HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-03-26 RecommendationDate:
February 6, 1996
To:
From:
Re:
Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission
Jeff Davidson, Transportation Planner '~ff
Alignment Study for the Proposed Extension of Iowa Highway 965
Last spdng the JCCOG Urbanized Area Policy Board voted to add the extension of Highway
965 between Highway 6 and Highway 1 to the JCCOG Arterial Street Plan for the Iowa City
Urbanized Area. The cities of Coralville and Iowa City subsequently agreed to evaluate
alignments for the specific location of the proposed street. That study has been completed, and
we are now to the point of attempting to negotiate an agreement between the City of Coralville,
the City of Iowa City, and the Johnson County Board of Supervisors establishing the corridor
for the extension of Highway 965. This will allow the corridor to be preserved, and the road
constructed incrementally over the next 10-20 years.
The alignment selected for the extension of Highway 965 has several long-range planning
impacts for the City of iowa City. Most significant is the relationship the new road has to the
adopted long-range growth area boundary in west Iowa City. Accordingly, we believe a
recommendation from the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission is appropriate prior to
the City Council entering into an agreement with the City of Coralville and Johnson County.
I will attend your February 12 informal meeting to present the various issues associated with
the proposed street extension. Attached is a memorandum from me to the City Council
outlining several important issues, as well as summarizing the evaluation study which screened
36 possible alignments down to two. Also attached is a memorandum to the City Council from
the Director of Planning and Community Development highlighting several points pertaining to
the long-range growth area boundary in west Iowa City.
At the February 12 meeting I will also fill you in on my discussions with the City of Coralville
and the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. The Iowa City City Council is scheduled to
address this matter at their work session on February 26.
Feel free to contact me at 356-5252 if you have any questions.
Attachments
JCCOG
r I m e m o
Date: January 25, 1996
To: Iowa City City Council
From: Jeff Davidson, Executive Director
Re: Alignment study for the proposed extension of Iowa Highway 965
JCCOG has coordinated a study funded by the Cities of Coralville and Iowa City, to evaluate
alignments for the proposed extension of Iowa Highway 965. This arterial street extension is
included in the JCCOG Arterial Street Plan for the Iowa City Urbanized Area. The project
would extend Highway 965 between Highway 6 and Highway 1, a distance of approximately
4.5 miles. The corddot which was examined is shown in the attached Figure 1, and is located
partially within the corporate limits of Coralville and Iowa City, and partially within rural Johnson
County.
A study team was formed to work with the consultant, with representatives from the JCCOG
Transportation Planning Division, the Cities of Coralville and Iowa City, and the Johnson County
Engineer. The study provided a comparative evaluation of potential alignments, leading to
selection of a preferred alignment. What we are currently working toward is an agreement
between Coralville, Iowa City, and Johnson County on the preferred alignment for the extension
of Highway 965.
There are currently no plans to construct the entire Highway 965 extension. The City of
Coralville will be reconstructing the intersection of Highway 965 and Highway 6 in FY97 in
conjunction with the construction of the new mall in the area. Several pdvate property owners
in the corridor study area have expressed interest in redevelopment of their property. If
property in this area is annexed by Coralville or iowa City and municipal services such as water
and sewer extended, then sections of the new road will be built as redevelopment occurs.
Eventually smaller segments will be connected into longer ones. The bridge over U.S. Highway
218 will be a project of major significance and expense, and will likely be one of the last
elements completed. It may take 20 to 30 years to complete the entire extension of Iowa
Highway 965 between Highway 6 and Highway 1. Johnson County is an important player in
this matter, since the corridor for the new read will need to be preserved as County
development projects occur in the area.
Attached is a diagram showing two alternative alignments for the new road which the study
evaluation has shown are the best locations. These two alternatives (east and west) were
produced from an original list of 36 alternatives that were screened according to such factors
as impact on sensitive environment features, impact on prime farmland, residential displace-
ments, engineering factors, drainage, potential new intersections, and traffic flow.
You have already received a copy of a letter I sent to 22 property owners in the corridor study
area, asking for their input and any questions. I have thus far heard from five individuals, none
of whom has expressed opposition to the proposed street extension. On January 30 I will be
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meeting with the Coralville City Council to discuss the proposed street extension. I have
already met with the Johnson County Board of Supervisors and can fill you in on the discussion
I had with them at our January 29 meeting,
At your January 29 work session, I would like to cover the following items:
1. A brief presentation of the study report results.
2. Questions for me, Karin Franklin, or Rick Fosse. Rick and Kann may wish to give you
some comments on their perspective regarding the east versus west alignment.
3. Opinions fmrn Council on a preference for the east or west alignment of the proposed
street extension (if you have a preference).
4. Discussion of Council's position on entering into an agreement with Coralville and
Johnson County on the preferred alignment.
Contact me at 356-5252 if you have any questions. Thank you.
cc: Steve Atkins
Kadn Franklin
Chuck Schmadeke
Rick Fosse
~tns WA CITY
h JOHNSOH COUNTY
Corporate Limits - ~
ENVIRONMENT &
INFRASTRUCTURE
FIGURE 1
PROJECT CORRIDOR
ENVIRONMENT&
INFRASTRUCTURE
FIGURE
FINAL Al.~ '~.HNA'FP/ES
Iowa Highway 96.5 Extension. Iowa Highway I to U.S. Highway6
Location Study Report
SUMMARY
The foregoing analysis provides detailed information on the characteristics of each final alternative.
To select a preferred route, consideration should be given to the functional and traffic service needs
in this corridor, as well as the impacts of constructing each alternative.
The most significant differences between the East and West Alteraatives are summarized as follows.
West Alternative
0
4.79 Miles in Length
Estimated Construction Cost - $8,167,000
40 mph Design Speed at One Location; 50 mph for Remainder
Adds ~A Mile for Trips Into and Out of the Metropolitan Area
Would Displace One More Home Than the East Alternative
Would Require an Estimated 23 Cross-Road Culverts, Compared to 18 for the East
Alternative
Would Impact About 1.4 More Acres &Wetland Than Would the East Alternative
Would Impact 5 More Acres of Prime Farmland Than Would the East Alternative
Would Impact About 3 More Acres of Steep or Critical Slopes Than Would the East
Alternative
East Alternative
4.70 Miles in Length
Estimated Construction Cost - $8,882,000
50 mph Design Speed
Crosses U S. 218 in an Area Requiring Major Embankments and a Longer Bridge Than
West Alternative
Would Impact 2 More Acres of Woods and Fragment One More Large Wooded Tract Than
Would the West Alternative
Would Have More Diagonal Serefences of Farm Property
Would Be More Compatible With Land-Use Planning in the Area
November 1995
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date: February 2, 1996
From: Karin Franklin, Director, Planning and Community Oevelop~e,.[~-//'~"- · ~
Re: Hwy. 965 Alignment
The discussion of the proper alignment for the future extension of Hwy. 965 directly relates to
issues involving Iowa City's adopted growth policy. In 1993, the City Council adopted a growth
area boundary which was based on watersheds and defined the area that could be served by
municipal sewer through a gravity system. A gravity system is the most efficient way to provide
sewer service from both an energy usage and equipment cost perspective. Watersheds facilitate
the use of a gravity system. The adopted growth area anticipates full development of the
properties within its boundaries plus approximately 700 acres north of 1-80. The area is based
on planned extensions of the sanitary sewer collection system and upgrades to the south sewer
plant.
We know that the extension of streets and sewers provides basic services to support
development. The City's decision to put those facilities in place, or not, has a significant impact
on the ease with which development can take place, and therefore the pressures a Council will
feel from development interests. This is clearly demonstrated by the construction of Scott
Boulevard in east iowa City and the Southeast Interceptor which has facilitated development in
east and southeast iowa City.
The question before the Council is whether to endorse the east or west alignment of the
extension of Hwy. 965. The east alignment is clearly most consistent with the adopted growth
area. Construction along this alignment will encourage some development interest west of the
road, but it will not have the impact of the west alignment. The west alignment will push or draw
development west of the existing corporate boundaries and the west boundary of the adopted
growth area. We recognize that development pressures exist in this area, regardless of the
construction of this road, and these pressures have been fueled by the presence of Weber
School. In other words, the Council will experience pressures for development in this area
regardless of the extension of Hwy. 965. However, the choice of the westerly alignment for this
road can only add to those development pressures. Consideration of this alignment will require,
at some time, s~gnificant change in your adopted growth policy. That may be a decision for this
Council, or some future Council; however, I firmly believe it will be a decision that wdl need to be
made sooner rather than later if the westerly alignment is chosen.
In considering an amendment to the growth policy, we need to look at the consequences of such
a decision. The current westerly boundary of the growth area is based on watershed limits and
the current corporate limit. The watershed in this part of the City falls east of the current corporate
limits. At the time the growth policy was being developed the decision was made to extend the
growth area slightly further west to include the current corporate limits. If our policy is to change,
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a new growth area line west of the current corporate limits would be needed; the logical location
of that line becomes the question. If the watershed concept continues to be used as a basis for
our decisions regarding growth, the next watershed limit is approximately two miles west of the
current City limit. An arbitrary line, such as the proposed extension of Hwy. 965, is a possible
delineation; however, it becomes yep/difficult to argue against further development to the west
with access to the west in place.
Another consideration when reviewing this policy is the requisite extension of services west as
development occurs. The services involved Include the entire package of municipal services
police, fire, snow removal, refuse pickup, etc.- and water and sewer service. A consequence of
extension of the growth area further west is likely to be an accelerated need for the Southwest
Interceptor sewer. This is a multi-million dollar capitol project which has been programmed for
sometime beyond.our current 7-year Capital Improvements Program. If development accelerates
on the west side and extends beyond our existing growth area, we can reasonably anticipate the
need to construct this sewer, which involves a dyer crossing, sooner than originally anticipated.
The Southwest Interceptor addresses the collection aspects of sanitary sewer improvements but
does not address the issue of treatment. As indicated above, our growth policy anticipates
planned collection improvements and planned upgrades to the sewage treatment plant. Expansion
of our projected growth area could include an unanticipated need for furtiler upgrades to the plant.
Capital projects for sanitary sewer are historically paid for by the ratepayers
Amendment of our growth policy is not impossible or necessarily imprudent. However, it is very
important that the Council be aware of some of the potential consequences of such an
amendment and that the decision that you make anticipates these consequences and plans for
their resolution. If the Council wishes to pursue a growth policy amendment, options can be
developed to plan for additional growth in the area and program the capital projects.
cc: Steve Atkins
Jeff Davidson
March 12, 1996
City Council
410 E. Washingto]~ Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
City Council Members:
I am opposed to the west alignment of 965. When I bought
this land and built here it was for privacy. I have 10.80
acres of land of which you will take part of the east side,
which will really chop up my land.
I sit above 218 and it doesn't bother me with traffic,
965 would be at my same level and in front of my front
window. It would greatly depreciate my buildings and
property for sale value.
but
There would also be wildlife killed due to dividing up their
crossways.
I appreciate you listening to my concerns.
Sincerely,
Wayne E. Duffy
3644 Hurt Road $W
Iowa City, IA 52240
DIANA L. THRIFT AND WITOLD F. KRAJEWSKI
3329 Rohret Rd. SW
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 338-8999
Members, Iowa City Coundl
Iowa City, Iowa
March 23, 1996
Dear Council Members:
We hope you will not approve the so-called 965 extension from Coralville to
Highway 1 southwest of Iowa City. This would be a huge waste of taxpayers' ,m_,o_ney and
a blight on an already burdened countryside. While we can understand Coralville s desire
to relieve traffic on its Highway 6 comdor into Iowa City, it is unclear why a road is
needed that runs all the way to Highway 1, especially when we have a perfectly good
?.o. rth-sout. h route in !he form. of 218, whic.h. runs nearly parallel to the proposed new road!
we cannot imagine that, in this day of too little money for too many projects, you would
vote to spend $9 million on a new road when less-costly and much more reasonable
alternatives exist.
One such alternative is simple: since Coralville seems dete~-nfined to extend 965, let
them build an extension that com~ects directly onto 218 South. Traffic heading down to
Highway 1 can easily do so, and those headin.g east into Iowa City should also be
motivated to use 218to Highway 1 because H~ghway 1 is already two lanes, moves
quickly, and provides access to downtown Iowa City via several routes. Another
alternative is even more simple: instead of any new roads, Coralville could pave the
existing dirt road that runs between Highway 6 and Melrose. This dirt road is akeady used
by many people, and provides easy access to southbound 218.
It seems that the only role of any new road that extends all the way to Highway 1-
offered as the "Fast or West AlignmenW--would be to stimulate development of the area
west of 218. Thus, the City would spend $9 million to benefit a few. The proposed
extensions do not even offer access to 218 where they meet, access which would provide at
ltraea~t .so. me .ben~efi[ t~he r~ide.nt.s living south (e.g., along Rohret R~.) in cutting th,ei~'_
el tune to c:extar ~tapios ana the airport. Though we oppose any '965 extension south
of Melrose, between the East or West alignment, it seems that the western one is more
desirable: it is less expensive, borders the landfill (land already blighted), and destroys less
wooded land.
We urge you to reconsider the project as we don't think that the need for it has been
demonstrated.
Diana L. Thrift and Witold F. Krajewski f
cc: Johnson County Board of Supervisors
City of Coralville