time, and basically it was the scale of the project that, uh, seemed to
be the ... the issue. Um, as I mentioned, the ... the, uh, project currently contains
these homes, uh, a duplex and a four -plex, uh, that have a total of, let me make
sure I get this number right — uh, 12 units ... um ... yeah, the...the building that's
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proposed then would include a commercial space, 2,400 square feet of
commercial space, and then residential on the, uh, second and third floors, and I
believe... okay, here would be the, uh, subterranean parking for the residences.
Uh, and you can see the driveway here, uh, for the subterranean entrance. This
has access then off of the alley. Uh ... here you see then the second floor with the
2,400 square feet of commercial space, parking behind, uh, access off of, urn ... uh,
Bloomington Street, and we would suggest that the old gravel driveway be closed
because of the adjacency here to what would be the new entrance. Uh, here is the
second floor, uh, with eight one - bedroom units and the third floor with, urn ... uh,
the four two - bedroom units, so a total of 16 bedrooms compared to the 12 that are
on the site currently. There's also a roof terrace, uh, which you see here, and that
you can see ... there, well you can sort of see, uh, from the, uh, it would be located
on the top of the building. Urn ... let's see here. Excuse me I'm ... my machine is
catching up here. Uh, we looked at this in terms of the Comprehensive Plan
which as I mentioned was amended, uh, when you considered the proposal several
months ago. We feel it is consistent. Uh, and that the developer has attempted to
meet the concerns, uh, about the, uh, size and uh, scale, uh, compared to the
existing neighborhood. Uh, so the recommendation, uh, is to uh ... approve. Uh,
just real quickly the, uh, Conditional Zoning Agreement conditions would be no
more than two bedrooms are allowed per dwelling unit. Uh, final design of the
building approved by the City's Design Review Committee, which is an internal
administrative committee. Uh, commercial storefronts designed in a manner
consistent with the, uh, submitted elevation drawing. This is a concept. This is
not the exact building that will necessarily be built, but it is a concept. We'll have
to go through site plan review. Uh, if the third floor is built, and presumably it
would be built, that it be designed in a manner consistent with the, uh, submitted
drawing here. Uh, the gar ... the garage along Bloomington Street, that the
adjacent curb cut be closed, uh, streetscape along Linn Street designed to tie in
with the streetscape project that the city did a few years ago, uh, to the ... for the
two blocks farther north. Uh, and that the public alley, uh, between what you
...what you see right here, the public alley between this point on Linn Street, up
to the entrance, uh, into the new building, that that would be improved by the
developer. Those are the CZA conditions. Uh, are there any questions?
Dickens: So this drawing is just with two ... the two stories, not with a three- story.
Davidson: No, this is a three - story, Terry. This ... this third floor here has been deliberately
designed, uh, with the glass fagade to, uh, attempt to minimize the height. That's
something that was done specifically to, uh, try and make it tie in with the
neighborhood better.
Dickens: So where's the third floor...
Davidson: That's on top here, uh, where you see the trees. That ... that deck would be (both
talking) this parapet wall right here would ... would, uh, protect you from fallin'
off that top roof terrace.
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Dickens: I was lookin' at levels, not floors so...
Davidson: So you have commercial floor, first floor residential, second floor residential,
terrace.
Dickens: All right.
Davidson: Any other questions?
Throgmorton: Uh, I guess I have one. If.. if I was reading the Planning and Zoning
Commission meetings correctly, there was an issue with regard to the title for the
gravel drive.
Davidson: Yeah, the ... my understanding of that, Jim, is that there's... there, in terms of what
the developer wants to do, it requires this, uh, and it's a ... it's a private drive. It's
not a public alley. Would require it to be, you know, basically the ownership half
to this property, half to the adjacent property, and there's some dispute of that. It
is a matter between the two property owners, but it will need to be resolved before
the plan that you see before you could be executed. Any other questions for me
before you continue your hearing?
Hayek: Not ... not now. Thanks, Jeff!
Davidson: Thanks.
Hayek: Is there anyone from the audience who would like to address us during the public
hearing? Jessie?
Allen: Good evening! I'm Jessie Allen, owner of Northside Commons. Um, I'd like to
start off by talking a little bit about the history. A lot of you guys kind of
remember this from a little bit over a year ago. We started the, uh, process with
purchasing the property and the rezoning application, and we had three houses on
there. Um, in the process of doing this about ... about this time last year, we ... we
pulled this project off the table. We'd made it through Planning and Zoning. We
pulled the project off the table. Um, some of the background for ... for my
reasoning for doing that was I just felt like it was a little bit too big. Some of the
comments from the neighborhood and from staff were ... were startin' to sink in a
little bit so we ... we brought this back to the drawing board in ... in the early parts
of May. Um, I actually ran into a couple of the neighbors on the street in casual
and talking and walking around the downtown, and uh, so we brought it back to
the neighborhood and we had a formal meeting at the Iowa City Public Library
where we were taking comments. We explained the zoning that we were going to
participate in ... in how that would influence the neighborhood, and with that...
with that process we had two more meetings following that and we came up with
this concept. And what changed from a year ago was before we were looking at a
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rental, whereas now we're looking at owner- occupied and ... and that's when it
kind of dawned on me to ... this is RS -8 zoning. We're going to CB -2 zoning, um,
by having owner- occupied that will stabilize the Northside Market Place. That
will kind of ensure to the neighbors and the people that walk by this every day,
that we can have owner- occupied; we can do it classy; we can do it in a building
where the Northside neighborhoods can support and ... you know will actually buy
and move into this neighborhood because the Northside Market Place was a
special place. Um, we also, uh, month and a half ago walked around the
neighborhood handing out flyers to see if there was any comments or any
resistance in our proposal so that we could change `em at that point and adapt
some of those things. We went to Motley Cow, um, the owner was very
supportive. Artifacts. We talked to Wally at John's Grocery. Lot of these people
were very positive with the, uh, context of the building. So were very support so
we kind of moved it forward at this stage.
Hayek: Great. Any questions for Jessie (both talking)
Allen: ...questions for me?
Champion: I think this is really a nice design. Uh, and I like it a whole lot better than the last
one, although I didn't have strong objections to it. But this is really great. Good
for you! You listened!
Throgmorton: I wasn't on the Council when that earlier proposal came up, but I know I said a
few words, pretty much in opposition to it, uh, during a public hearing. Uh, so I
really like what you're doing here but I wonder if...I wonder if I could get you to
talk a little bit about ... you held a ... a neighborhood consultation meeting, didn't
you, with ... with neighbors, I mean (both talking) wonder if you could say a few
more words about what you learned from that, and then also I'm really curious
about the rooftop terrace. You know, what ... what gave you that idea; why did
you chose to pursue it, um ... what do you hope to do with it, you know, how's it
going to be used?
Allen: Well, we ... we learned, to answer your first question, at the meeting with the
neighbors we learned that, you know, stepping back the building. Uh, I don't
know if staff pointed that, but on the westerly boundary it's stepped back like five
to seven feet, and as we go to the third floor where it's glass, we use that to kind
of... so it doesn't overpower the pedestrians when you're walking down the street.
So we use glass so it kind of blends into the, you know, third floor, but it's also
stepped back probably a foot and a half to two feet with that third floor. It's just
the tapering effect so that when you're a pedestrian or you're riding your bike
down the street, you don't see a taller building because it is a sensitive area and,
you know, a lot of the buildings and characteristics are out there. We want it to
blend in. Also through the meetings we ... we kind of showed pictures of other
buildings. We ... we pulled off some of the white, uh, from Pagalia's. Um, we
gave `em kind of... different photographs so that they could pick different
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architectural elements. We tried to introduce those to the site so that it would
relate to other buildings in the area.
Throgmorton: I ... I really like the ... how you're saying you were relating to ... your building, to
the others in the area and trying to enhance the compatibility and uh, sense of
shared identity, basically, through architecture, but could you say something also
about the rooftop terrace?
Allen: And then rooftop terrace kind of came abart ... a... kind of came a... came apart
because it's never been done in Iowa City, and we thought it was a unique and
special opportunity to try it out in this market where it would be supportive with
the Northside neighbors, the Northside Market Place, and we ... we thought that'd
be a good asset to the community to have, and would kind of ensure the higher
value, the target market. You know, whether we're going one bedrooms or two
bedrooms, you know, the market's going to determine what we build. We
showed two renderings there. One floor one - bedrooms, one floor of two -
bedrooms. We think the rooftop terrace will be attractive for long -term residents
to stay there.
Throgmorton: Thanks!
Dickens: Having been to, uh, some people that have condos in Chicago that have a rooftop
that they share with other neighbors, it's really a nice place where they can go,
since you have limited yard space to ... to be able to be outside and in with the
green space, I think is nice addition.
Hayek: Any other questions for the developer? Okay, thanks, Jessie!
Allen: Thanks.
Hayek: Anybody else, uh, during this public hearing? Okay, I'll close the public hearing
at this time. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Dobyns: Move first consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Dobyns, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Mims: Nope! Nice adjustment!
Hayek: Yeah, I think this is a ... a much better project, uh, it's been a long road, but I think
what we're seeing is something that, uh, has been accepted, uh, by the neighbors
and ... and has the endorsement of staff and makes a lot of sense for the area. Any
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other discussion? Roll call, please. First consideration passes 6 -1, Payne, uh,
recusing.
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ITEM 4e CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 7.79 ACRES OF
LAND LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE
INTERSECTION OF NORTH DODGE STREET AND PRAIRIE DU
CHIEN ROAD FROM MEDIUM DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY (RS -8),
NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC (P -1) AND HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL (CH-
1) TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY- COMMUNITY
COMMERCIAL (OPD- CC -2). (REZ12- 00026)
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Any ex parte
communications to disclose? I just have a couple to disclose. Some months ago I
met, uh, with the City Manager, uh, and the applicant and the applicant's counsel.
We held a brief, er, a meeting, uh, where they showed some preliminary concept,
uh, designs for the area in question, um, we had a conversation about the
necessity to protect the adjacent neighborhood, few other things. Uh, that's about
all I can recall, and then I had a brief conversation today with, uh, Andy Chappell
from the County about the process to be followed and his, uh, participation in this
from a legal standpoint.
Mims: And a brief conversation with me.
Hayek: Yeah (laughter) yeah! (mumbled) that's why we have these checks and balances
(laughs) So, anybody else? Okay. Jeff!
Davidson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh ... the, uh, applicant — HyVee Stores Inc. — uh has
requested four specific actions leading to development of a new north Dodge, uh,
HyVee on the site of the former Roberts Dairy. The dairy was in place since the
30s and ceased operation a couple of years ago. Uh, there's request for both a
Comprehensive Plan amendment, uh, a rezoning, uh, preliminary plat, and
vacation of street right ... right-of-way, and we'll talk briefly about all of those.
Here's an aerial view of the site, uh, currently, and it consists of not only the, uh,
the dairy property, but also some public property owned by the City of Iowa City
in ... in this area and we'll talk a little bit more about that. Uh ... has ... has in the
past had as much as three uses, uh, all of those are proposed to go away, except
for the communications tower which we're still in some negotiation about
whether or not that will, uh, stay or go, but for the time being it is proposed to
remain in place, uh, with the proposed HyVee store. Uh, just a couple of other
images, here's the, uh, site exhibit. Uh, the vacation would occur in this area
here, and I was informed today that this is ... there may be some references to St.
Clements Alley. It is actually officially St. Clements Street, um ... to the south of
Dodge Street it's St. Clements Alley. Uh, this portion of it, which goes right
through the middle of the site, is what is proposed to be vacated and a new, uh,
access, public access, uh, to ... there are nine residences, uh, back in this area, uh,
would come out to Prairie du Chien Road and provide access in and out, and quite
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frankly we think probably better access, uh, in and out than right now, having to
mix with the trucks, uh, in the ... on the dairy property. Uh, we've worked with
the applicant in particular over the, um, adjacent neighborhood concerns. As
you're all aware, uh, this area over here is a, uh, well established older
neighborhood. You see here a proposed, uh, layout of what it would look like.
The convenient store property, the gas pumps, the main parking facility, and then
the HyVee store, uh, proper. The area where the communications tower is is over
here, uh, I think the site plan ... yeah, the site plan shows right here where it would
remain. In particular I thought this was a particularly good shot, because the ... the
buffering in this area here was a... a big concern, uh, of the neighborhood and
what we've basically been able to work out is that there will be at least a 35 -foot
buffer, a vegetated buffer, S3 standard, which is a ... a standard, in that area, at
least 35 -feet, and where it is less than 35 -feet, it will be enhanced with a masonry
wall in addition. So, uh, Planning and Zoning, uh, felt that this was a good, uh,
good way to work out the ... the concerns of the neighborhood. You can also see
that the orientation of the convenience store has been changed to face inward, so
that the lights and noise and all that, again, is separated by the building here, uh,
from the rest of the neighborhood. Uh, you will also note the parapet walls here
on both this building and this building. That would be ... that would keep the
mechanical equipment, uh, operating on top of the building... would... would
buffer some of the sound. Uh, frankly some of the ... the neighborhoods... some of
the neighbors in the area, uh, I think believe that there'll be less noise with this,
compared to the dairy trucks running and the dairy operating. Uh, there may
actually be an improvement, but we do feel like the applicant has done a good job
of, uh, focusing it inward so that there's not the neighborhood impacts. Uh, you
will also see the ... the planted area, and there's a small berm along, uh, Dodge
Street, as well. We ... we think it fits into the neighborhood, uh, here's another
view. Uh, you'll note...
Throgmorton: Jeff, could you go back to that other view please?
Davidson: Sure!
Throgmorton: Thanks!
Davidson: We are not proposing new mast arms to the traffic signals, but these are very
elegantly looking. (laughter) Um, the, uh, the slide here is Dodge Street and you
will notice the windows and the awing, trying to give it, you know, it...it is tough
for grocery stores to provide windows cause they have so much stuff up against
the walls on the inside of the building, but we do, again, appreciate the applicant,
uh ... putting the windows and the awnings, to try and you know break up the
...the mass of the building and again, make it, uh, try and fit into the, uh,
neighborhood a little well. Uh, you have a separate item on your agenda, the
...the item you have on consideration right now is the zoning. Uh, following the
final reading you would have the plat, the vacation — I've just covered it all in
one, but you do have, uh, separate items. Um ... see if there was anything else.
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While I'm leafing through my notes here, are there any questions, anything
you've seen so far? Uh, oh, may I ... address one thing. The ... the Comprehensive
Plan amendment, what we attempted to work out, uh, with the applicant, uh, is
the ... the Comprehensive Plan amendment was deemed necessary because of the
need to ... there is language in the Comprehen ... Comprehensive Plan calling for a
Main Street -type commercial district, and we feel that working with the applicant,
they have done enough to try and make this fit into the, uh, the rest of the
neighborhood that we do not feel the Comprehensive Plan amendment is
necessary. Our recommendation's basically that it is consistent with the Comp
Plan. So that's why that's been removed from the recommendation because we
do not feel that that is necessary. There are sensitive areas in the, uh, northwest
corner of the site that will be used for storm water detention and uh, that will be
worked out at the site plan stage, administratively. Uh, as I mentioned, the plat
will be considered after your third consideration. Uh, the vacation of the street,
we covered, uh, St. Clements Street and the establishment of the new street. We
covered that. Uh, I did want to mention if ..if you, in your materials that you
received, uh, the ... the uh, Planning and Zoning Commission, um, staff report
does not include all the conditional zoning conditions that were eventually agreed
to. If you ... if you go down to the memo from Bob Miklo, uh, just real quickly. A
buffer area, uh, that we outlined, that I showed you would be required. Uh, there
are restrictions in terms of signage, again, to make it fit into the neighborhood;
limitation on the number of freestanding signs, uh, there will be some monument
signs in addition. Uh, quality design according to the images that you see here,
uh, preservation of as many trees as possible, and then the screening, uh, called
out, that will be called out in the site plan. Uh, construction of a bus pull -off, uh,
landscaping consistent with the plan that you see, and then the parapet walls on
the buildings that ... that I outlined. Those are the conditions that will be, uh,
required, uh, if approved. Are there any questions?
Payne: Can you go back one slide? Yeah, to this view. Um ... I have a concern about
traffic in the entrance, um, kind of halfway in between. I live over by the First
Avenue HyVee and it's ... (both talking) yes! It's really hard to get in and out of
that store because there's just so much traffic in that entrance. Is this entrance
going to be straight across from St. Clements Alley?
Davidson: Uh...
Payne: Or is it going to be off -set?
Davidson: I can't tell. (unable to hear person away from mic) It is offset. Now we have
...do have arterial street requirements for offsets of at least 125 -feet, so that we
don't have the ... the problem that you're, uh, talking about. Overall there is a
reduction in the number of access points. Uh, we worked with the developer on
that, and ... and one thing I would, uh, note, Michelle, is especially on the Prairie
du Chien Road side. They had an access point much closer in one of the earlier,
uh, drawings we saw. It's now been pulled back to here. We think in terms of
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preserving the, uh, the operation of this intersection, that these access points
will ... will work well. You also have the center turn lane on Dodge Street, which
will get the turning traffic out of the traffic stream. So, our Transportation people
that have looked at it do think it's a workable traffic flow system here.
Payne: I'm kind of skeptical, because of past experience. (laughs)
Dobyns: Jeff, can you go back to the aerial, a few slides back? Um ... what's going ... there.
What's going to go north and east of the future grocery site... site where the
current grocery is? Is there...
Davidson: Oh right here? Uh, that is uh, or excuse me, right here (both talking)
Dobyns: ...once it's vacated. Any plans for...
Davidson: Here? This one? Uh, that is a privately owned building that HyVee leases, is my
understanding, and we ... I ... I have not heard any speculation of what would
happen to that. It would obviously be available for, uh, someone to reoccupy or
for it to be redeveloped.
Dobyns: Okay.
Champion: The only thing that I'm concerned about, oh, sorry! Lost it! (laughs) (noises on
mic) The only thing that I'm concerned (several talking and laughing) All right.
It's not pick on Connie night! (laughter) Um, when you get to the final plat and
all (mumbled) I don't object to the rezoning and all that; whatever we have to do.
But I am concerned about the lights, cause HyVee's opened 24- hours -a -day. That
gas station's probably going to be open 24- hours -a -day. I'm just speculating,
don't know that for sure. And what about the lighting, uh, bleeding into that
neighborhood or...
Davidson: Yeah. We do have lighting standards to deal with exactly that issue, in particular
in... in residential areas. It's very specific and that, again, would be handled at the
site plan stage, administratively, but our folks down in HIS, Julie and Jann,
they're, I think, very good at scrutinizing that.
Champion: Okay, great! Okay.
Hayek: S o l ...this is probably a dumb question, but I just want to make sure that ... that the
CZA reflects what Planning and Zoning approved.
Davidson: It does specifically, yes.
Hayek: Okay. And that these concept drawings we're seeing, were they what they
approved or were they developed (both talking)
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Davidson: Yes, those are concepts (both talking) until the site plan's approved, the building
permit is, you know, we don't know for sure but ... but that is the concept, yes, and
the ... and the applicant's present. You can ask them if there's any variation that
they have planned.
Dickens: And the size of the store is how much bigger than the other one?
Davidson: I apologize. I can't remember! (unable to hear person away from mic) The
previous one is 35,000, the existing store, and this one would be 50,000.
Dobyns: What size are the other ones, like in eastern Iowa City and...
Hayek: You know what, if you're going to talk...
Davidson: Would you like the applicant to step forward (laughter) and ... and speak as you
continue your hearing? Any other questions for me?
Throgmorton: Yeah, I do have a question for you, Jeff, um ... to ... to my eye the parking looks
excessive, so would you comment on that?
Davidson: I believe there is more parking than required. Again, the applicant may, um, may
wish to address that, but we do not have, uh, upper limits in this particular zone.
We do in the neighborhood commercial zone, but not in the CC -2 zone.
Throgmorton: How many spaces above, uh, our minimum requirement is it?
Davidson: Um, if we could have the applicant address that. I'm sorry, Jim, I don't know the
answer.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Davidson: Anything else? Okay.
Pugh: Good evening, I'm Mike Pugh. I'm here as Counsel for, uh, for HyVee Food
Stores and as Mr. Davidson alluded to, um, the site has a lot going on, and a lot of
things that will come before, uh, the City for review and ... and approval. The one
that's before you, uh, this evening is the ... is the rezoning and the ... and the
vacation of St. Clements Street or St. Clements Alley through the site, and...
we'll also be, uh, have to go through the City for our subdivision, for OPD, uh,
site plan, uh, review, and we've been before the Board of Adjustment, uh, for
special exception, um, permits for ... uh,. both of our driveways — the driveway
through the coffee shop as well as, uh, the driveway through the, uh, for the
pharmacy, but what sort of has underlined all of those, uh, review in our
discussions with the City and .... and those various boards and commissions is... is
making sure this project is compatible with the North District Plan, as well as
with the residential neighborhood that is immediately to the west of this, and also
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to the north of this. Um, you know, I really want to thank staff, uh, for their
efforts on this project because we have gone through a couple different plans, uh,
with them but I think, uh, I think what you're seeing before you is a ... is a better
project than what we started with and um, there are some things, um, about it that
I think are pretty, uh, pretty attractive. The ... the main one, the one that we spent
the most time on is in connection with the westerly boundary of the property, and
this is the exhibit that you can see most clearly is the ... 35 -foot setback from
Prairie du Chien Road, if you would sort of draw a straight line along that
landscape buffer there, all the way from the northerly boundary to the southerly
boundary, that's ... that represents 35 -feet and so in that area where the driveway,
uh, encroaches within that 35 -feet, uh, it's just a small corner of the building, but
primarily that driveway that goes through the coffee shop, in that area we have
added a 5 -foot masonry wall and the ... the ordinances require one of two things
when, uh, for a project like this in terms of screening. One is landscaping through
the S3 standard, or the installation of some sort of masonry wall, and sort of what
we've done here is combine the two of `em. Uh, so and I think ... I think what
we're ending up with, uh, you can see on some of the ... the drawings and stuff
will be a very attractive, uh, streetscape, uh, both along Dodge Street and Prairie
du Chien Road. Other things that we've worked on in terms of preserving the, uh,
existing trees and the sort of the northeasterly, um, area of the property, uh, we've
agreed to put some arbor vitae along the northerly boundary of the new St.
Clements right -of -way to act as a buffer, um, between the project and the
residential neighborhood. Mr. Davidson re ... uh, referenced the parapet walls,
both on the convenience store and the ... and the actual, the main building itself in
order to eliminate noise, and all of those things sort of resulted from our
discussions, not only with staff but, uh, the neighbors that spoke at, uh, at
Planning and Zoning and input from the Planning and Zoning Council so what
you have before you, I think, is a ... is a very good project, uh, a very attractive
project. Um ... the Conditional Zoning Agreement, uh, directly mirrors what the
recommendations of the ... of the Planning Commission, uh, recommended. That
has been signed now by HyVee Food Stores and ... and by the property owner.
Um, this is something that staff supports, it's something that Planning and Zoning
support by unanimous vote, uh, Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to
support our pharmacy drive - through, as well as the coffee shop, uh, drive -
through, and we'd certainly ask for your support as well. Uh, Mr. Hosch from
HyVee Food Stores drove over from Des Moines, uh, tonight and, uh, so I'm
going to let him, uh, speak, um... say a few things, and also our engineer, uh, is
here from, uh., from MMS Consultants, as well. Thanks!
Hayek: Thanks, Mike!
Payne: Can I ask you a question real quick?
Pugh: Sure!
Payne: So where in this drawing is the drive - through for the pharmacy?
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Pugh: If you look, uh, at the main building there, there's a ... toward the northerly portion
of that building. I don't know if you can see the cars there or not. (several talking
away from mic) Right in here. That's the pharmacy drive - through. It's a one-
lane, uh, drive - through, um, just for pharmacy use ... uses, not for ... not for the
grocery store.
Payne: So would there be a place where you ... where the, where they load and unload, or
load your groceries too?
Pugh: No, that ... there's one like that down on Waterfront, but this is just a one -lane, uh,
drive for the... for pharmacy uses.
Payne: Okay, and then on the convenience store, the coffee shop, the drive - throughs in
the, I'm going to call it in the back, but it's behind, like over towards Prairie du
Chien.
Pugh: On the northerly, uh, portion of that building, right. You come in, uh, from the
...from the drive area and then ... right at that location there where we think the
headlights will be facing westerly is where the masonry wall will be. We think
will act as a nice, uh, a nice shield there and then you would exit, uh, going south
from that location.
Payne: Okay, thank you.
Champion: I don't care where it's at but... now... oh, yes. Now ... if the pharmacy is going in
front of that building, right? The pharmacy drive ... drive-through is in the front of
the grocery store? Is that what you're telling me? Where's the ... where do people
go into the grocery store at?
Pugh: Well there's a ... there's actually a couple of different entrances. There's one...
sort of in that location, and I don't know if we have a... a better shot of the
elevation but there's one in that location, plus there's one south of there. Yeah,
you can kind of see it from this ... if you see ... (both talking) if you see the HyVee
sign...
Champion: Yes, right. Okay.
Pugh: so that would be the main entrance to the store, and then there's actually another
location ... you can see the drive - through, uh, it's kind of have a ... has a covered
roof to it. There's another location just to the left of that.
Champion: (both talking) I understand now. Thanks! I couldn't get the perspective on that,
just that little drawing. Yeah, okay.
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Dobyns: this configuration reminds me. On my side of town on the west, Mormon Trek
and Westwinds where you have, um, Fareway Grocery Store. It's a very similar
configuration to over there. Now there's a traffic light on Mormon Trek where
there is not one here on Dubuque but uh ... um, on Dodge. But I ... I assume, Jeff,
if you go on Prairie du Chien there's an alternate area of access and I think it's,
well on schematic. Was that in ... I'm sort of thinking that on ... like when you try
and go into Fareway, you don't have to try and get off Mormon Trek. You can go
onto Westwinds and you can get to Fareway...
Davidson: Right.
Dobyns: ... on the backside, without having to take a left turn against traffic, across traffic,
and it seems that you're able to do that if you go down Prairie du Chien Road
rather than at that corner that Michelle mentions, um, where there'd be so much
traffic on Dodge Street. Is ... is that sort of designed that way or is that...
Davidson: Um, yeah, I mean we would expect this to be the principal access in and out, uh,
and this to be the ... those to be the two main entrances. This one would a little bit
more direct. Um, you know, we do feel like, you know, when we looked at the
traffic situation here, between this traffic signal and the traffic signal that's down
at, uh, Scott Boulevard, we think there's good gaps in the traffic stream in ... in
this area. Um, it's not planned right now, it's not out of the question that if traffic
volumes were high enough, Conklin, where the old store is, could possibly have a
signal, but even with the two existing signals, there's good gaps in the traffic
stream for turns off of, uh, Dodge Street at that location.
Dobyns: But even if you don't want, you can still ... coming from the center of the city, you
could take a left on Prairie du Chien (both talking) exit on Dodge Street basically.
Yeah.
Davidson: Yeah. I mean, when you're exiting and making a left... oh no, you were talking
about making a right and going back into town. Yeah, that (both talking)
Dobyns: ...would be easy.
Davidson: Right. Any other questions about traffic flow or anything like that? Uh, Jim,
while I was sitting there I did count parking spaces and I ... I had just around 100,
101 it looked like —110, something like that. Uh, again, I apologize I don't know
how that compares to the requirement, and that's not a specific number until the
site plan comes in. That's when it's determined exactly, well basically that they
meet the parking requirement. That's where that's ascertained.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Hosch: Hello, my name is Pete Hosch with HyVee Corporate Offices in West Des
Moines, Iowa. I'd like to thank the Council for considering our agenda items this
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evening, and also like to thank and complement City staff for working with us
throughout this process. I think we've come to a point where our site plan has
improved considerably, uh, as respectful of the neighborhoods on the north and to
the west. I think the orientation of the convenience store has come a long way
from our original proposals and uh, we've addressed the traffic issues that you've
been discussing this evening, have improved substantially relative to the existing
curb cuts that are there today. We've diminished those numbers and circulation
of the site overall works quite well, um, we feel that it actually works much better
than our existing facility. Uh, we feel that this is an opportunity for HyVee to
maintain a presence in this area of town. We've had our facility, uh, at its current
location for just over 30 years. Uh, the existing configuration of that building and
the size of... and the constraints of the site don't allow us to expand that facility
to, um, add the amenities that we want to add to this neighborhood. Roberts
Dairy came to us with this opportunity. We felt it was a great, uh, chance to
redevelopment what is probably an inappropriate use within a residential
neighborhood, and uh, allow us to maintain a presence here, add the services that
we want to, uh, add, additional amenities for our customers, and continue to ... to
have a presence within this area of town. Uh, I can speak to any of the issues that
you've raised today. Uh the lighting will be addressed. We'll do full photometric
plans. We actually use much lower light levels on our convenience stores than
many of our competitors. We don't feel that it's necessary. Also the orientation
of the building will help with that, but obviously photomatic ... photometric plans
will be submitted to the City. Uh, we're usually up against scenarios where they
require no more than one candle of light to be emitted off the site. That will be
more than likely the requirement here and we're more than able to, uh,
complement that or accommodate for that. So we don't foresee that being an
issue. Question was raised about parking. Uh, from a ratio perspective, uh, I
believe it's closer to 200...215 stalls that are shown on site here. From a ration
perspective is how we look at it. Uh, this facility is going to have a similar ratio
to the facility that we're ... we're going to be exiting. Uh, we feel that that's
necessary and appropriate, due to the added amenities that we're going to have
here, with more of a restaurant -focus within the facility, more service departments
within the facility, that both drives our customer base and also drives our
employment to really, uh, need those additional parking stalls, uh, it's a ... it's a
ratio that we really strive for in all our facilities. It's not uh, it's generally
consistent with most municipal codes. I think Iowa City does have a little bit
lower number, uh, but nothing to preclude you from adding additional spaces.
Uh, we do typically in the summertime do outside garden centers, which takes up
a por... a portion of the parking. Uh, grocery chains are really a peak period
parking, uh, type use, so we really need to focus around our ... our peak periods,
which are the holidays and utilizing some of that space, again, for the garden
center that affords us that opportunity. We also see with the added amenity of the
bus stop, a lot of times we'll see customers using our parking lot to some extent
for their travels, uh, with the bus stop and we don't want to preclude that in any
way with a little additional parking we're allowed, or afforded a little bit more
opportunity to provide that service. So, um, I can answer any additional questions
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you have. Uh, I just want to say we're really excited about this project. We think
it's a great redevelopment opportunity and we're looking forward to, uh,
continued presence within this area.
Throgmorton: If.. if I could ask you a couple questions. First of all I'm very pleased to see that
HyVee is reinvesting in the northern part of Iowa City. It's important for us to
have a good quality, um ... um, grocery store in that area, so I'm very pleased
about that. Uh, I ... I am curious about, um, the ... the gas station. I'm wondering
if, um, if you intend to provide electric charging stations as part of that?
Hosch: You know we ... we've done it, uh, at our stores, urn ... we do have one instance
where we've done it at a convenience store. I think the nature of that business,
um, with the technology that exists today, it's probably less of an appropriate use.
I think until we get quicker charge, uh, stations available, I think it's, you know,
you're just in and out of a convenience store. We do quite often provide those
within our ... our food store parking lots, and we'll look at that opportunity here as
well. I anticipate that we'll probably seek, uh, at the very least what we'll do, uh,
items within this development that would allow us to ga... gain LEED
certification. We've got a couple stores that have, uh, met the LEED certification
requirements. Those requirements are really changing so often for retail that, uh,
we're really just applying the standards to our developments, not always seeking
the actual certification, because it is an onerous documentation process, but from
a construction perspective, uh, it's redevelopment property. We've got, you
know, access to ... to public transit. We think that it's going to meet a lot of those
standards, and one of those elements that we ... we add to ... to locations like this
that are seeking that certification would the electric charging stations. I think it's
more appropriate for the grocery store use, rather than the convenience store to
date.
Throgmorton: Uh -huh. Uh -huh. Thanks!
Hayek: Thank you.
Champion: Well congratulations cause that's my least favorite HyVee store in town
(laughter) is that one you're moving.
Hosch: We've been contemplating what we can do for a long period of time, and this
was, uh, the perfect opportunity!
Hayek: Are there any more questions for the (both talking)
Dobyns: I did earlier. What's the relative size to the other two Iowa City HyVees?
Hosch: Yeah, and that's ... catch me off just a hair. The most recent one, which I think is
we ... we call it Iowa City #1, but it's Water ... is it Water front? Is about 90,000
square feet and I would say our west side, or I'm sorry, our east side location
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should be about 65,000 square feet. Our Coralville store would be about 65,000
square feet, and that one's going to go up to about 90. The existing store here is
30 to 35, and this one ... right now the site plan's 51,7 ... 51,700 square feet so
smaller than anything we've got in existence and substantially smaller than what
our ... our typical store is, uh, when we have more land afforded to us.
Hayek: Thank you.
Hosch: Thank you.
Hayek: This is a public hearing. Is there anyone from the audience who wishes to weigh
in? Okay, I will close the public hearing at this time. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Payne: Move first consideration.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion?
Mims: Just glad to see, uh, this opportunity to redevelop that property, ever since Roberts
Dairy closed been very concerned about what we were going to see happen out
there and, you know, something positive for the neighborhood. I don't live too
far away so I'm in that store (mumbled) that they see me every day (laughs) it's
not quite that often, but close sometimes, and uh, to have a bigger facility that
will, I think, give better service to the people who live on that north side, um, I
think will be a real positive and then I think we'll look to see what happens at the
current location.
Payne: I think this is a great enhancement for that area, that corner. I am concerned about
the traffic. I think with the bigger store, it's obviously, I mean, you hope to have
more customers in the store, so there's probably going to be more traffic than
there is today. So that is something that is concerning to me, um, but obviously
this is a great improvement for ... for what's there currently and it ... I will support
it.
Hayek: I know this, uh, area probably better than any other place in town. I spent my
entire youth riding my bicycle through, uh, Hometown Dairy's parking lot. Uh, I
know it like the back of my hand. I was there, uh, playing in the hole when the
current HyVee was being constructed, before they cared about keeping kids out of
such places, and I was there the day it opened. Um ... uh, and ... and we do need a
new facility in that area. You know, I saw the original concept, uh, plan. I think
this is a ... a great improvement to it. I think it's a good idea to orient the
convenience store to the east. The only thing that gives me a little pause, um, is...
is that it encroaches within the 35 -foot, uh, setback, uh ... I hope that the mixture
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of. ... of landscaping and masonry wall gets the job done there. I think it will. It's
not enough for me to, um, to ... to oppose this, and this was something that ... that
Planning and Zoning looked at and supported and the neighborhood, um, had a
role of course at that stage and, uh, weighed in and has obviously chosen not to be
here this evening, and so um, that's the only thing that gives me a little bit of...of
pause. Otherwise I think it's a strong design, urn ... and I think it's a great addition
to this area.
Dickens: I think the ... your question of traffic coming off of Dodge Street. The visibility is
actually going to be better at ... than it is currently because when you come out of
that one parking lot, looking down the hill, a lot of times you don't see the traffic
coming up, that's coming up at 45, slowing down to 35. This area's ... is 35 going
down to 25 in that particular area. I also live in that area and I walk up, and it is
going to be another half a block for me to walk (laughter) which most people
think I could use. I ... I'm very appreciative that you're doing the investment up
here and I hope the property next to you has something exciting too happen to it.
So ... thank you.
Hayek: Further discussion? Roll call, please. First consideration passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 4g CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING
APPROXIMATELY 1.02 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED ON 1ST AVENUE
NORTH OF ROCHESTER AVENUE FROM LOW DENSITY SINGLE
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL(RS -5) TO LOW- DENSITY MULTI - FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL (RM -12). (REZ12- 00025) (PASS AND ADOPT)
Champion: Move adoption.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Mims. Discussion? Any ex parte, uh,
between the last reading and this reading?
Mims: No.
Hayek: Okay. Any discussion? Anyone from the public? Roll call, please. Item passes
7 -0. Now getting out of the Planning and Zoning, uh, items, uh, at two and a half
hours in! (laughs)
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ITEM 5. PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE
OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FAIRMEADOWS PARK
SPLASH PAD PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID
SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK
TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE
FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS.
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Hayek: This is a public hearing. The public hearing is open. (bangs gavel) Uh, this will
be located at the Fairmeadows Park, uh, located at 2451 Miami Drive in Iowa
City. Public hearing is closed. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Dobyns: Move the resolution.
Payne: Second.
Hayek: Moved by, uh, Dobyns, seconded by Payne. Discussion? Roll call, please. Item
passes 7 -0.
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ITEM 9. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 5, ENTITLED
"BUSINESS AND LICENSE REGULATIONS," CHAPTER 1, ENTITLED
"GENERAL LICENSING PROVISIONS" AND CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED
"TAXICABS" TO REQUIRE A DISTINCTIVE COLOR SCHEME FOR
ALL VEHICLES DRIVEN BY A COMPANY; REQUIRE LOCATION OF
A DISPATCH OFFICE TO BE IN IOWA CITY OR CORALVILLE CITY
LIMITS AND ALLOW FLEXIBILITY FOR DISPATCHING FROM THE
OFFICE; RESTRICT NEW COMPANIES TO STARTING JUNE 1 OF
EACH YEAR; CLARIFY LANGUAGE REGARDING VEHICLE
LETTERING, AND REQUIRE DRIVER IDENTIFICATION TO BE
POSTED IN THE VEHICLE FACING THE PASSENGERS. (PASS AND
ADOPT)
Payne: I would like to move adoption with this change, that we remove the requirement
for a distinctive color scheme for all vehicles driven by a company at this time.
Throgmorton: Second.
Champion: I thought we were just deferring it til the Stn
Throgmorton: We were gonna...
Mims: Yeah, defer it to January Stn
Payne: Defer, okay... (several talking)
Hayek: ...amplify it...
Payne: Instead of at this time, to defer that to January 8th. Thank you.
Throgmorton: But it's ... it's pulled from this particular (several talking)
Payne: Want me to restate it so it's clear? So we wouldn't remove (several talking) for a
distinctive color scheme for all vehicles driven by a company and defer that to our
January 81h meeting.
Champion: Second!
Hayek: Okay, moved by Payne, seconded by Champion. Again, the motion is to pass
Item 9, but remove the section regarding, uh, dis ... a requirement for a distinctive
color scheme, um, and uh, defer that until our meeting on January 8th. (mumbled)
on that. Okay. Discussion? You'd like to weigh in from the public?
Doderer: Hi, my name is Dennis Doderer. I'd like to thank the four Members of the City
Council for listening to Chris, uh, Cutkomp's and my objections to this and I'm
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glad you're deferring and if there are, uh, any other of the ... the three other
Members of the Council would like to speak to us we're available and we'd like
to talk to you about it and we're gratified that you've listened and thank you very
much!
Hayek: (mumbled) for your comments. Anyone else from the audience? Council
discussion? This is something we discussed at our ... at our work session.
Mims: At length!
Hayek: At length! Uh, roll call, please. Item passes as amended, 7 -0.
Karr: Accept correspondence.
Mims: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by ... Dickens. Discussion? All those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries.
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ITEM 10. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8, ENTITLED
"POLICE REGULATIONS," CHAPTER 4, ENTITLED "ANIMAL
CONTROL," TO ESTABLISH A PERMIT PROCESS FOR URBAN
CHICKENS. (PASS AND ADOPT)
Mims: Move adoption.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion?
Throgmorton: I would like to move to amend the resolution to have...
Champion: No, no! No! No! (several talking)
Hayek: You're still on the, uh, on the...
Throgmorton: Oh, I'm sorry! Excuse me (several talking) I'm wrong!
Hayek: These, we've ... these items .... as we have for several meetings now, we've got, uh,
two, uh ... um, items relating to this issue. They ... luckily are actually in front of
each other, or next to each other on ... on this agenda. If anyone would like to
weigh in on either issue, um ... well actually let's ... let's, you know what, let's not
do that. Let's say that if anyone wants to weigh in on permit, uh, process, which
is Item 10, uh, you may do so now, and we'll reserve public comment for, uh, the
actual policy for Item 11. Would anyone like to weigh in on this Item 10? Okay.
Any Council discussion on this?
Champion: Can we just adopt it? (laughter)
Hayek: Roll call (laughter) Uh, Item ... Item 10 passes 5 -2, Payne and Dickens in the
negative.
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ITEM 11. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN URBAN CHICKEN
POLICY.
Hayek: Do we want to get this on the floor...
Champion: Oh, move adoption!
Mims: I thought he was going to (several talking)
Hayek: Moved... adoption moved by Champion. Seconded by?
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Yeah, so I ... I'll now take my oppporutnity to move that we amend the policy, or
the resolution actually, to have the section titled "Neighbor Consent," which one
might call the `veto provision,' automatically expire after two years.
Dobyns: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Throgmorton, seconded by Dobyns. Discussion?
Mims: I'll support that. I think that gives us a couple years to see how this works and,
uh, the Council can always put that back in if they really feel it's needed, but I
think with any other kind of zoning issue and those sorts of things, we don't
normally have neighborhood veto, or neighbor veto opportunities, so...
Payne: I absolutely will not support the veto, taking the veto out after two years. I think
that if we have good... urn ... progress with this, that ... we can take it out at that
time, but I think it should remain in there. Um ... forever if need be.
Hayek: Yeah, I'm not willing to support it either. I ... I ... I'm not aware of other instances
where ... where we sunset, um, what we do, other than TIF projects (laughter)
and ... and it's ... it just seems to me that, um, any Council, whether it's this
Council in two months time or another Council in ... in two years time, uh, can
take this up again. And I ... and I ... I'm just not comfortable sunsetting things, um,
when ... when we pass them. I think it's appropriate for the then current Council
to ... to decide whether to work session it and revisit the issue. So...
Dickens: Same.
Hayek: Any further discussion? All those in favor of Council Member Throgmorton's
motion say aye. Opposed say nay. Appears the nays have it, 4 -3, so the motion
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fails. So we're back to the, uh, resolution that's on the floor, um, is anyone from
the public interested in weighing in? Okay. Uh, Council discussion?
Payne: I think that, uh, a couple weeks ago ... uh, Mr. Dobyns made the comment that he
was voting for this, not for the chickens but for the people, and I think, um, in this
policy we have the veto and that is in the policy for the people that are opposed to
this. I have only talked to one person in this community that was neutral towards
this. Every other person is against it. So I believe this is a protection for those,
that huge majority, that is against it.
Champion: Well, I'm not so sure there's a huge majority against it. Maybe the people who
talk to you were against it (laughter) and what does that take, 9 or 20? I mean,
that's my favorite question — how many people does it take to convince you that
it's a majority (several talking) but I'm not going to support it without the veto
either.
Throgmorton: But there ... so there is a veto.
Hayek: There is a veto.
Throgmorton: So that means you are going to support it, right?
Champion: Yeah!
Throgmorton: Yea.
Hayek: Yeah, let's be clear what's ... we're voting on contains the neighbor consent.
Dickens: ...means you're voting for the veto.
Hayek: Well I ... I'll support this ... this has taken too long. It's been an arduous process.
We want to move on. I think we have an opportunity to give this a shot, um, I'm
supportive of it for the reasons I've stated on several previous occasions, um, it is
a more conservative approach to this issue, uh, but I think that accommodates, uh,
much of the opposition that we're talking about, and we can always revisit this in
the future. And ... and this gets us in the door. It allows us to ... to move forward
and... and uh, pass something that will allow for this and allow our residents to,
uh, take advantage of it. Any further discussion?
Throgmorton: I ... I don't think we need to have the veto provision in it, so...
Hayek: Uh...
Dobyns: Neither do I, but I think it's time for this chicken to cross the road! (laughter)
Champion: Yeah, me too! (laughter and several talking)
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Hayek: I think you sit around thinking up one - liners (laughter) cause you're good for one
or two or three of them a night! (laughter) It's good! Any further discussion?
Roll call, please. Was that 7 -0? (several talking)
Champion: Voted for the chickens?
Dickens: Voted for the veto policy. (laughter)
Dobyns: Cause now that it's law they want a policy!
Champion: That's two surprises you've given me tonight!
Hayek: Item 11 passes 7 -0. Uh, and thank you to the public, many of whom have, uh,
been here on repeated occasions for your involvement. (several talking)
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ITEM 12. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING A SHARED VISION
FOR THE FUTURE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE IOWA
CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF IOWA
CITY.
Payne: Move resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Payne, seconded by ... Dickens. Discussion?
Throgmorton: Matt, do you want to elaborate a little bit on this?
Hayek: Well yes, uh, the ... this resolution, um, was ... was started by staff. I ... I helped
work on it and ... and others were involved as well. It ... um, I ... I think it's a
prelude to the City Council, um, being able to weigh in on, uh, the important RPS
or revenue purpose statement vote that will be, um, taken to the taxpayers in, uh,
early February, um, and it identifies what we believe to be important for the
School District and for the community and for the entire region. Um, and is, uh,
consistent with earlier communications that we have provided, uh, to the School
District concerned what we believe are issues of mutual concern, um, and it talks
about, uh, the importance of equity and balance within our public school system,
uh, and the role that the School District and that the City ... each play ... plays with
respect to neighborhood and respect to, um, balanced growth throughout the
district, um, I think uh ... uh, this communicates our, uh, desire to be ... to be part
of, uh, the ... the conversation. We ... we engage in regular and I think productive,
uh, communication with the School District. This is intended to ... to, uh, continue
that, um, and it authorizes the (away from mic) City Manager to continue that
communication on behalf of the City with the School District.
Champion: I ... I really like this. I think it's pretty much to the point and I mean, I've been
talking to the School Board for at least seven or eight years now about the
inequities in buildings in the Iowa City Community School District, and I know
this Council has also been very involved with letting the School District know
about some of their ... that we think are inadequacies to Iowa City. So I really
appreciate your writing this and I totally support it, and thank you so
much ... whoever all wrote it.
Throgmorton: I ... I would agree with Connie. I'm enthusiastically supportive of this resolution.
I think it's an important thing for us to do. I appreciate, Matt, uh, taking the
initiative to, uh, conjure it up, so thanks for that, Matt, and I'm very conscious
also that the School Board has before it tonight, I don't know whether they voted
or not, on a related policy that, uh, it's not identical but it's related, and uh, I'm
hopeful that they will take a positive action on it.
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Hayek: Further discussion?
Dobyns: And as a, the one member of this Council who's a West High dad, um, I like the
fact that there's, uh, consideration of, um, an additional public high school, you
know, given the other concerns mentioned. Um, I think that's very reasonable
from a symmetric point of view.
Hayek: Roll call, please. Item 12 passes, uh, 7 -0.
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ITEM 13. CONSIDER A MOTION SELECTING THE TOP TWO OR THREE
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS FOR THE NORTH EAST CORNER OF
COLLEGE STREET AND GILBERT STREET, DIRECTING STAFF TO
BEGIN NEGOTIATING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
Payne: I have to recuse ... again.
Hayek: Council Member Payne will recuse herself due to the MidAmerican, uh, facility
on the site in question.
Mims: I would move that we, uh, select as our three top proposals, um, The Chauncey,
Chauncey Gardens, and 4 Zero 4.
Champion: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Mims, seconded by Champion. Discussion? For those of you who, uh,
are watching or listening, we had a ... a long discussion at our work session earlier
today where we, as a Council, decided, uh, to drop two of the five, uh,
applications, uh, from consideration and we're proceeding with the three that
were mentioned. Uh, and we've directed staff to come up with, uh, to do some
additional background work and information collecting and come back to us with,
we're going to call a decision - making matrix, which will help the City Council
narrow the list from three, uh, to a smaller number in January. Anything else to
add to that?
Dobyns: (mumbled) formal request to take a look at, uh, the shadowing that would occur
from the buildings, as well.
Throgmorton: Yeah, Matt, I'd like to say a few things if you don't mind...
Hayek: Yeah, and there may be people from the audience who want to weigh in as well.
You ... you can go ahead and say `em now (both talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah, okay, so urn ... one of the things I said during, uh, our earlier work session
is ... basically is that, uh, we have to keep our baseline alternative in mind, and by
baseline alternative I mean that which would be ... would probably be produced on
that site, if, uh, we just rezoned it to CB .... 5, I guess, and ... and ... and sold it to a
willing buyer and had that willing buyer develop it, uh, as the market calls for. It
probably would be a five story building with commercial space on the first floor,
and more than likely student apartments on the next four floors. But it would also
generate property tax revenues from the get -go. So it's ... it's really ... I did a little
bit of math on this and it, uh, became pretty clear to me that over a 15 -year period,
that project would generate, uh, roughly $6 million more in property taxes than
the Ryan Iceberg project would do. So I had to ask myself, what ... what would
we get by ... uh, choosing to retain Ryan Iceberg as one of the alternatives, even
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though it's five stories and lots of people in the community expressed a ... a real
interest in, uh, a building of that height. The answer is not much! So, but we
have to keep in mind that that baseline alternative always is available to us, and
we have to compare all the ... the remaining three alternatives to it, and ask
ourselves what are we getting above and beyond that baseline alternative, and
what are we paying for what we're getting. Is it worth it? Ultimately that ... that's
the question we have to ask, and ... then, uh, I also said something about how we
have to think pretty hard about what we really value and, uh, very briefly two
things I said I value a lot, and encouraged us as a Council to think about, are the
architecture and urban design of the preferred project. I think that they need to be
of very high quality, and the other thing is sustainability. I think we need to think
clearly about the long -term sustainability of the building, uh, and its relationship
to, uh, the surroundings of Iowa City. So, I value those a lot, so anyhow ... there
we go!
Hayek: And to reiterate... I'm glad you brought that up, that we ... we are, uh, we are
going to arrange for, uh, shade studies. Uh .... of these, of the three, uh, finalists,
uh, input from our friends at Trinity Church and others that ... that was an
important thing and I think we concurred, uh, that ... that it should at least be
looked at, uh, and considered, and then I want to reiterate that the three, uh, that...
that are selected, uh, pursuant to this motion have not been ranked. Um, and that
was deliberate on the part of the Council at this time. Okay. Anything else? All
those in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Motion carries 6 -0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Champion: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Hayek: Moved by Champion, seconded by Mims. Discussion? Those in favor say aye.
Opposed say nay. Motion carries 6 -0.
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ITEM 17. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
Hayek: Start down with you, Jim.
Throgmorton: I want to mention one thing, uh, on the 13th I ... I was lucky enough to attend
another, um, wonderful concert by the Community Choir out at Oakdale Prison,
and ... my wife, who's sitting in the audience here, is one of the singers, one of the
community members, and she, uh, with other community members sang along
with inmates under the superb direction of Mary Cohen, Associate Professor of
Music, uh, at ... not music, well anyhow ... at the ... at the University. It's a great,
great event; great activity; praise to all the singers and to Mary Cohen in
particular.
Champion: Nothing!
Mims: Nothing.
Dickens: Have a great holiday season. We're supposed to get our first snow tomorrow, so
drive carefully if you're traveling somewhere.
Payne: I echo your comments and maybe we can go skiing! (laughter)
Champion: How about just sledding?
Mims: Tear up your knee again? (laughter)
Hayek: Yeah, not you!
Throgmorton: What's the deal with that?
Hayek: Any comments from the good doctor?
Dobyns: It's always wonderful to sit next to our City Manager! (laughter)
Markus: Likewise! (laughter)
Dobyns: Thank you!
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