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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-31 Correspondence HONOHAN, EPLEY, Jay H. Honohan Maudne A. Braddock BRADDOCK & BRENNEMAN 'Michael J. Branhaman Patrick C. Peters ATTORNEYS AT LAW Sarah S. Malers 425 8 Avenue Kalone, Iowa 52247 (319) 656-2916 104 Jayne Street Lone True, Iowa 52755 (319) 629-5400 Of Counsel: Lloyd A. Epley January 13, 1995 330 East Court Street P.O. Box 3010 Iowa City, Iowa 52244 (319) 351-8100 FAX (319) 351-0977 The Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Iowa City 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Re: 1995-1996 Budget Iowa City senior Center Hills, Iowa 52235 (319) 679-2267 12 W Cherw St North Uber~/, IA 52317 (319) 626-3440 c... ~-?..: : ~ Dear Mayor Horowitz and Members of the City Council: It has been called tomy attention that the City Manager has or will present to the City Council a budget for the next fiscal year which does not include additional staff for the Senior Center as requested by the Commission and staff. As I understand it, the request is for one full time communications specialist and one half time video specialist. The Commission and staff will undoubtedly present you with facts and figures demonstrating the need for additional staff so I will not include such in this letter. I believe that there are other reasons that the Senior Center should have some priority in funding by the City of Iowa City. Growing old in our society is not an easy task. We seem to be oriented towards the young. At the same time, we have more and more senior citizens each year. Most of these people in Iowa City have contributed both financially and culturally to the City and the University in their active years. They still contribute financially to the city, the school distPict, and the businesses of Iowa City through taxation and p~rchasing of goods. Surely, we have a real obligation to these Seniors that can be discharged in .part by funding an adequate staff at the Senior Center. I believe that the large population of Seniors servedby the Senior Center and the many more who could be served if the Center had the staff and the facilities, is entitled to more consideration than the City is affording them. I will not take your time to name budget items in the budget that benefit much smaller populations which receive larger funding but I will 2 The Honorable Mayor and City Council January 13, 1995 Page Two suggest that a City budget is to a great'degree always a matter of which item you wish to give a priority. I thir~kthat the Senior Center should receive some priority. Based upon the number of people served, the hours the Center operates, the variety of things offered, and the huge number of volunteers, I think that the Senior Center should have greater priority than it has in the past and that the City should adopt a budget ca11ing for the additional staff requested. Very truly yours, HONOHAN, EPLEY, BI~ADDOCK & BRENNEMAN ¥: ay H~ January 19, 1995 Honorable Mayor Members of the Iowa City Council The debate of the issue to raise the parking rates in the ramps could continue for years and never achieve total agreement. The issue is not the nickel or the dime but what do you view the future of the Central Business District and what do want the cities investment to become in 5 years. That look into the future will determine the fate south of Burlington Street as well. Change is what makes for a healthy area and since Urban Renewal nearly 25 years ago, the Central Business District has been constantly changing. The CBD is ~robably the core for the cities largest financial investment..it ls and will probably continue to be the heart that pumps life into this community. The resurrection of a outstanding CBD was attract students, faculty and staff to the University. The University is what drives this town and is our life blood. Apparently, Urban Renewal was successful because we have a pleasantly looking CBD. And in pas~ing it might be noted that most of the Council and City staff arrived after Urban Renewal had commenced. Change may be continued improvement or lead to deterioration. The ramps have not had change since the initial construction except to redirect the traffic flow in the Clinton Street ramp and to enlarge Dubuque Street to meet the demand. Oh, yes the rates have gone up. Ramps in other cit%es have been improved to meet the demands of the user..better lights, painted wall and ceiling surfaces. Two features that if not done will affect the usage as the customer has increased opportunities for selection. We are wheel driven...we are creatures of the oar. Therefore, people of this community will shop where it is convenient and when they have time. That does not have to be where they work, pay taxes and have a residence. The city is a two income family. That maybe the combination of a students ~arttime work supplemented by family contribution or by scholarship. Dual income is the new standard a working couple..gender is your choice. The end result is that in this affluent community people treat shopping (except food and medical services) as a form of entertainment and relaxation. Entertainment and relaxation do not have to o?cur in the place one resides. That is what leads to the creation of shopping centers..a center of entertainment. Minneapolis is the home of the largest example in the world. An amusement park surrounded with stores, that is surround with parking ramps. When we created Urban Renewal and restored downtown as a central area, we knew that change must be ongoing to reflect the cultural interaction of society..that is the cultural society of the world. Our CBD competes in a the market for the spendable gilderglobal dollar, peso, franc, and so forth. Your decision is more than to provide financial support for the bus system. Has the bus system changed to meet the demands of todays society? If so then the system would not have excess capacity. Your decision is what do you want CBD of Iowa City to be in the future. The fountain area was created to bring people to the center of the city to be entertained and to relax. Create convenient parking was created and a user fee was established. A u~er fee to replace taxation t? support the parking and transit sys=em. The user fee was reflective of the landlords vocal demands not to increase property taxes. Change has occurred. Why not have free parking like shopping centers and have downtown be a place of entertainment and ~elaxa~i~no .How do shopping centers support free parking? We new tna= under Urban Renewal to j~stify the city expenditures, w? had to keep the downtown area llve.eightteen ho~rs a day. Eighteen hours with more than action in the bars..lt has to be at ~heaters, restaurants, library, hotel and shops. Why not have tee ?arking after 6.00 PM and pay th? expenses with increase tax base an the CBD. You need to assist in keeping the establishments full and profitable and no one wilt complain about taxes. The user will still pay to park..just indirectly. W? tried fo~ years to have 100 percent particiuation in park and shop..It will never happen, but you will r-c-~-- ~ participation in payment of taxes~ ......... Change..20 years should be a lesson..1ook at what the CBD is changing to from what it was. Anticipate the future and be ahead of the required changes. You have a wonderful opportunity to leave a positive mark on this city for the future. Look where the retail growth is. Listen to tho~e that plan to locate business and homes in Jobpeon County~ believe where the shops, theaters, and relaxation wall b~ locke4 and how will the user be transported there. Coralville ~]1 ~ become the upscale place to live and shop..just like Wes~.~s~ ~6~ Moines, Bloomington, and Oak Brook. I offe~ you my thoughts based upon 40 years in this city, 35 years in retail and now in a position that I see a lot of Hid- West. I am not an expert, I have experience, I have a car and I'm a potential customer. Do not force me away. Your decision will having lastly affeot. homas H. Sum~y / 2505 Rochester}~e Iowa £L~, Ia 52£40 602 ~lki~in~. Ave Iowa;£Lt~, Ia 52205 ~ea~ £ouneL~ ~embe~a, I am waL~Ln~ Ln ae~aad ~o tile cuanen~ ?anhLn~ aatea Ln downtown Iowa in ~fie. ?aa~ without anonflea incaeaae b~iu~ conaid~aed. I do no~ aftoR Ln down6own Iowa £Lt~. Foa on~ tfitn~ the ~aaffic eon~eation t~ out l~£n~ mall~ aaound town and £oaa~iil~. ~a?Lda L/ I ~a~e a lot to a~op fo~ ~f I m~ afioppLn~ ~ocail~. I aiao cfiooae paofcaaLouai ?¢opie {L.e. a doe~o% den~La~ e~cJ ~fiat aa2 not Ln been a aaae Lna~anee wficn, I ?aa~,. d?wntown - o~l~ at F.#. Banh - ~g ?oLn~ La ~fia~ I don~ iLhe to ?a~ ?aa~Ln~ ~ge.a. bui ~ouid eaa¢~aee ~eelLn~ to ~o ~ a mail aaga aud about o~ea ~rae ?aahLa~ oa ~ettLn~ ~ I fiope ~fiat ~ou value m~ opLnLon Ln ma~Ln~ a d¢cLaLon ~o Ln- January 23, 1995 Dear Councilmembers; Exactly what I have been waiting for! A serious look at incentives for carpooling. Lower rates for earpool participants and higher rates for non~ participants is just fine. Everything has its price, including convenience. Although it is appropriate to work on the complex issue of traffic/parking one item at a time, let me encourage you to attend to this topic many times and until a number of these items have been dealt with. Consider incentives for bus-riders, bicyclists and pedestrians; more numerous and more frequent bus routes, commuter lots; no more conveniences for cars; anything which will reduce traffic and the attendant by-products of noise, pollution, resource squandering, and the need for more ramps and streets. Let's be innovative and begin solving these problems now. Carpooling is an excellent start. sincerely, Liz Miller January 16, 1995 Mayor Susan Horowitz City of Iowa City 410E, Washington Street Iowa Cily, IA 52240 Dear Susan, G R O U P' As ICAD looks forward into 1995 and beyond, existing industry plays a major role in our growth of good jobs. The issues that they face today are available warehouse space-permanent and short tei--m, land to expand on, quality of work force, and just in time delivery, The just in time issue gives us the chance to work with these companies vendors that in order to meet their demands are moving closer to their major customers. If the vendors are already in the area it gives them a chance to grow along with the major industry. It is very hard to predict which companies will expand and which vendors will move closer to them in the next two years but our history tells me it will happen. Local induslries which have expanded and added jobs are: Proctor & Gamble, Moore Business Forms, ACT, NCS and Tin-Pat Color Graphics. Future examples of expansion and growth could very well be: Release International, Sheridan Mfg., Oral B, UTA and others that I may not be aware of. We re,st be prepared to work with these companies and their vendors today in order to make these possible expansions occur in the future. ICAD is prepared to help in any way needed to secure good jobs for the future. Sincerely, IOWA CITY AREA 'DEVELOPMENT GROUP, INC. 325 E. Washington, Suite 100, P.O. Box 2567, Iowa City, IA 52244 (319) 354-3939 Fax (319) 338-9958 {~~ !ii PO BOX 511 PHONE Jan. 24, 1995 Nay_or Susan Horowitz Ci%io Center Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 Dear Mayor Horowitz: ao~tof ~ a/.ss/.ons _at The. Gazette leto promote open govern- _ }.a~. t.o ~,oster zree ~ls.cusslon oz public issues. As part ,o,=~%z%~f~~ o~i~fi.~,~,~'~in~ a we~Uy zes~ure =ali~d I a~ writing to you and other public officials to ask for your support and cooperation with t~ie feelure. Here's how it will work: Readers willbe invited to subm/t to The Gazette questions about public issues. We will then for- wg. rd the questions to public officials for a response, which will be publishedinThe Gazette. We expect the subJec.tso~thequestions to range~romtaxand budge% issuesto roaumaintanance to crime prevention. When we receive a question for you, we will fax or mail the ~[uestio~ to you. Please l~t your re.~nse to 100 words less a~.a return it to The Gazette, via fax or mail, within ~even agys. please addres~ responses to me, Dan Geiser. The ~azette-s ma~ling adidas,ess ls: P.O. Box 511, Cedar Rapids, Io- wa52406. The Gazette s faxmmheris: 319/398-5846. Please contact me within the next few days to tell me whether ~fou are willing to participate in this project. Also, If you nave a fax, please let me know the number. Thankyou for your support. January 26, 1995 CITY OF IOIV I CITY Dan W. Geiser 500 Third Avenue SE The Gazette Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 Dear Dan: This will respond to your recent letter concerning your new weekly feature called "Ask Your Public Official." I would be happy to assist you in responding to the questions that are directed to the Gazette. I do have two concerns, the first being the 100oword limitation in a response. Depending upon the complexity of the issue, it may certainly require a detailed response and therefore such a limitation may not be practical. My second concern is the seven-day turnaround. While in most instanoea I believe I can fully comply, a question requiring any detailed reseamh and/or if holidays or other vacation might be involved, it wou~d be somewhat difficult. All in all, I think it's a good idea. If you have any other questions of me, please feel free to call. Sincerely, Stelhe J. Atki~ ' City Manager cc: Mayor Horowitz 410 EAST WASIJlNGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, iOWA I2340.1i36 · (219) 3S6-S000 · FAX (IlJ) ISG-$009 35'1 CITY 0£ IOWA CITY NOTICE: PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT In accordance with Iowa. Code Section 28E.20 JOINT PURCHASES OF EQUIPMENT, the City' of Iowa City is giving notice of intent to purchase one or more Items or accessories or attachments to equipment, the total cost of which is estimated to be $50,000 or more. The following political subdivisions have been contacted: Johnson County ~lutual Aid Organization NOTICE WAS MAILED: ~]anuary 20, 1995 EQUIPMENT TO BE PURCHASED: EQUIPtI£;iT TO BE SOLD: 1500 GPH Custom Fir~ Pumper T~uck 1975 ~ard-LaFrance 1500 GPM Pumper Truck with 750 Gallon Booster Tank, 671 Detroit Diesel Engine, and Allison Automatic Transmission City of Iowa City Finance Dep.artment Central Procurement & Services Division cc: City Coundl ,, At ~ ~anua~ 26th m~*th~ the Co~ on Community Needs un~h.ously voted to support the rccomm~iations put £oxth 5¥ the task force whi~ was created to study Senior Center/Adult Day Program issues. The recon~_endations are to: (1) expand ADP to 1,500 square feet in the $~or Center and, (2) immediately begin a 6vo~year plan to build an ad~ional ADY site to provide for Smwth ~d two !~els of servia. The Commlttce on Cotm'~. :,~ty Nccds M~AnnDennis, Ch~ ' Linda Mun~y, Vic~-Ch~ .Tohn Falb Grace Cooper Snyder Keith Puff ~oo~ dl/llI/O(IOY~l~l January 24, 1995 Mr. Bruno Pigott 717 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Bruno: I read with interest the Press-Citizen storywhich appeared on January 23 regarding the Council's discussions on forcing the carpooling issue downtown. I am compelled to respond as follows: I have worked downtown for 28 years, and have had a city parking permit for probably 22 of those years° I have always had to pay the permit fees myself, since it was not an employer--paid benefit. As the article states, permits are hard to come by, and for several of the locations there are not even waiting lists. After fighting for so long to be able to afford and maintain my own permit, I am not about to give it up now. It is OK to quote that Craig Welt purchases 12 permit spaces for his employees. That is well and good, but most of the permit holders are paying for their own, with their own money. Currently I have an elderly parent in Iowa City in very bad health trying to recover from a stroke. I need immediate access to my car to be able to go to her upon receipt of a phone call. That has happened in the past when I have had to leave work to go to her. If I do not have access to my car, what can I do in an emergency situation like this? What happens to my responsibilities (or guilt) if I have no access to my vehicle? No one in my immediate neighborhood works downtown near me so carpooling from the neighborhood is not a possibility. Three other staff persons in my office commute from three different towns to work in Iowa City, and no one else lives near them. If we all choose and need to drive ourselves to be able to work in downtown Iowa City, we should be allowed to do so. People working downto%~ spend a good deal of money downtown for meals, breaks, shopping on noon hours and after work, etc. We already cannot participate in park and shop since we have permits. Aren't shopping and food dollars spent by people working in downtown Iowa City as important to the local merchants as the money coming from shoppers who don't work here? If we aren't good enough to pay for our own permits to drive to and -2- park our own vehicles and work in downtown Iowa City, then are our dollars spent among local. businesses good enough either? It doesn't look like it. Already the city council has begun raising our utility bills for water, sewer, refuse. Now you are talking about raising parking permit fees or assessing penalties if we drive alone. People spoke at the council meetings before about being on fixed incomes and finding it difficult to keep up with all these extra fees. Please remember that not Just retired people are on fixed incomes--we all are. Our salaries can only go so far to pay all of these extra charges, and it becomes very difficult when it all goes back to the same place (the city) for things which are not visible to us. Every time the city raises fees or assesses penalties like you're talking about now, where are we supposed to find the money to pay with? We can't go back to our employers every time this happens and ask for more money--our incomes are fixed, too. Surely'you all realize that the same people are being asked to come up with all of this extra money, whether it is for increased utility rates, increased ~arking rates/penalties, or whatever. Don't you think we have a limit on how our resources can be stretched, or how far we can be pushed? Please don't vote on anything to make any more of your supporters angry. We obviously like to live, work, and own property in Iowa City or we wouldn't be here. Please also remember that when theuniversity is not in session, there are more available spaces in the ramp when not as many people drive to downtown Iowa City. I would hope you can find something more worthwhile to act upon that would benefit Iowa City more tha~ trying to make more rules and penalize people who drive and work in downtown Iowa City, and who help make the quality of the downtown what it is. Please share this letter as you see fit. I have enclosed 7 copies of this letter for you to share with the other members of the council. Thank you for reading this letter. You may contact me if you wish. Sincerely, Ma~ E~len Chudacek Iowa City, Iowa 52240 337-2804 (home) 337-9606 (work) January 30, 1995 Honorable mayor and members of the City Council of Iowa City, Iowa Civic Center 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52242-1826 Dear Councilors: Attached you will find a petition regarding a request by Mr. Bruce Glasgow to open and pave that portion of the "Virginia Drive" right of way between Oaklawn Avenue and the Shimek School boundary. As the petition indicates a number of the residents in this area oppose Mr. Glasgow's request. Particularly disturbing is his request that property owners in this area be assessed for the road improvement. Since no one in this area would benefit from the paving of "Virginia Drive", it is difficult to understand why we should pay for such an action. I have read the correspondence between Mr. Glasgow and the City. I was encouraged by Karin Franklin's letter to Mr. Glasgow (dated 12-19-94) which appears to indicate that the City has no interest in pursuing the matter nor does it appear likely that an assessment would be possible. However, taking nothing for granted, I felt it would be prudent to present the attached petition to the Council. We understand Mr. Glasgow's rights as a property owner and developer, but as residents of the area we feel our point of view must be presented as well. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. I plan to address the Council in the near future regarding this issue. Please feel free to call me at 353-4394 (work) or 337-4367 (home) with any questions you may have. Sincerely, Bill Hubbard 1445 Oaklawn Avenue Iowa City, IA 52245 TO: FROM: DATE: PETITION Honorable mayor and members of the Cit~ Council of Iowa .~.~, I(~va ::Z~; Residents of Oaklawn Avenue and Samuel Ddve> _ January 30, 1995 We, the undersigned residents of Oaklawn Avenue and Samuel Ddve, Iowa City, Iowa, oppose the paving of the Virginia Ddve Right of Way between Oaklawn Avenue and the eastern boundary of the Shimek School property. In particular, we oppose any attempt to assess property owners in this general area for said road improvement. SIGNATURE DATE ADDRESS January 25, 1gO5 28 South Lirm Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 (319) 356-522O RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL As it is our (Senior Center Commission} responsibility to look at all the seniors, all of the different points of uiew and considering eueryone's perspective, we heue as a group decided that it is in the best interest of the Senior Center, the senior citizens who participate at the Center and for senior citizens generally, that euen considering the problems of the Adult'Day Program, we reaffirm our prior position to remain in our present configuration and recommend that the City, County, and Adult Day Program Task Force look outside the Center for other options. Moued by Shelton, second by Peters. ayes. Senior Center Commission Monday, January 23, 1go5 Motion carried, all SUSAN M. FEENEY 719 RONALDS STREET iOWA CITY, IA 52245 (319) 337-2275 ~q Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County P.O. Box 2794 Iowa City, IA 52244 (319) 354-7989. City Council City of Iowa City 410 E. Washington Iowa City, IA 52240 In re: 1994 Crime Bill January 31, 1995 Dear Members of the City Council: I am writing on behalf of the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County (NCJC) to request that the City accept the assistance provided in the 1994 Crime Bill and hire additional officers. As you know, the NCJC is a nonprofit agency working with children and parents primarily in the Broadway Street and Pheasant Ridge neighborhoods. The NCJC has worked closely with the Iowa City Police Department on crime prevention in those areas. In fact, the NCJC budgeted a portion of its limited funds to assist the Police Dept. in paying for co,m,~nity policing last su~,~er. This cooperation has been successful and is ongoing. It is vital that the City accept the federal assistance which will provide for corf~ao_nity policing. Residents of the Broadway Street neighborhood as well as NCJC staff and board members have addressed the Council in the past on this issue. The NCJC is co,mlitted to prevention, and community policing is consistent with our mission. More importantly, the residents, daily lives are significantly affected by a high profile police presence. We are all fully aware that the City's budget has limits. At the same time, the City is going to have to increase thenumber of officers soon. The City is growing and already has the lowest officer to population ratio in the state. If the federal dollars are accepted now, the City will have three years to plan for the additional costs of these officers. Consequently, it makes fiscal sense to leverage the federal money now. If the money is refused, the officers, which will inevitably be hired in the future, will be paid for entirely with local money. Additionally, money spent on prevention in the short term is a fiscally sound long term investment. If crime and delinquency are prevented, the government saves money. This savings includes less criminal court filings, less juveniledelinquency filings, and City Council January 31, 1995 page 2 less Child in Need of Assistance filings. Therefore, in order to save money in the future, money must be spent now. In closing, let me return to the twin concerns of prevention and safety. Unlike raany budgetary outlays, co,~uunity policing will directly enhance the quality of life for the residents. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to discussing this matter with you at the budget hearing in February. Sincerely, Susan Dulek, President Board of Directors cc: Chief Winkelhake Stephen Arkins C) C) (./) I~1 Jl '.,.,j ~:0 'd ~ LE, FT SIDE VIEW STORE ,FRONT ELEVATION W/OUT SIGNAGE ,/,' = ~,_¢ STORE FRONT ELEVATION W/OUT .SIGNAGE STORE FRONT ELEVATION. ,W./, ~IGNAG~ ~?~ '; ~-,].~ .............. .. ........ January 31, 1995 CITY OF I0 WA CITY Charlie Duffy, Chair Johnson County Board of Supervisors 913 S. Dubuque St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Charlie and Members of the Board: An application has been submitted to Johnson County by Jerry Eyman to fezone 12.48 acres from A1, Rural, to CP2, Planned Commercial. This property is located within Fringe Area 5, west of the Interstate 80 interchange at Herbert Hoover Highway. At its January 19, 1995, meeting, the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the City Council forward a comment to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors strongly recommending denial of the requested rezoning due to the proposal's inconsistency with the mutually agreed upon Fringe Area Policy Agreement and because it wou;d result in urban uses being developed in a rural setting, would prematurely expand a commercial zoning district for which an actual market has not yet been demonstrated, and would result in inappropriate land uses being established along a major entryway into ttie community. The Council agrees with the recommendation from the Commission and respectfully requests that the County deny the proposed rezoning. The enclosed City staff memorandum further details the City's concerns regarding this rezoning request. Sincerely, Susan M. Horowitz Mayor Enc. EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA II2~40-1S;16 · (~19) City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: January 12, 1995 To: Planning & Zoning Commission From: Scott Kugler, Associate Planner Re: CZ-9465. Eyman Rezoning request on Herbert Hoover Highway from A-1 to CP-2. Johnson County has received an application from Jerry Eyman to rezone 12.48 acres from A1, Rural, to CP-2, Planned Commercial. This property is located within Fringe Area 5, west of the Interstate 80 interchange at Herbert Hoover Highway. The applicant plans to develop contractor offices, warehouse buildings, and a convenience store. This property was the subject of a previous rezoning request filed in May of 1994, together with the 16.5 ± acres immediately to the east. That request was to permit mini-storage warehouses and a future convenience store. The Commission and City Council recommended denial of that request due to its inconsistency with the Fringe Area Policy Agreement and its impact on the appearance of this entryway into the community. However, the Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning of the eastern 16.5 ± acres, leaving the 12.48 acre tract that is the subject of this request as A-l, Rural. The Fringe Area § Policy states that non-farm development should be confined to existing zoning within one mile of the eastern corporate limit of Iowa City. This site is located nearly two miles from the corporate limits. Expansion of the commercial zoning at this location would be in conflict with this mutually agreed upon policy. To encourage additional commercial development this far removed from the nearest urban area would be inefficient transportation policy. The Dodge Street and West Brahch interchanges along Interstate 80 would be more logical locations for the proposed convenience store. The other proposed uses do not appear to be dependent on Interstate 80 and would be better located within an urbanized area. The fact that the adjacent property has already been zoned for commercial uses does not necessarily mean that this site is appropriate for a similar classification. To date, the adjacent parcel has not yet been developed. The amount of mini-warehouse space planned for that parcel seems unrealistic, given the lack of a surrounding population of potential users and the site's distance from surrounding population centers. There appears to be an adequate amount of commercially zoned property already existing to reasonably accommodate all of the uses proposed for the two areas. In the staff's opinion, extending commercial zoning to the west at this time before any of the existing commercial property has been developed, and before the actual market for commercial uses in this location is established, would be premature. When the previous rezoning application was being considered, the staff, the Commission and the City Council expressed concern about the impact that the proposed commercial development would have on this entryway into the community. The uses being contemplated 2 at that time, mini storage warehouses and a convenience store, were determined to be inappropriate for this entryway. The addition of contractor offices, which typically includes the outdoor storage of equipment, and more warehouses will further exasperate this problem. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Because the proposed rezoning would be in conflict with the mutually agreed upon Fringe Area Policy Agreement for Fringe Area 5, would result in urban uses being developed in a rural setting, would prematurely expand a commercial zoning district for which an actual market has not yet been demonstrated, and would result in inappropriate land uses being established along a major entryway into the community, staff recommends that the City Council forward a letter to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors recommending that the proposed rezoning from A1 to CP-2 be denied. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Location Map. 2. Applicant's Letter of Intent. 3. Concept Plan. b~c.z-9465 Approved by: Robert Miklo, Senior Planner Department of Planning and Community Development II LOCATION .MAP CZ-9465 A-1 to CP-2 Letter of Intent To: County Zoning Officials Pl~ase be informed that Crateway, Ltd. Is requesting the rezoning of 12.48 acres from A-1 to CP-2. We are interested in meeting a Real Estate Market driven demand for warehouse space for a cabinet shop and a plumbing contractor. As there are currently voay few to no choices for companies to gain access for warehouse space, the market need can be well demonstrated. Please reference our concept plan. We intend to remove the old crib, chicken houses, hog confinement building, and pump house as soon as weather permits in the spring. We will kccp the 2 machine sheds to store our own equipment and utilize the house as an office until the lot is developed. We will not use the house for residential purposes. Our long term intent is to remove all of the buildings as the land is developed. We are excited about the growth potential at this site and the consequent tax base increase for the county. IfI may be of further assistance please advise. Sincerely, /erfffL. E Applicant ~man JL HERBERT HOOVER HIGHWAY / LOGN. ROA~ N SURVEYINO AND ENGINEERING 535 SOUTHGATE AV~'¢UE IOWA CIW~ IOWA 52240 PHONE (~19) 354-1984 TITLE Concep[ual Site Plan PROdECT (;ateway Development Wes[ tel I January 31, 1995 CITY OF I0 WA CITY Charlie Duffy, Chair Johnson County Board of Supervisors 913 S. Dubuque St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Charlie and Members of the Board: An application has been submitted to Johnson County by Jerry Eyman to rezone 12.48 acres from A1, Rural, to CP2, Planned Commercial. This property is located within Fringe Area 5, west of the Interstate 80 interchange at Herbert Hoover Highway. At its January 19, 1995, meeting, the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the City Council forward a comment to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors strongly recommending denial of the requested rezoning due to the proposal's inconsistency with the mutually agreed upon Fringe Area Policy Agreement and because it would result in urban uses being developed in a rural setting, would prematurely expand a commercial zoning district for which an actual market has not yet been demonstrated, and would result in inappropriate land uses being established along a major entryway into the community. The Council agrees with the recommendation from the Commission and respectfully requests that the County deny the proposed rezoning. The enclosed City staff memorandum further details the City's concerns regarding this rezoning request. Sincerely, Susan M. Horowitz Mayor Enc. b~y.~ 410 EAST WASHINOTON STREET · IOWA CITY. IOWA SE340-1826 · (~19) 3S6-S000 · FAX (319) 3S6-SOQ9 376