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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-21 Public hearing7~ NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the City Council of Iowa City, Iowa, at 7:00 p.m. on the 21st day of October, 2008, in Emma J. Harvat Hall, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa, or if said meeting is cancelled, at the next meeting of the City Council thereafter as posted by the City Clerk; at which hearing the Council will consider: Adoption of the Central District Plan as an element of the Comprehensive Plan for Iowa City. A copy of the proposed plan is on file for public examination in the office of the City Clerk, City Hall, Iowa City, Iowa or on line at www.icgov.org/centralplan. Persons wishing to make their views known for Council consideration are encouraged to appear at the above- mentioned time and place. MARIAN K. KARR, CITY CLERK Clty of Iowa City is MEMORANDUM ~~ Date: October 16, 2008 To: City Council From: Urban Planning Division RE: Central District Plan A copy of the Planning and Zoning Commission's Recommended Draft of the Central District Plan was included with your information packet last week. Residents, business owners, and advocates from a wide variety of community organizations were engaged in this planning effort. Many participated in multiple workshops and group discussions to create a vision for the future of the Central District. This citizen participation was instrumental in formulating the goals and objectives for the Plan, which address housing and quality of life in residential neighborhoods, parks and open space, streets and transportation, and commercial areas. The main themes of the plan include: ^ Preserving and maintaining quality of life in our older neighborhoods; ^ Formulating strategies to make the city's most walkable neighborhoods even more bicycle and pedestrian friendly; ^ Finding creative ways to enhance and add to parks and open space in the district; ^ Possibilities for redevelopment in the South Gilbert Street commercial corridor, including the potential for transit-oriented development centered around a passenger rail hub, which could include both regional rail and local commuter rail service; and ^ Strategies to enhance the economic vitality of the Northside Marketplace while maintaining its historic mainstreet charm. At your formal meeting on October 21, urban planning staff will present the highlights of the plan. Please take some time to review the plan and let us know if you have any questions. Cc: Michael Lombardo, City Manager Jeff Davidson, Director of Planning and Community Development n ~~enra Central° ' a " " ' " `~ D I S T R I C T Iowa. City District Plan DEP ~PiT~IENT OF PL:~NN I\G ~N D COAT\iL'NITY DEVELOPMENT Comprehensive Planning . ~~. ~ - Asa. ~~3 ,,~~ i y F ~, 1 ~, "u"1 ..,~. into ~+.,. ~~m.~R ~~ ,ia c',~ P~4 No ~",.~ ~'~ \~ ., fC' i a M1' ~ , - ~, r ~ _ _~;i ~~~ ~A~ . •~/ q Iowa City Planning Districts Central District Planning Process • Kick-off workshop • Focused Group Discussions - Housing and Quality of Life - Streets and Transportation - Parks and Open Space - South G i I be rt Street Commercial Area - Northside Marketplace • Final workshop -refining goals and objectives r '.`.- s J Housing & Quality of Life Housing and Quality of Life - Assets • Variety, charm and affordability of older homes • Neighborhoods with a sense of history and identity • Walkable, tree-lined streets • Quality schools • Easy access to the University and employment centers Housing and Quality of Life Stabilize older neighborhoods -Maintain and reinvest in the older housing stock - Maintain and reinvest in neighborhood infrastructure, such as parks, streets, and a I I eys - Address nuisance issues through targeted enforcement, educational efforts, and further regulation, if necessary b ~~ II ~~~ ~~ I G= 1 Housing and Quality of Life • Preserve history, character and identity of Central District neighborhoods ,~ ~~ . Housing and Quality of Life • Promote safe and healthy off-campus living environments - On-site management of student apartments - Opportunities for recreation -accessible parks and open space - Improve pedestrian safety ~ ,s Y.' v~ ~, -~ ~.~ __ ,m"~ ~.~r °~r~ ar' a' ~. k .r .. ;..,r ~v _ .x ; yc ,.~. ~~~y~., -.~~ ~~, '~, ~ `, ~" ~~ } ~ «d ~+ -A '. ~ ~' ,• a ~~ ~ '~ ~ r ~ .. _ ~.~ ~, .~. ,a, ~t ,. {y ,. ~~ tr a E., ~ ~~I II~~~ ~'~ ~~ ~ ~ .~ _ ~~ ~~~ r,,~ n .~ M r s~-°~ ~ tl ~. „ . ,ry -• ,,,: Mid ~; 't ~" Housing and Quality of Life • Work with the University and other area employers to promote home ownership in Central District neighborhoods - affordable - convenient - sustainable ~N Streets and Transportation _' ,, ' eur~y ~l ~ L ~_FF ~,~ `i~3 ~~. ~_- '_` .'` a =~~" Transportation Assets • Grid street pattern makes it easy to get around - Sidewalks + mature street trees makes walking pleasant and convenient - Multiple routes for bicyclists - Good access to bus routes I Transportation Challenges • Balancing the needs of all users when making street improvements in developed areas. • Competition for on-street parking in areas close to the University and Downtown. • Aging infrastructure -streets, alleys, and sidewalks and facilities • Identify major bicycle and pedestrian routes and investigate ways to improve these routes • Provide safe and accessible routes to school • Improve education and public awareness of alternative modes of transportation • Continue to fill in gaps in the sidewalk network t Improve public transit • Explore ways to increase ridership • Educate and improve awareness of transit options • Investigate expanding the free downtown shuttle • Work to establish commuter rail system Parks, Trails, and Public Ways ~, • ~~- ~,,, x ~ ~ 1 k . __ ~~ ~, i' _._ _.. F Open Space Needs • Deficit of space • Supply of undeveloped land is small • Shortage of private recreation space in areas with highest density/demand. Take advantage of opportunities for d ~" ._ r new parkland ~. Chadek property ~. i \_' ! -.~"': r N y Riverfront property Open Space Fee Investigate requiring a neighborhood open space fee when up-zoning property Ini ectin~ green elements into our v v existing public ways w .~, F ~Gf A. ~.;r 4~r ,g Y `~'r~t n"~,,~` E 2 ,t,,,'~ ~1 ~l~P= -- ',~~,M t~ 'S' ~ '_ ~ ~ c ~:,- ~ ~ '~ ~ .,, ~ ,,~ ~' .~ ,: `, iG~' x.. l .at .. ~, ..~ _. ....... _ ~ ~a. 1 ~. - '` ~ ~ -•x•'11 - - ~~:; - .,: Improve awareness and access to Ralston Creek South Gilbert Street Commercial Corridor _ Access to Ra i I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1 - ~ g, __, ., ti ~ - ,~ ~ ~~~ .... ~ 1 ~ c I 1 -~ - F u ~~ ~ ~ - - ~~-~ L ta~~` i -- ~ Oa o v '~~ :,~ -~- ~' ~s1 iI ~ ~ ark 1 111 e ~ ~~ • ~ . I II ~ _ I PacE sr -- Ash h §l~~ 0 ortunities for a wide ~~~-- a -~~~ ~~~~ P1 varlet of businesses ~~~ Y ~N sr Animal - I~ '~ ~~ ~~~~ Care m ~ i , _ ~~ I~ ~ -- '~ Cerr ter ~ ~ I I KIRKWOaD AVE i c ff ~~~ I J - o s ^ ~ _ . w ~~~ -~ °~ ~ _ - ~ ~ 1~~\ ~, ° ~ sr sr ~_ Y ~~ ,P,\ ~oa ~ P1 P ~ ~~ ~ ~ ,I ~ru~ '~ P ~'' ~~l ~ ~ ~ Grov Iowa River ,~o, ~ ~ j , ,.~;~ ~- _ ~~o ~ ~ ~~~~~--'~ °°RTH _ ~N Access to Arterial Streets WA S TEWA TER ~ C u. s ~ TREA TMEN T o ~ ~ o ;- y'~y~,q r s `--~1`AN T ~ II ~ z ~~ ~ it w ~ CARR ~- _ ~ 3RD ST m ~ _ -- I - ~ ~.~~ ~ HIGHLAfSD AVE ~ _ _.._. ~ I P ~,: ° ~ P 1 , -_v ~ ' m ~AUR~~ ~ ~ PUBLIC WORKS 1 ~ wqr~~ ~c ~c TRANSIT J ~~ c ~ 1 j p~uM s Shortcomings of the area • Traffic congestion and confusion • Lack of aesthetic appeal • Lack of a distinct identity • Not safe or welcoming for pedestrians and bikes • Lacks connection to the surrounding residential neighborhoods • Turns its back on the River • Recent flooding - rethinking use of the riverfront • Reintroduction of Passenger Rail as a cata lyst • Transit-oriented development (TOD) ,. w ~. $~ °' a Fw-.. 1i"? F~ ~. ~ - .~ ^ e +~.`. . ~ •9 . ~ti~ a,l~~ w, ~~^ i i~.- '. n~~y~u~nty Iowa 2~C16 %// f nmmorniol DorJo~~olnnmon+ Transit Oriented Development (TOD designed to maximize use of and access to public High density development is essential for: • Generating the ridership to justify frequent service • Creating active street life to support commercial activity within walking distance of homes and worksites Benefits of TOD • Reduce automobile dependency • Reduce commute times and traffic congestion • Healthy and affordable living environments • Active street life to support area businesses Brainstorming Ideas • Preserve the riverfront for public access -open space and trails. • Encourage redevelopment that supports passenger rail or other public transit service. • Provide a mix of housing • Promote "Green Building" Designs • Develop zoning rules to ensure maximum economic benefits and a distinct identity TOD Transformation Auto-centric, low density `=lr~~ ~' ~~~~ ~~~'~~~u''~~`~ ~~Y~~4~ TOD Transformation Transit-oriented ,higher density `=lr~~ ~'~~~~~ ~~~'~~~f'~~`~"~ ~"4~ Auto-Oriented ~~ Pedestrian-Oriented ~~ Northside Marketplace Northside Marketplace Assets • Proximity to downtown and campus • Unique identity and scale • Historic charm • Locally owned businesses • Pedestrian & bike friendly • Strong connection to surrounding neighborhoods Shortcomings • How do people find us or know that we're here? • Inactive business association • Uncertainty over redevelopment of the area • Obsolete zoning gives no assurance that redevelopment will be compatible (_7 i ~ i~l ~-I II l 1 ~ i I I i L 1 ii _ ~~ 'LCB2 I ~- -'- r-~, Pl ~ ~ -~ !, ~ ~~ C B5' ~=- ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ _~ _~ L ~ ~. ~~ -~ ~ Central o ~ a T a ~ ~, ~- ZONING MAP IOWA CITY, IOWA Preserve and Build on the Assets • Preserve main street charm • Protect h i sto r i c properties • Promote a distinct identity • Organize promotional events or activities • Re-energize the business association .~._ Ensure Compatible Redevelopment • Establish zoning rules to ensure that new development is of the same scale and character • Establish policies that encourage mixed use buildings • As new development occurs, explore options for shared parking Improve Access and Awareness • Use signage or other way-finding methods to direct people to the area • Continue to implement the adopted streetscape plan ~~ ~_ _. ~ `_ m f?ptid I~terstct~oe+ of lmn end Jret~rson S' ,,. . sn • Implementation -Many Partners - City of Iowa City - University of Iowa - JCCOG - Neighborhood Associations - Business Associations - Community0rganizations • Friends of Historic Preservation • Housing Fellowship and other non-profit housing producers • Project Green • Friends of Hickory Hill Park • Bicycle Coalition • New Advocacy Groups? Friends of Ralston Creek?