HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-06-11 CorrespondenceJune 6, 1996
Dear Members of IC City Council,
We applaud your decision to discuss the topic of design review for new development at your June
10 work session. We feel it is an issue in need of serious study and appropriate action. On April
24, a member of the Longfellow Neighborhood Association wrote you a letter suggesting a series
of steps that might be taken to prevent further occurrences of demolition in older neighborhoods.
These measures included a moratorium on demolition in areas which have been surveyed for
designation as historic or conservation districts and a speeding up locally of the designation
process. The author also suggested that the City require a site and design review process for
multi-unit buildings often or less units as a way to prevent further destruction of the character of
our older neighborhoods. Currently developers get around design review requirements by
building fewer units but which have four and five bedrooms per unit.
We endorse all the above measures, especially the implementation of the design and site review
process. The construction of new buildings ought to contribute to neighborhoods rather than
jeopardize them. The apartment house that is being built at 1002 College Street clashes in style,
size, proportion and function from every other structure on the block The owner ignored
repeated attempts to have a dialogue with neighbors concerning the building's design ['s it a
coincidence that from the time plans for this building have been known, four for sale signs have
sprung up in that block of College?
We would like to see building requirements based on the number of proposed bedrooms not the
number of units. We would like to see a design review process which evaluates new multi-unit
structures (including those often or less units) in the following categories:
architectural style with special concern for roof line design
size of doors and windows in relation to the building's proportions
roof, window and door molding
scale and proportion of the new construction in relation to existing properties
choice of building materials
setback requirements of large buildings
distance between buildings
use of a professional landscape architect's designs to enhance the building's appearance and to
help it blend into the streetscape
appropriateness of exterior balconies
off street parking requirements
location and appearance of exterior ramps for the physically challenged
location of utility meters, air-conditioning units and trash dumpsters
It is in the best interest of both the city and the neighborhoods to impose such standards for
construction as a way to keep the city an attractive place for everyone to live. Neglect in this area
has already destroyed Johnson Street and severely altered the once magnificent appearance of
College Street. Unfortunately, the sole guiding principle in multi-unit construction is profit
maximization. If the city doesn't require responsible design, it probably won't get responsible
design
In the June 4th radio broadcast of Talkofthe Nation on National Public Radio, Richard Moe, the
President of the National Historic Trust, pointed out that tourism is a major attraction in cities
which have had the vision to preserve their historic neighborhoods. As examples he cited New
Odearts, Denver and Seattle. He further stated that cities which are preserving their uniqueness
are experiencing economic benefits from preservation efforts. We ask you to act to preserve our
city's neighborhoods. We can't get back what has been lost.
In your continued study of this issue, we would appreciate an opportunity to address City Council
concerning the need for design review and the impact the lack of it has on our neighborhoods.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Steele, President of Northside Neighborhood Association
Pain Ehrhardt, President of Longfellow Neighborhood Association
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date: June 4, 1996
To: The Honorable Mayor, City Council and the City Clerk
From: James Brachtel, Traffic Engineer
Re: No Parking Any Time on Both Sides of Southgate Avenue in Kennedy Waterfront, Part 3
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3 of the City Code this is to advise you of the following
action:
ACTION:
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3(A)(10) of the City Code, the City Traffic Engineer will direct the
installation of NO PARKING ANY TIME on both sides of Southgate Avenue as it falls in Kennedy
Waterfront, Part 3. This action will occur on or shortly after June 18, 1996 and the acceptance
of the public improvements in the subdivision by the City Council.
COMMENT:
Kennedy Waterfront, Part 3 is a new commercial subdivision which lays on the west side of
Gilbert Street. The prohibition noted above will facilitate the movement of commercial traffic in and
through this new commercial development.
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IOWA CITY AREA SCIENCE CENTER,
504 E. Bloomington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
Phone: (319) 337-2007
FAX: (319) 337-7082
June 7, 1996
City Council of Iowa City
Larry Baker, Karen Kubby,
Ernie Lehman, Dee W. Norton
Naomi Novick, Dean Thornberry,
Dee Vanderhoef
INC.
RE: Iowa City Airport Site for ICASC
Dear Council Members:
The Iowa City Airport Commission will be discussing a plan to
locate a permanent science and technology center at the airport.
This topic will be an agenda item at the airport commission meeting
to be held on Thursday, June 13, 1996, beginning at 5:45 at the
Iowa City Transit Facility.
The Iowa City Area Science Center, Inc. (ICASC) will present
conceptual drawings developed from a public meeting held in March
to determine the feasibility of establishing a science and
technology center in the Iowa City area.
It is clear that the primary use of the airport would be for
aviation. However, placing a facility of this type at an
operational airport creates an ideal partnership with strong
advantages for the airport and ICASC.
A copy of a preliminary drawing is attached for your review.
The facility placement and configuration are conceptual and
specific location and plans would be developed after approval is
given by the commission.
This plan has been shared with the airport commission, the
airport manager, the city manager, and the consultant contracted to
create the airport master plan. Overall, reaction to placing a
future science and technology center at the airport has been
favorable.
ICASC's primary goal is to create permanent exhibit space and
secondly, build an IMAX large format theater as funds are
available.
Four nationally-recognized consultants provided suggested
guidelines for a science and technology center to serve the Iowa
City area and surrounding communities. The attached conceptual
drawing illustrates their recommendations.
IOWA CITY AREA SCIENCE CENTER, INC.
City Council
June 7, 1996
Page 2
As you will note, the facility would house 21,000 square feet
of permanent exhibit space with an additional 4,000 square feet for
traveling exhibits. The science and technology center would also
include approximately 5,000 square feet for lobby, gift shop,
classroom, office, and cafe space.
The exhibit square footage is calculated from area
demographics and the premise that each hour of time spent at the
center translates to an hour drive time. For example, if it takes
one hour to tour the exhibits, attendance can be consistently drawn
from distances an hour away.
The inclusion of an IMAX large format theater requires an
additional 7,000 net square feet. According to the experts, a
large format theater should only be included if funds can be rai~ed
to cover the initial building costs. If built in this manner, the
theater should both increase 'the number of people visiting the
facility and also generate surplus revenue that can be used for
programming purposes.
After a permanent location has been secured, ICASC will work
with planners, architects, and contractors to determine specific
costs and time schedules.
We look forward to your comments regarding this plan and would
be interested in sharing the full-size conceptual drawings and
further information with you. Thank you for your continued
interest in this project.
President,k~B~oard of Directors
Enclosure: Conceptual drawing
cc:
Airport Commissioners
Richard Blum, Pat Foster,
Howard Horan, Chair
Robert Hicks,
M. Richard Mascari
Steve Arkins, City Mansuet
Ron O'Neil, Airport Manager
To: City of Iowa City
Mayor,Engineers,
McClure Engineering CO,P.C.
and City Council members.
Councilor E. Lehman.
May 27, 1996
Dear Madams and Sirs:
My family and 1 have resided at 1104 Wylde Green Road since 1969. In
May 1993, our home and land suffered its first series of damages ranging
from ground water seepage in our garage adjoining our split foyer basement
which necessitated hiring a contractor for evaluation and repair, to mud
slides ,soil erosion and standing water in back and front yard resulting in the
death of four, 20 year old Cherry trees and one 10 Year old Spruce Pine
tree as well as severe damage to a well established, 24 year old lawn..
1 am enclosing copies of several written communications with the City of
Iowa City's official representatives during May 1993. My neighbors and I
have met as well as communicated by phone and in writing with several
officials from tile City at all level of City government both elected and
appointed.
Three years later, there has been no resolution to our own personal property
problems and in fact it has worsened. From May 9, 1996 and after each rain
we get a much larger volume of ground water seepage in our garage
adjoining the house. The volume of seepage has in fact quadrupled and
necessitated putting sand bags from the south side of the garage to the
middle in an attempt to direct the water outwards and not towards the
basement door. This time another more costly repair project that we have as
yet to start has been recommended by our contractor.
As I talked to my neighbors it is evident that more damage has occurred all
around the Wylde Green Road neighborhood reaching north, south and west
from us ranging from sanitary system backup in homes, flooding in
historically dry basements to many other related property damages.
The neighborhood prmnptly scheduled an emergency meeting on May 22,
1996, which was graciously hosted by Councilor E. Lehman at his Wylde
Green Road residence. At this meeting Mr. Howard Johnson of McClure
Engineering CO,P.C., and a Representative of the City Engineering Office
were also present.
Frankly it is unclear to us what if anything did the city of Iowa city do since
May 1993, to resolve the Wylde green Road and adjoining neighborhood's
ongoing water and sewage problems?.
This letter is to officially remind the City of Iowa City of its legal
obligations to its tax payers to provide a healthy and safe environment for its
citizens. We heard individually and as a group for the last 3 years empty and
idle promises of prompt resolution to health hazards at our homes and
neighborhoods. It is time once and for all for the city and its appropriate
departments to reach a speedy and complete resolution to this unending
financial and health related burdens that this neighborhood and its
citizens/property owners have unnecessarily endured for the last three years.
As property owners of 1104 Wylde Green Road residence, we respectfully
request an immediate investigation of the causes, and solutions offered by
the City of Iowa City officials to resolve permanently our three year old and
current water damage problems. We are keeping all receipts of the cost
,dates of damages for the city and our own records.
We are looking fortyard to hearing from City officials in writing in the next
few days. The neighborhood Propert), Owners will be meeting again in 3
weeks to access the situation and the City response.
Many of us have been long time residents of Iowa city, others are new
property owners and all are tax payers and contributing ~nembers of this
highly educated and sophisticated community. It is rather unworthy/ironic
for this city to have such unresolved health hazard present. The University of
lowa has one of the best Health Science/Health Care facilities in the country
and we as its staff/faculty/students and community members are living
among raw sewage and ground water???!.
Thank you for consideration of issues raised in this letter.
Sincerel~ /
Dr.&Mrs. M.M.Ghoneim
104 Wylde Green Rd.
owa City, IA,52246
Phone: 351-5045 (6-9pm)
cc: Wylde Green Rd. and surrounding
neighborhood prope~y owners.
The City of ]o~,'a City
Mayor, C~ty Manager and Iowa City Council Members:
May 19 1993
Dear Sirs and Madams:
M>' family and I have resided in 1104 Wylde Green Road since 1969. We
have seen many changes and development during these years all qu~te
beneficial. The recent creation of the Apple Ridge subdivision, I am sor~' to
say resulted in many problems for us as well as our neighbors so far. I
believe that an environmental impact assessment should be conducted by
the City of Iowa City in the very near future.
The Wylde Green Road and adjacent Neighborhood Association would like
your input and consideration of the enclosed signed petition regarding the
many problems we have been facing since tl~e creation of the Apple Ridge
Subdivision. Our problems range from sanitary system backup in homes, soil
erosion in back and from yards, street curb mud slides. flooding in
basements and garages to completely changing the water table in the
neighborhood. We respectfully ~nvi~e you to meet w~th our representatives
in one week at your convenience to discuss th~s increasingly detrimental
problem affecting our homes and property. We trust we can work out an
appropriate solution for all. With the heavy rams of this spring and snow of
last winter, our problems have reacl~ed the emergency stage. I am looking
forward to hearing from you in the next few days about receiving this letter,
as well as a date for our first meeting. If I can be of any further assistance
please do not hesitate to contact me either at my university lab at 335-9948
or 335-8242 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday or at home
at 351-5045 after 6 pm. I thank you on behatf of the Wvlde Green Road and
Adjacent Neighborhood Association for your time and counsel in this matter.
Sincerely:
Shams Ghone~m.M.S.
1104 Wylde Green Rd.
Iowa City, IA,,52246.
May 28, 1993
Shams Ghoneim,
1104 Wylde Green Rd.
Iowa City IA 52246
RE: Water Problems
Dear Ms. Ghoneim:
I am in receipt of your letter to the City dated May 19, 1993
concerning water problems along the !100 block of Wylde Green
Road, in particular water problems affecting those lots abutting
the Apple Ridge Subdivision.
The specific problems you mentioned are: sanitary sewer backup in
homes, soil erosion in back and front yards, street curb mud
slides, flooding in basements and garages, and changes in the
water table. You also mentioned that you believe all of these
problems are directly related to the development of Apple Ridge
Subdivision.
First I would like to address those problems where are in
agreement as to the cause, i.e. the development of Apple Ridge
Subdivision. The subdivider has provided erosion control devices
to control runoff until ground cover has been established.
However, due to the unusual wet weather we have experienced since
last fall, the erosion control work has not been adequate.
Engineering Division staff will be working with the developer to
correct this deficiency.
Sanitary sewer backup in homes and the changing water table are
interrelated and caused by the unusually wet weather we have had
since last fall. In fact, since July 1, 1992, 51 inches of rain
have fallen, 21½ inches above normal. Certain areas of the City
experience substantial increases in wastewater flows during
extreme wet weather conditions and we believe this is the cause
of sanitary sewer problems in your neighborhood. The Apple Ridge
Subdivision has very few homes connected to the sanitary sewer at
this time and the subdivision ties into the Wylde Green Road
sanitary sewer substantially downstream of the sewer in front of
your homes. In any event, we will be constructing a project
later this surmmer that will remove some of the flow from the
Wylde Green Road sewer. This project is specifically designed to
relieve sewer surcharging on Kineton Green, but it should provide
some benefit to the problem in your area.
Flooding in basements and garaqes, I believe, is also related to
the changing water table caused by the excessive rains and
therefore cannot be attributed to the Apple Ridge Subdivision. I
have also experienced severe basement flooding during the last 6
months.
I hope I have answered your concerns and thank you for writing to
us. If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to call
me at 356-5143.
Sincerely,
City Engineer
CC:
Steve Atkins, City Manager
Chuck Schmadeke, Director of Public Works
Date:
To:
From:
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
June 4,1993
Apple Ridge Subdivision File
Danny Gannon ~'.
Apple Ridge Subdivision Erosion Problems
I called Greg Apel May 26, 1993, but them was no answer. I called Greg Apel May 28,
1993, and left a message on his answering machine to cell me back. Greg Apel returned my
rail June 1, 1993, and we set up a meeting at Apple Ridge Subdivision for 10:30 a.m. on
June 2, 1993.
I met Greg Apel end his field man at Apple Ridge Subdivision on June 2, 1993, from 10:30
a.m. to 12noon. Wa toured the development end discussed erosion control repair measures.
Greg agreed to perform the following:
1. Fill eroded area~i and overseed the stormwater detention basin.
Install straw bales/silt fencing around the perimeter of DBS//1 (outlet structur~r the
detention basin). o c-
Remove sedimentation deposits from Highway 1 ditch. o-' .~ ~
Clean up the northwest corner of Edingele Drive end Weebar Street ,,-~-*~-~st'~ s~
fencing, seed end remove sediments from paving. ~ .c'9.
Re-establish silt fencing in backs el lots 10-14.
6. Inform Ben Moore, builder o[ house on lot 14, to remove pile of dead trees.
Sod 1018 Wylde Green Road, wtmre sedimentation from Apple Ridge Subdivision has
deposited, as was discussed with property owner.
8. Backfill Weebar Street curbs end intakes, where necessary.
Inform Ben Moore, builder el houses in subdivision, to protect subdivision erosion
control measures which Greg Ires instailed/re-established and to install additional
erosion control measures when building houses, es necessary.
Greg anticipates all work except the sodding of 1018 Wylde Green Road to be completed
within the next two weeks, weather permitting. He will call me for an inspection when the
work isnearcompletion. z:~,,.~/ ,,.r.f~r /-;" /z,'~_z~ ,¢~"'Z~P'~°'~--,ZL' ~
CC: Chuck Schmadeke ~/~ ~ ~aZ~ ~-
Rick Fosse
To: City of Iowa City,
Mayor, Engineers and City Council members
Apple Ridge Developers
Mr.Greg ^pel.
June 21.1993:
Dear Sirs and Madams:
The WyldeGreen Rd. and adiacent Neighborhood group have organized an
on-sight meeting: 7 pm on july 8, 1993 at the east side of Wyldegreen Rd.
on Weebet St. behind 1104 Wylde Green Rd. After repeated and
unsuccessful attempts to contact Mr. Apel to arrange this meeting and
without returning my numerous caUs. we decided to go ahead and schedule
the meeting when the majority of affected parties are available. I am
enclosing for all some written docu menration of the propert,,, owners
concerns and copies of letters sent to the City of Iowa City for your
information and records. The Wylde Green Neighborhood group hopes that
this on-sight meeting will facilitate further communication on this matter
before the completion of the Apple Ridge development and the sale of all
properties. I am grateful for all the help and council given by Council Woman
Karen Kubby as well as the knterest and foUow up by Mr. Richard Fosse,
Mayor Daryl Courtney and Council Woman Sue Horowitz. We are looking
forward to working together with The Apple Ridge Developers and the City
to achieve reasonable resolution to our recent past and present problems as
well as to avoid future problems. Soil erosion, water runoff s, flooding in
basements and garages, sanitary back ups and extremely swampy back
yards are of serious concern to all of us and certainly were not part of our
long history in Wylde Green Rd. I thank you on behalf of the neighborhood
and look forward to meet all of you on july 8. If you have any questions
please call me at work 335-8242 or at home after 6 pm at 351-5045.
Sincerely:
Shams Ghoneim. M.S.
Wylde Green Rd. Spokeswoman
1104 Wylde Green Rd.
cc: Wylde Green Rd.& Adjacent Property Owners
City of Iowa City
M E M O R A N D
U M
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
City Man~ger and City Council
Rick Fosse, City Engineer
July 20, 1993
1993 Sanitary and Storm Sewer Project
Upon review of the single bid, Public Works and
Engineering recommend not to award the contract for the
1993 Sanitary and storm Sewer Project. The weather
during the last nine months has created a condition in
which it is not economical to bid sewer projects. Not
only are contractors months behind on their work, but
the wet soils make what little construction that is
taking place slow and expensive. This condition is
expected to continue throughout the 1993 construction
season. In our judgement it is best to rebid the
project during the winter for construction in 1994.
Prices may still be slightly elevated because of the
backlog of work but the weather we hope - will be
better.
In the interim, we will need to install quality
backflow preventers on the Bean and Kelly residences.
We will also work with the Planning staff to determine
what the impact will be on development of delaying the
West Side Trunk Sewer component of this project.
CC:
Chuck Schmadeke
Dan Scott
Agenda
Iowa City City Council
Regular Council Meeting
July 20, 1993
Page 12
ITEM NO. 9 -
ITEM NO. 10 -
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZ-
ING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST A
CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 1993 SANITARY AND
STORM SEWER PROJECT.
Comment: The bid opening for this project was held July 13, 1993, and
the following bid was received:
Maxwell Construction 8824,820.50
Iowa City, Iowa
Engineer's Estimate $535,150.75
Public Works and Engineering recommends not to award the contract
and to rebid the project this winter. See attached memo,
Action: ~./,~J/ ~
ITEM NO. 11 -
CONSIDER PRELIMINARY RESOLUTION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
STREET iMPROVEMENTS FOR THE 1993 PAVING ASSESSMENT
PROJECT.
Comment: See attached memo.
Action: ~/~
CONSIDER RESOLUTION FIXING VALUE OF LOTS.
Comment: See attached memo.
Action: