HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-27 Info PacketAult
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=I CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET
CITY OF IOWA CITY
www.icgov.org November 27, 2013
IP1 Council Tentative Meeting Schedule
DECEMBER 3 WORK SESSION
IP2 Work Session Agenda
IP3 Pending Work Session Topics
IP4 Memo from the City Clerk: Meeting Schedule
MISCELLANEOUS
IP5 Memo from City Clerk: Chamber Annual Banquet
IP6 Article from City Manager: Do Millennials Want to Call Your City `Home'?
IP7 Article from City Manager: Mind the Gap
IP8 Email from Human Rights: Comparison of Census to Survey Respondents 2013
IP9 Email from PCD Dir. to City Manager: S. Dodge St.
IP10 Civil Service Entrance Examination: Maintenance Worker I — Water Customer Service
IP11 Copy of Press Release: Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule Announced for City of Iowa
City
IP12 Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County: Notice of Funding Opportunity
DRAFT MINUTES
IP13 Board of Adjustment: November 13
IP14 Planning and Zoning Commission: November 7 (Formal
IP15 Planning and Zoning Commission: November 21 (Formal)
IP16 Telecommunications Commission: October 28
*A
.` IAN
CITY OF IOWA CITY
Date
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
City Council Tentative Meeting Schedule I IN
Subject to change November 27, 2013
Time Me
5:00 PM Special Formal / Ex. Session
Work Session Meeting
Location
Emma J. Harvat Hall
Work Session Meeting
Work Session Meeting
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
5:00 PM
Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Saturday, January 4, 2014
8AM -5PM
Spec. Formal (Organizational Mtg.)
Emma J. Harvat Hall
Special BUDGET Work Session Meeting
(Department presentations)
Monday, January 6, 2014
1:00- 7:0013M Special BUDGET Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
(CIP presentations)
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
5:00 PM
Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
5:00 PM
Special BUDGET Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
5:00 PM
Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Monday, January 27, 2014
4:30 PM
Joint Meeting /Work Session
TBA / Coralville
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
5:00 PM
City Conference Board Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
Work Session Meeting
Work Session Meeting
I r 1 I W2
CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826
(3 19) 356 -5000
(319) 356 -5009 FAX
www.icgov.org
Special Formal / Executive Session 5:00 PM — separate agenda posted
City Council Work Session Agenda
December 3, 2013
Following 5:00 PM Special Formal Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall - City Hall
410 E. Washington Street
• Questions from Council re Agenda Items
• Update on Landfill Alternative Technology RFP
• Discuss sidewalk repair program
• Information Packet Discussion [November 14, 21, 27]
• Council Time
• Meeting Schedule
■ Pending Work Session Topics [IP # 3 of 11/27 Info Packet]
■ Upcoming Community Events /Council Invitations
- Ws.as._
CITY OF IOWA CITY
PENDING CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION TOPICS
November 27, 2013
December 17, 2013
1. Continue the discussion on the Gateway Project design parameters
Pending Topics to be Scheduled
1. Discuss community business attraction and anti - piracy compact
2. Discuss Gilbert/Highland/Kirkwood neighborhood concerns
3. Review the National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education and Families
report entitled, "City Leadership to Promote Black Male Achievement" (originally
distributed in the 5/16/2013 Information Packet)
4. Discuss recycling opportunities for multi - family housing (UISG letter in 10/1/2013
packet)
r --
CITY OF IOWA CITY P4
MEMORANDUM
Date: November 27, 2013
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk ft,
Re: Meeting Schedule
At your orientation meeting on Monday evening Council directed staff to establish a yearly
schedule of Council meetings based on the current resolution establishing formal Council
meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
It was noted that sometimes the School District meetings and Council meetings are the same
evening. The School Board meetings are scheduled on the second and fourth Tuesday of each
month, unless special scheduling is necessary. Therefore, the first and third would avoid such
conflicts.
Another consideration might be a concern raised by incoming Council Member Botchway
regarding possible conflicts on Tuesday evenings with Johnson County elections. Council could
consider changing meetings from Tuesday evening to Monday or Wednesday evening. It
should be noted that there are some holidays that fall on Mondays (Martin Luther King Day;
President's Day; Memorial Day; and Labor Day). Other holidays are more date or time specific
like the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. If Council is interested in pursuing
meetings on a different evening staff can prepare a resolution for an upcoming meeting.
Staff will proceed to schedule the first and third Tuesday of each month after April 1St unless
directed otherwise.
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CITY OF IOWA CITY
M
Date: November 27, 2013
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk
Re: Chamber Annual Banquet
The 2014 Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet will be held on Thursday,
January 24, at the Coralville Marriott from starting at 5:00 PM. The speaker will be Daniel A.
Reed, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University of Iowa. If you are
interested in attending please let me know.
From the City Manager
IP6
GOVERNING
THE STATES AND LOCALITIES
Economic Engines
Do Millennials Want to Call Your
City"Home'?
Millions of millennials will soon be putting down roots. Cities and suburbs that are less attractive
to them have a limited window to turn things around.
BY WILLIAM FULTON I NOVEMBER 2012
knew the "brain drain" problem had reached a crisis point when they started talking about it
in Boston.
You know the story: Kids move to where they want to live and then look for a job, not the
other way around. They're drawn to a small number of hip metro areas (D.C., San
Francisco, Seattle) and smaller cities (Boulder, Colo.; Missoula, Mont.; Palo Alto, Calif.)
around the country and hip employers follow them. The result is an upward cycle of talent
and jobs and business growth in the fashionable places, and a downward cycle everywhere
else.
It's not unusual to hear people complain about this problem in Middle America, or in second -
tier cities without a big university, or in populous but aging suburban locations such as Long
Island, N.Y. But it's not a common thing to hear about in a place like Boston, which has the
greatest concentration of universities in the country, lots of cool neighborhoods and a big
chunk of the innovation economy.
The problem, Massachusetts economic development folks say, is that metro Boston is so
expensive they can't keep the kids, especially after those kids begin to have their own kids.
Yes, they can live in tiny city apartments, or maybe in a pleasant older suburb like Newton --
if they can afford it. After that, they are living somewhere beyond Interstate 495 and the
reach of most commuter rail lines. What Boston needs, the experts say, is more starter
homes in interesting, transit -rich locations.
Don't we all. If Boston can't stop the brain drain, is there any hope for the rest of us? Yes,
but it requires a concentrated effort to create compelling places to live and work -- and fast.
Because of the demographics of young talent, the cities and suburbs on the downward cycle
have a limited window to turn things around: ten years at most, and maybe no more than
five.
Here are the facts most people know: For the foreseeable future, the so- called millennials
(currently ages 18 -30) will drive both the housing market and the fast - growing innovation
economy. It's a huge cohort of about 70 million people. And as I mentioned above, they are
gravitating toward a select group of metros and small cities.
But there are a couple of other facts that we don't usually think about. Most people settle
down by age 35, and usually don't move from one metro area to another after that. And the
demographic group behind the millennials is a lot smaller. Just like baby boomers, the
preferences of the millennials will drive our society for two generations. They're making
location decisions based on their idea of quality of life. And they're going to make all those
decisions in the next few years -- by the time they're 35.
So if you're not one of the hip places today, you have only a few years -- the length of one
real estate cycle and the time horizon for planning an infrastructure project -- to become hip
enough to keep your kids and attract others.
This might seem like a daunting, if not insurmountable, challenge, but frankly I'm
encouraged by what I see. Over the last six months I've been to many second -tier cities --
Omaha, Neb.; Oklahoma City; Richmond, Va.; Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y.; and
Manchester, N.H., among them -- that would not to be good candidates for a hip urban core.
Yet they're all developing one.
Nebraska's conservative Republican governor, Dave Heineman, took the opportunity of
hosting a National Governors Association event in Omaha to show off downtown lofts and
restaurants. In Oklahoma City, Republican Mayor Mick Cornett, who lives a block from City
Hall, has championed urban reinvestment -- one of his latest projects is a streetcar line. In
Manchester, the old mills bordering downtown are being refurbished. In Syracuse, where the
urban core is adjacent to a prominent research university, several hundred housing units
have been created in historic buildings, attracting many new downtown residents, including
my onetime roommate, who moved back downtown after 20 years of living in a ritzy, cutesy
suburb.
The lesson for me is that even though the window is short, there's still time for second -tier
cities and older suburbs to create the compelling places that will be required to succeed in
the 21 st- century economy. Most people -- even millennials -- want to live near their families
and near where they grew up, meaning that if you can create interesting places, they're
likelier to stay. And you don't need the endless hip urban fabric of New York or D.C. to
compete. You just need a few great neighborhoods for people to live and work in. For most
cities, that's an achievable goal.
In his recent book, The New Geography of Jobs, economist Enrico Moretti of the University
of California, Berkeley, noted that the current pattern of winners and losers is good for the
national economy even if it's bad for most cities, because the innovation economy thrives on
agglomeration. That's probably true, at least in the short run. But in the long run, it's surely
better to have more compelling places -- large and small -- that can attract their share of
young talent and economic buzz. America's prosperity will be more enduring as a result.
Why Mayors Can't Combat Income Inequality - NYTimes.com
Page 1
L:MFrom the City Manager
November 26, 2013
Mind the Gap
By ADAM DAVIDSON
At the not - yet - completed One57, a luxury residential tower off Central Park, the unsold floor - through
apartments are going for $53 million and up. The penthouse sold for more than $go million. One57 will be
the tallest residence in the Western Hemisphere (until another luxury high -rise on Park Avenue is
completed in 2015), and on a clear day, residents on the top floors should be able to just make out the
South Bronx.
A large proportion of the buyers likely won't live in New York; they will keep the units as decadent pieds -a
- terre. I initially felt anger and disgust at the idea of absentee billionaires hoarding Manhattan real estate,
making the city even more unaffordable while they live like princes in Moscow or Hong Kong or wherever.
But then I did the math. Assuming that their money has to go somewhere, it's not so bad that these
billionaires choose to put a chunk of it here. Any city official in Dayton or, for that matter, Philadelphia
would do anything to have such problems. Yet frustration with becoming a central node in the global
network of massive wealth was a centerpiece of New York's recent mayoral campaign.
Bill de Blasio didn't mention One57 by name in the speech that defined his candidacy, the one in which he
described a tale of two cities — one obscenely rich, the other miserably poor — but you could argue that his
campaign against inequality wouldn't have been so successful were it not for the proliferation of places like
this. But what the tower's affluent quasi residents really make clear is that New York's inequality is hardly
a local phenomenon. Most New Yorkers were born somewhere else. Nearly half speak a foreign language
at home, and countless others come to the city from somewhere else in the United States. New York's
inequality is determined by events taking place far beyond the Hudson River or, even, the Atlantic Ocean.
Benjamin Barber, the political theorist and author of "If Mayors Ruled the World," is wildly biased in favor
of de Blasio. He says he voted for him, has met with him to offer advice and works at LUNY, an institution
the mayor -elect promises to fund generously. For all that, Barber has not been swayed by de Blasio's
soaring rhetoric about reducing the gap between rich and poor. "Obviously, he wouldn't want to disengage
New York City from its role in global finance, real estate," he said. De Blasio knows that being mayor of the
financial capital of the United States offers great benefits. After all, nearly every significant transaction in
the United States — from an Iowa farmer's line of credit to a major bond issue in Maine — runs through
some desk in Manhattan where somebody gets a cut. And the city gets a cut of that cut.
Barber points out that mayors, unlike legislators, are generally less dogmatic once they are sworn into
office. "The distance between Bloomberg and de Blasio is not as great as the media — and the two men —
have made out," he said. "Being a mayor is about solving problems and not about striking ideological
poses."
http: / /www.nytimes.com/2013/ 12/01 /magazine/ why- mayors -cant- combat - income - inequality.html ?hp &_... 11/26/2013
Why Mayors Can't Combat Income Inequality - NYTimes.com
Page 2
Edward Glaeser, an economist at Harvard, is Barber's political opposite. His book, "The Triumph of the
City," is an eloquent attack on many of the policies de Blasio argues for, like targeted protections for
certain kinds of industries and expansion of government housing. But appropriately, for all their
differences, Glaeser and Barber agree that ideology doesn't matter much when mayors actually govern.
There are policies that could reduce inequality on the national level, like improving schools everywhere or
altering the tax code, Glaeser points out, but the opposite is true on a local level; when local governments
improve their schools or create more progressive taxes, they may increase inequality locally by attracting
more poor people. Glaeser says one way to significantly lessen inequality in the city would be to
aggressively repel either the very poor or the very rich. De Blasio, thankfully, will do neither.
Much has been made of de Blasio's call for higher taxes on the rich to finance better education for the
poor. But his actual policy proposal is the tiniest possible tweak. People making more than half a million a
year will pay an additional half a percent in New York City income tax. (For most, this will mean a few
hundred to a few thousand dollars a year.) His spokesman, Jonathan Rosen, explained that the increase
was designed to help bring the children of poor New Yorkers into the middle class without encouraging
wealthy people to leave the city because of the tax burden.
Whatever de Blasio does, Glaeser argues, the city will continue to attract both the superrich and the poor,
and there will be less space occupied by the middle class. The gap between rich and poor has grown
significantly over the past 35 years in nearly every nation, and especially in large cities. "Globalization and
new technology have made cities more, not less, valuable," Glaeser said. This is because the most
profitable businesses no longer involve heavy machinery; they are rooted in ideas, which, it turns out,
spread most effectively when knowledge workers are densely packed together. The top handful of major
metropolitan areas — New York, Chicago, Los Angeles — account for a hugely disproportionate share of
overall U.S. economic growth, Glaeser says. There is every reason to believe this trend will continue and,
most likely, increase. That will draw even more of the high- earning elite to big cities and many of the poor,
too, seeking jobs and assistance in these centers of economic growth.
Barber and Glaeser agreed that however powerless de Blasio may be over these historic global trends, he
does have one crucial power that he has already begun using: He can set a tone for the city as a place open
to the poor and the middle class. His campaign to fight inequality could, paradoxically, make New York
even more unequal. But if that inequality is a byproduct of New York's serving as a global symbol of
opportunity, de Blasio's landslide victory suggests that most New Yorkers will be thrilled.
Adam Davidson is co-founder of NPR's "Planet Money," a podcast and blog.
http: / /www.nytimes.com/2013/ 12/01 /magazine/ why- mayors- cant - combat - income - inequality.html ?hp &_... 11/26/2013
From: HumanRights
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 8:10 AM
To: Marian Karr; Tom Markus
Subject: FW: Iowa City Citizens Survey
Attachments: Comparison of Census to Survey Respondents 2013.pdf
For next available Council Packet.
From: Coulter, Joe D [mailto:joe- coulter @uiowa.edu]
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 1:14 PM
To: Stefanie Bowers
Subject: Iowa City Citizens Survey
Stefanie:
Attached here is additional comparison data on the Citizen Survey. You're welcome to distribute as you wish.
Joe
Joe D. Coulter, Ph.D.
Professor
Community and Behavioral Health
College of Public Health
105 River Street, N414 CPHB
The University of Iowa Phone (319) 384 -1478
Iowa City, Iowa 52242 FAX (319) 384 -4106
Joe Dan Coulter
City of Iowa City Citizen Survey 2013
11/22/2013
Comparison of Census Data* with Survey Respondents
1. Iowa City population 2012 estimate *: 70,133 (100X► of population 2012)
Citizen Survey Respondents: 499 (0.071% of population 2012)
Iowa City population 2010 estimate *: 67,894 (100% of population 2010)
Citizen Survey Respondents: 499 (0.073% of population 2010)
2. White alone population 2010 *:
Citizen Survey Respondents
3. Ruck or African Amer. population 2010 *:
Citizen Survey Respondents:
4. Amer. Indian /Alaska blot. population 2010 *:
Citizen Survey Respondents:
S. Astern, Indian or Pacific islander 2010 *:
Citizen Survey Respondents:
6. Hispanic/Latino population 2010 *:
Citizen Survey Respondents:
7. Female Persons 2010 *:
Citizen Survey Respondents:
8. Persons under 18 years 2010*
Citizen Survey Respondents:
9. Persons 18 years to 65 years 2010*
Citizen Survey Respondents:
10. Persons 65 years and over 2010*
Citizen Survey Respondents
11. Median Household Income, 2007- 2011 *:
Citizen Survey Respondents:
56,012 (82.5% of population 2010)
471 (95.0% of Survey Respondents)
3,938 (5.8% of population 2010)
5 (1.0% of Survey Respondents)
136 (0.2% of population 2010)
3 (1.0% of Survey Respondents)
4,685 (6.9% of population 2010)
15 (3.0% of Survey Respondents)
3,598 (5.3% of population 2010)
11(2.0% of Survey Respondents)
34,151(50.3% of population 2010)
299 (60.0% of Survey Respondents)
10,111(14.9% of population 2010)
0 (0.0% of Survey Respondents)
52,210 (76.9% of population 2010)
364 (73.0% of Survey Respondents)
5,567 ( 8.2% of population 2010)
140 (28.0% of Survey Respondents)
$41,956 (50% < $41,956: 50%> $41,956)
(27% < $49,999: 74% > $50,000)
*Source U.S. Census Bureau: State and County QuickFacts. Data derived from Population Estimates, American Community Survey, Census of
Population and tloustn;, County Business Patterns, Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners, Building Perms, Census of Governments -
Last Revised: Thursday, 27- Jun - 201314:02:29 EDT http:./ Iau lcihcts .cer*us.goy /afd /statti/19 S9MM.htrrJ
Compiled by: Joe O. Coulter 1818 N. Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA 52245
From: Tom Markus
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 11:47 AM
To: Marian Karr
Subject: FW: S. Dodge St.
Add to info packet.
From: Jeff Davidson
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 11:45 AM
To: 'James Throgmorton'
Cc: Tom Markus
Subject: RE: S. Dodge St.
Hello Jim.
Mike McLaughlin demolished 3 or 4 houses on Dodge, and intends to replace them with two student housing apartment
buildings. He has the right to build 11 units. Because it's the RM -12 zone, he can do all 3 bedroom units if he
wants. He's brought in the first building for approval; 6 units, all 3 bedrooms.
JD
From: James Throgmorton [mailto:jthrogmo @yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 9:04 AM
To: Jeff Davidson
Subject: S. Dodge St.
Hi Jeff.
I see that someone has demolished 2+ buildings on the west side of S. Dodge St near the
intersection of Dodge and Bowery.
If I understand correctly, the site is located within a RM -12 district.
Who demolished the buildings, and what do they plan to build in their stead?
Jim
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CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826
(319) 356 -5000
(319) 356 -5009 FAX
www.icgov.org
November 15, 2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council
RE: Civil Service Entrance Examination — Maintenance Worker I — Water Customer
Service
Under the authority of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa City, Iowa, I do hereby
certify the following named person(s) as eligible for the position of Maintenance Worker
I — Water Customer Service,
Curt Beckler
IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Lyra . Dickerson, Chair
M IPII
Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule Announced For City Of Iowa City
Posted on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 8:42 AM
City of Iowa City administrative offices at City Hall and other facilities will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 28 and
29, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Other closures or adjustments to schedules for the holiday are as follows:
AIRPORT: The administration office will be closed Thursday and Friday. Jet Air will be available via callout number
319/248 -1200 on Thursday and will be open regular hours on Friday. Self- service jet -a and avgas fueling will be available
around the clock.
ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTION CENTER: Closed both days.
LANDFILL AND RECYCLING CENTER: Closed Thursday, but open regular hours on Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
LIBRARY: The Library will be closing at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. It will be closed all day Thursday. Friday hours will be 10
a.m. to 6 p.m.
PARKING: Parking operations and offices will be closed Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. On- street metered and ramp
parking will be free on those days to accommodate holiday visitors and shoppers.
PARKS AND RECREATION: On Wednesday, November 27, pools at both recreational facilities will close at 4 p.m. and all
Parks and Recreation facilities and offices will close at 5 p.m. On Thanksgiving Day, all facilities will be closed. On Friday,
Parks and Recreation offices will be closed, but recreation centers will be open as follows: Mercer /Scanlon, 11 a.m. to 8
p.m., and Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 1 to 9 p.m. Pools at both facilities will open at 1 p.m.
POLICE: Patrol personnel and station masters will be on duty, and the Police Department front desk will be open.
SENIOR CENTER: The Senior Center will be closed on Thanksgiving, but senior meals will be served and delivered. On
Friday, the center will be closed, and senior meals will not be available, either at the Senior Center or by delivery.
SOLID WASTE: Refuse, recycling, and yard waste will not be collected on Thanksgiving Day. Operations will resume on
Friday, when both Thursday and Friday routes will be collected. Residents on these routes should place materials at the
curb by 7 a.m. on Friday, although the City cannot determine exactly what time the items will be collected.
TRANSIT: Buses will not run on Thanksgiving. On Friday and Saturday, buses will run on a Saturday service schedule,
free of charge. The office will be closed all three days.
WATER: The Water Division office will be closed both days, but a 24 -hour emergency line and on -call staff will be
available. Residents who have a water emergency should call 319/356 -5166 for assistance.
City offices and operations will return to normal schedules on Monday, December 2.
For more information, contact Shannon McMahon, Communications Coordinator, at 319/356 -5058 or e-mail Shannon -
mcmahon(&- iowa- city.ora.
Contact Information
Name: Shannon McMahon
Email: Send Mail
Phone: (319) 356 -5058
Housing Trust Fund
lohnsod County
Board ofDirectors
IP12
Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County
322 East Second Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Email: tachcnbach @htfjc.org Website: www.htfjc.org
Office: 319.358.0212 Fax: 319.358.0053
Bob Dvorsky, President
State Senator, 1r District
Bob Burns, Co- President -elect
NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Burns & Burns, LC.
Ellen Habel, Co- President -elect
Ciy of Coralville
Ron Mavrias, Secretary
Private Citizen
John Warren, Treasurer
HOUSING TRUST FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Bergan Paulsen
Jerry Anthony, Universiy of
The Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County is currently offering $325,000 in funding to
Iowa, Urban & Regional Planning
support the development and /or rehabilitation of housing for income qualified
Robert Brooks, Private Citi .Zen
households. Note: Funding will be awarded to applicants who support housing
Crissy Canganelli, Shelter House
development or activities for low income households (80% or below AMI), but
preference may be given to projects that benefit extremely low income households
Maryann Dennis, Ex- officio
(30% or below AMI). Eligible applicants include businesses, nonprofits, builders,
The Housing Fellowship
developers, and governmental agencies seeking funds for affordable owner- occupied,
Kirsten Frey, Kennedy, Cruise,
rental, transitional or emergency housing in Johnson County.
Frey and Gelner
Steve Gordon, AM Management
The application deadline is 4 p.m. on Friday, December 20t ", 2013. An application,
Chris LeFever, US Bank
AMI guidelines, and additional information may be found online at www.htfjjc.org or by
calling 319 - 358 -0212.
Steve Long, Iowa Ciy Planning
& Communiy Development
Tracey Mulcahey, City of North
Liberty
Phil O'Brien, Lepic Kroeger
Realtors
Scott Schroeder, Mid lestOne
Bank
Rod Sullivan, Johnson County
Board of Supervisors
Larry Wilson, Universiy Heights
Citi .Zen
Staff
Tracey Achenbach,
Executive Director
Kelly Wenman,
Operations Coordinator
=1
MINUTES
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
NOVEMBER 13, 2013 — 5:15 PM
CITY HALL, EMMA HARVAT HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
PRELIMINARY
Larry Baker, Gene Chrischilles, Connie Goeb, Brock
Grenis, Becky Soglin
None.
Sarah Walz, Sue Dulek
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL: None.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 5:15 PM.
ROLL CALL:
CONSIDERATION OF SEPTEMBER 18 2013 MEETING MINUTES
Soglin moved to approve.
Baker seconded the motion.
A vote was taken and the motion carried 5 -0.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION ITEM
EXC13- 00015: Discussion of an application submitted Tom Kemmerer for a special exception to
allow conversion of a non - conforming use that is located in a structure designed for a use that is
prohibited in the zone to allow conversion to another non - conforming use of the same or lesser
intensity; and a historic preservation exception to modify the site development standards
(parking) to allow re -use of the historic property located in the High Density Multi - Family (RM-
44) zone at 518 Bowery Street.
Walz said the applicant contacted her today and said he would like to defer this application.
Walz recommended that he defer the application until the January meeting of the Board.
Chrischilles moved to defer EXC13 -00015 to January 2014.
Board of Adjustment
November 13, 2013
Page 2 of 3
Goeb seconded.
A vote was taken and the motion carried 5 -0.
OTHER:
Members of the Board discussed their experiences at the American Planning Association
meeting. Soglin said that based on what she learned there, Iowa City is doing almost everything
right, and she complimented Walz on how she conducts the meetings of the Board.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chrischilles moved to adjourn.
Baker seconded.
The meeting was adjourned on a 5 -0 vote.
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PRELIMINARY
NOVEMBER 7,— 7:00 PM — FORMAL
EMMA J. HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carolyn Dyer, Charlie Eastham, Phoebe Martin, Paula Swygard,
Jodie Theobald, John Thomas
MEMBERS ABSENT: Anne Freerks
STAFF PRESENT: Karen Howard, Bob Miklo, Sarah Holecek, Eric Goers
OTHERS PRESENT: Mary Gravitt, Kevin O'Brien, Matthew Barron, Mark Seabold,
Michael Mulenbruch, Ruth Baker
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL:
The Commission voted 6 -0 to recommend approval of REZ13- 00022, a rezoning of
approximately 2.5 -acres of land from Community Commercial (CC -2) zone to Planned
Development Overlay /Community Commercial (OPD /CC -2) for property located at 21
West Benton Street and 820 South Riverside Drive and that it be approved subject to the
five conditions entered into the record by staff during the presentation this evening
which are:
1) The final design of the development and the resulting encroachment into the
required stream corridor buffer will not prevent construction of the Iowa River
Corridor Trail; and
2) Prior to approval of the final planned development plan, the owner will dedicate
to the City of Iowa City, 10 feet of property along the Riverside Drive frontage of
property at 820 S. Riverside Drive to use for public right -of -way purposes; and
3) Prior to approval of the final planned development plan, the owner will
establish a cross access easement between the property at 21 W. Benton and
the property at 804 S. Riverside Drive (McDonald's restaurant property) at a
location acceptable to the City and will agree to close the access point to
Benton Street from 21 W. Benton St. and combine and share an access with the
property at 804 S. Riverside Drive when that property redevelops through use
of the cross access easement; and
4) The applicant will present a more detailed pedestrian circulation and
landscaping plan for the site and for the areas along the Iowa River to the City
for approval through the design review process prior to issuance of a building
permit. The submitted plan should show enhanced vegetation appropriate for
the location along the Iowa River, street trees, and landscaped pedestrian
routes throughout the site; and
5) The final design of the buildings and the site will be reviewed and approved
through the design review process to be consistent with the Riverfront
Crossings Master Plan and other zoning requirements.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Vice -Chair Eastham at 7:00 PM.
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 7, 2013 - Formal
Page 2 of 11
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA:
Mary Gravitt of 2714 Wayne said she would like to know if the words "workforce housing" are
now part of the City Code. She said she finds the term very insulting and asked what happened
to the term "affordable housing ". She said the term "workforce housing" appeared when Marc
Moen decided to build skyscrapers.
Holecek said they have not codified it in any way.
Gravitt asked if the term "affordable housing" is a legal term in the Code.
Holecek responded that it's in a number of City documents, including City Steps and the
Strategic Plans.
Rezoning Item
REZ13 -00022
Discussion of an application submitted by Iowa River Redevelopment, LLC for a rezoning
of approximately 2.5 -acres of property from Community Commercial (CC -2) zone to
Planned Development Overlay /Community Commercial (OPD /CC -2) zone located at 21 W.
Benton Street and 820 S. Riverside Drive.
Howard showed a number of slides of the proposed development and of the property and the
neighborhood. She said the applicant purchased this property from Staples and a condition of
the sale was that they develop a small retail building next to the Staples property. She explained
that what a Planned Development allows an applicant to do is to adjust the plan to further a
vision they have by modifying certain underlying zoning requirements. She said in this case they
would like to realize the vision of the Riverfront Crossings Plan. She said the proposed building
encroaches into the stream corridor buffer. She said the City requires through the Sensitive
Areas Ordinance a fifty foot buffer along the Iowa River. Howard said the applicant would like to
build closer to the river because they are constrained by the McDonalds and Stapes sites to get
the parking they need, and they would like to integrate the building into the riverbank and put in
underground parking that is floodable. She showed examples of what that would look like in the
ten, one - hundred and five - hundred year flood. She said all the occupied space in the building is
above the five - hundred year flood plain. She said the applicant is also proposing public access
to the river, construction of the riverfront trail under the Benton Street Bridge, enhanced
landscaping along the river, decorative metal screening to hide the parking, and a rooftop
terrace. Howard explained that the concept plan proposes parking, retail and restaurant space
on the first level, then open space for access to a river terrace, above that would be office
space, and then eighteen units of condos on the upper floors.
Howard explained that the smaller retail building would use the existing parking lot on the
Staples property. She showed a drawing of the proposed plan.
Howard said that this proposal goes a long way toward meeting the goals in the Comprehensive
Plan for the West Riverfront Sub - District. She said the applicant has agreed to dedicate ten feet
along Riverside Drive in order to create a more pedestrian - friendly streetscape in the future.
Howard said the applicant has requested an increase in allowable building height from the thirty -
five feet that the CC -2 zone allows to up ninety -five feet for the building they are proposing. She
said this increased height would be consistent with the Riverfront Crossings Master Plan, which
identifies the opportunity for taller mixed -use buildings along the Iowa to take advantage of river
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 7, 2013 - Formal
Page 3 of 11
views and access.
Howard reiterated that the applicant is requesting a reduction in the stream corridor buffer. She
said because the site is quite constrained by its surroundings, it would be difficult for them to get
the parking they need and realize the vision of the Riverfront Crossings Plan without a reduction
in that buffer. She said as a part of any significant reduction, the City requires that the
vegetative cover in the remaining buffer be enhanced to stabilize the river bank, so staff is
recommending that the applicant submit a more detailed landscaping plan with species
appropriate to a riverbank location as a condition of approval.
Howard noted that because the trail will encroach into the Iowa River Floodway the applicant
must obtain a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permit to show that there's no rise in the
flood level for any encroachment into the floodway. She said they are currently in the process of
doing that, so there are some uncertainties of exactly how the building and the trail are going to
interface. She said the applicant has presented both the preferred scenario, which is to keep the
trail above the 10 year flood level and the worst case scenario, where the trail would be
constructed below the 10 year flood level. The applicant has indicated their intent to achieve
the preferred scenario, but if after modeling this scenario for the DNR permit it is apparent that it
will cause increased flooding downstream, they request allowance to move the trail lower. Staff
is comfortable with this approach, as long as the resulting encroachment of the development
into the river corridor buffer doesn't foreclose the possibility of extending the trail and the
creation of an attractive interface between the trail and the building.
Howard noted that the plans for the building design and the site are just conceptual in nature,
and there a number of changes that will be necessary to meet all the City's site development
standards, improve pedestrian connections, landscaping standards, and details of the building
designs to realize the vision of the Riverfront Crossings Plan. However, staff is comfortable with
recommending approval with a condition that these details be worked out through the design
review process.
Howard said that staff feels this is ready for approval with the conditions listed in the staff report
that she wishes to be entered into the public record.
• Staff recommends that REZ13- 00022, a rezoning of approximately 2.5 acres of land from
Community Commercial (CC -2) to Planned Development Overlay — Community
Commercial (OPD -CC -2) for property located at 21 W. Benton Street and 820 Riverside
Drive, be approved subject to the following conditions:
1) The final design of the development and the resulting encroachment into the required
stream corridor buffer will not prevent construction of the Iowa River Corridor Trail;
and
2) Prior to approval of the final planned development plan, the owner will dedicate to the
City of Iowa City, 10 feet of property along the Riverside Drive frontage of property at
820 S. Riverside Drive to use for public right -of -way purposes; and
3) Prior to approval of the final planned development plan, the owner will establish a
cross access easement between the property at 21 W. Benton and the property at
804 S. Riverside Drive (McDonald's restaurant property) at a location acceptable to
the City and will agree to close the access point to Benton Street from 21 W. Benton
St. and combine and share an access with the property at 804 S. Riverside Drive
when that property redevelops through use of the cross access easement; and
4) The applicant will present a more detailed pedestrian circulation and landscaping plan
for the site and for the areas along the Iowa River to the City for approval through the
design review process prior to issuance of a building permit. The submitted plan
should show enhanced vegetation appropriate for the location along the Iowa River,
street trees, and landscaped pedestrian routes throughout the site; and
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 7, 2013 - Formal
Page 4 of 11
5) The final design of the buildings and the site will be reviewed and approved through
the design review process to be consistent with the Riverfront Crossings Master Plan
and other zoning requirements.
Theobald asked about the DNR permit. Howard said the applicant has to show that it won't affect
the flood capacity of the rest of the river.
Swygard asked about the trail and the landscaping on the trail. Howard said the trail extends to
the edge of the commercial property and may be designed in a fashion similar to what's already
been built, with rails along some portions. She said the trail would be built to the City's
specifications.
Thomas asked about the parking requirements. Howard said there is adequate parking with
sharing parking with Staples and throughout this whole site, even under the CC -2 zoning
standards now for the two new commercial buildings, and the residential parking will be in a
below grade structure under the new building along the river. Thomas wondered if there may be
an opportunity to reduce the total amount of parking from what's shown on the plans to create a
better environment for pedestrians, particularly if people will be living in this location. Howard
acknowledged that currently the area along Riverside Drive is an auto - oriented area, so
businesses are going to insist on having a certain amount of parking. She said while the
Riverfront Crossings Code will likely have a lower parking requirement, it does not set a
maximum, so allows the market to determine how much parking is needed over time. She said
with the parking sharing with Staples, there may be an opportunity to reduce the amount of
parking, but the amount of parking will be market - driven, in general.
Eastham asked if the number of surface parking spaces for this property is set by the Code
requirements. Howard said the parking the applicant is showing on the plan is the parking they
would like to have, and it also happens to meet the requirements for the CC -2 zone. Eastham
said he agrees with Thomas about the opportunity to require less parking than what is on the
current plans. Howard said it is likely that the new code that is adopted for Riverfront Crossings
will have a lower parking requirement, such that it could be reduced.
Dyer asked if the Mum's driveway will still exist. Howard said it will remain to provide access to
this new property, but if the McDonalds redevelops, they would be required to share the
driveway and close the Mum's drive.
Eastham asked if there are safety concerns about the traffic turning east and west out of both
driveways onto Benton Street. Howard said the Traffic Engineers have said it's not ideal, and it
should be closed if there's an opportunity to do so in the future.
Eastham asked if residents of the condos will have access to the building during a 500 -year
flood. Howard said with a 500 -year flood, the building and the parking lot that are to the west of
the building are both above the 500 -year flood plain. She said the pedestrian access to the
building is on west side, but the parking level would be flooded.
Theobald said that Howard had mentioned that the City would reimburse the developers for the
trail, but if the DNR says it has to be built lower than the ten year flood would the City be just as
committed to constructing the trail. Howard said staff is recommending the condition that if for
some reason this development would preclude the construction of a riverfront trail, it should not
be approved. She said she doesn't think that's going to be the case.
Eastham asked what the width is between the trail and the riverbank and the trail and the
building. Howard stated that this would vary based on the water level in the river. Howard said
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 7, 2013 - Formal
Page 5 of 11
staff is recommending as a condition of approval that once the modeling is complete, that the
applicant provide a more detailed landscaping plan to show how the trail will relate to the
riverbank and the building. Eastham asked if the trail placement has to be lower due to a DNR
ruling would this plan come back before the Commission or would the design be handled by
Staff. Howard said the design would be negotiated between the Public Works Department and
the applicant. Howard said the applicant has presented worst and best -case scenarios and
would like the Commission to consider both of them.
Eastham asked about a driveway that is a route for the trucks delivering to the dock behind
Staples. Howard said the City requires businesses to have a network of driveways and aisles in
such large parking lots for better circulation. Eastham asked if the staff considered as a
condition additional landscaping in an area of parking stalls to the west of the proposed building.
Howard said the only opportunity for enhanced landscaping, due to width requirements of the
two -way aisle between the parking spaces, would be between this parking lot and the
McDonalds site and whatever they can achieve with planters along their building, which will
require some pedestrian access and ramps.
Eastham asked if the City will have the authority to approve whatever paving material is used for
the parking lot so that it won't deteriorate over time due to the soil conditions on this site and
become unsightly. Howard replied that the City does have standards for construction of parking
areas, and the developer will have to make sure the soils are appropriate as a base for a
parking lot built to City standards.
Dyer said she thought in the Riverfront Crossings Plan the parking was supposed to be in back
of buildings rather than in front. Howard replied that there are two frontages at this property,
Benton Street and Riverside Drive. She said for the new building along Benton Street the
parking would be located to the side and underneath the building with the building located closer
to the street. She said there is an agreement between the developer and Staples that any new
building can't be placed further forward than the Staples building. She explained that this west
riverfront area doesn't lend itself well to a form -based code because it's not a typical urban area,
so the Code will have a lot of flexibility to mitigate for existing conditions. The goal would be to
improve this corridor incrementally over time by increasing the mix of uses and improving
conditions for walking and biking.
Theobald asked if a reduction in the river buffer zone would preclude public access to the trail.
Howard explained that if the applicant can't fit the trail into that space, staff is suggesting that
this plan not be approved.
Eastham asked who will have responsibility for maintaining the trail on both this property and its
extension. Howard said it would be the City's responsibility.
Holecek added that the City will secure public access through a public access easement over
the trail.
Thomas asked if the retaining wall would also be maintained by the City. Howard said it would.
Eastham opened public discussion and invited the applicant to speak.
Kevin O'Brian of 351 Hutchinson Avenue said if there couldn't be a trail they would not be
interested in developing this site, as it would be to the residents' and merchants' advantage to
be able to walk and bike downtown. He said they hope that once the river is improved perhaps
even for whitewater kayaking this site will be a trailhead and become a gathering point. He said
he owns the McDonalds franchises in town, and he hopes that the corporation will let him use
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 7, 2013 - Formal
Page 6 of 11
materials for a remodeling of the adjacent McDonalds that will match those used in the
proposed building. O'Brien said that this project will create connectivity from Benton Street to
Riverside Drive.
Thomas asked if the applicant would be able to modify the landscape on the McDonalds site.
O'Brien said they would probably wait until they remodeled the McDonalds site and tie in that
landscaping with what they are proposing for the Mumms' site.
O'Brien explained that they brought a concept plan to the Board of Adjustment that would have
revamped the McDonald's site to look similar to the Mormon Trek site, but the property owners
weren't willing to allow the drives to be combined because of what might happen if McDonalds
wasn't there in the future. He said he hopes that completion of the proposed project will show
the McDonalds landowners that this is a long -term project, but he can't guarantee that.
Martin asked what the engineers' findings were of how flooding and moving water will affect
erosion underneath the proposed site as time goes on considering the density of this project.
Matthew Barron of 1924 Muscatine Avenue, engineer for the applicant, said he has thoroughly
reviewed the geo- technical report and said the riverbank conditions have existed for a
significant amount of time and the soils are ones that remain after extensive river erosion and
the existence of the proposed buildings will not affect that condition.
Theobald asked how removing organic soils and replacing them with non - organic materials for
back -fill will affect run -off into the river. Barron explained that their standard building practice is
to strip away the top layer of decomposable organic material within the footprint of the building
and replace it with soil material that's structurally sounder. He said the soil that would be taken
out would be under the building footprint for the foundation and that the organic soils
surrounding the building would remain as is.
Theobald said she assumes that when the DNR looks at flooding, they look at that. Howard said
that's one reason staff has suggested they work with the applicant to get an enhanced
landscaping plan for the portion of the site where they aren't encroaching into the buffer.
Thomas asked about wall height above the river and what the wall would be made of.
Mark Seabold, an architect for Shive - Hattery, said that will fluctuate with the height of the river
and the trail system and follow the profile of the trail system.
Mike Muhlenbruch, civil engineer for Shive - Hattery, said the retaining wall constructed to
support the trail will likely be three to four feet above the water surface and will most likely be
cast in place concrete. Thomas asked if the trail had to come down closer to the river how high
above the river would the trail be. Muhlenbruch said it would be a couple feet above normal river
elevation.
Eastham asked if the river elevation that occurred this spring and early summer have put this
trail under water. Muhlenbruch said with the preferred trail level, which is at an elevation of 742
feet with the wall, the water would not have topped the wall.
Martin asked if the removal of some of the larger trees for this project will affect the eagle
population in the area. She asked if they would have a problem with eagles nesting on the
rooftop garden. The applicants said they would work with it.
Eastham asked if there are regulatory considerations where eagles and ospreys may be nesting
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 7, 2013 - Formal
Page 7 of 11
now that would affect development plans. Martin said they are migratory, so they will be here
later, and she doesn't know how or if the building and the landscaping will affect that population.
Seabold said their landscape architect had visited the site and seen no birds, but they probably
would relocate nearby in wooded areas.
O'Brien said they think this project will be the gateway for Riverfront Crossings as well as help
with the redevelopment of Riverside Drive. He said the applicants would like to expedite the
planning process and work with the City in getting the DNR permit and in getting the trail at the
desired height. He said they don't want to wait to start work on the rest of the site until they
know if they can get the higher trail. Howard stated that they would need to discuss that, but that
the understanding was that the modeling would have to be completed prior to commencing
construction.
Eastham asked what parts of the trail on the west side of the river will be flood -prone between
the proposed building and Burlington Street. Muhlenbruch said the point under the Benton
Street Bridge will be the lowest point. Eastham asked if there is a way for trail users to get
around the trail on this property if it is lower and floods. Muhlenbruch said at the southern end of
the property there will be a walk that comes up from the trail. Howard said there are still
adjustments to be made to some of the pedestrian connections to ensure that there is a clear
route through the property to Riverside Drive and to Benton Street, which would become the
alternate routes for the trial if it were to flood.
Eastham asked where the air conditioning units will be placed. Seabold said it's an
approximately 10,000 square foot roof, and there will be mechanical equipment on it that they
will screen from view.
Thomas asked how the corridor wall running along the west side of the building will be
constructed. Seabold replied that it would be a glass wall looking to the west with a vegetative
screen on the outside. He said they are still working on the design of the west facade.
Theobald asked how much green space there will be on the roof. Seabold said it would be
beyond the ten percent required.
Dyer asked if there are plans to seek LEEDs certification for this proposed building. Seabold
said not necessarily, but they are looking at all the sustainable strategies they can use.
Howard informed the Commission that she received a phone call and an email before the
meeting from Tom Bender, a business owner located to the south of the proposed site, and he
expressed his support of the development and particularly the extension of the trail that can be
extended south to provide benefit the larger area. (Due to a computer glitch Howard was not
able to print the email and distribute it to the Commission prior to the meeting, so she wanted to
verbally inform the Commission. This correspondence will be distributed to the City Council with
the other meeting materials).
Eastham asked for public comment.
Ruth Baker of 515 Benton Street said this project is something that should be approved. She
said O'Brien does a good job of taking care of his properties. She asked for clarification about a
sidewalk going out to Riverside Drive. Howard showed Baker how a sidewalk could be
integrated into the parking lot. Baker asked if there is a vision for the smaller building on the
south side of the site.
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 7, 2013 - Formal
Page 8 of 11
Eastham pointed out a concept plan for that building and said the use has not been determined
yet. Howard said the idea is that the building should meet the goals of the Riverfront Crossings
Plan.
Baker said she liked the idea of taking up some of the Staples large concrete parking expanse.
She said this project would be encouraging for other businesses in the area and hopefully a
starting point to improve the appearance along Riverside Drive.
Eastham closed public discussion.
Thomas moved to recommend approval of REZ13- 00022, a rezoning of approximately 2.5-
acres of land from Community Commercial (CC -2) zone to Planned Development
Overlay /Community Commercial (OPD /CC -2) for property located at 21 West Benton
Street and 820 South Riverside Drive and that it be approved subject to the five
conditions entered into the record by staff during the presentation this evening.
Martin seconded.
Theobald said she thinks this is a beautiful building and has obviously had a lot of thought put
into it. She said her one concern is the way it addresses the river, and she thinks the eagles are
a huge part of that area. She noted that she had recently seen an osprey swooping over the
river in that area, and she hopes in the process of more detailed landscape plans that is taken
into consideration. She said she thinks the wildlife and the river are a big part of the
attractiveness of the area and could be an asset for the building. She said she's really excited
about the project.
Martin said she completely agrees with that. She asked if there are laws stopping property
owners from actively trying to shoo eagles away. Holecek said she didn't know.
Eastham asked if staff might give some thought to the Riverfront Crossings Plan's provisions for
paying attention to wildlife habitat along the river corridor.
Miklo said they discussed at staff level that this was one of the few places where it perhaps
made sense to reduce the fifty foot buffer because it's right at the Benton Street Bridge, and it
has access to the Ned Ashton Park.
Martin said she agrees with where this is at at this stage of the design, but she wants to bring
the wildlife habitat issue up so the Commission is thinking about it as there is more
development.
Eastham asked if during the development of the Riverfront Crossings Plan there was discussion
if a fifty foot buffer was enough along both sides of the river for wildlife to use as habitat.
Miklo said farther to the south on the east side much of the land will be under public control so
there will be a much wider natural area. He said that by reducing the buffer at this site, they are
not committed to reducing it anywhere else. It will be on a case by case basis.
Thomas said this is a difficult site. He said he thinks the project complies with the Riverfront
Crossings Plan in terms of building height and density, but the real challenge is with the context.
He said the project succeeds as it relates to the riverfront, and he appreciates the idea of using
the trail as a means of connection, but he feels that on the west side of the project there is no
connectivity to Riverside Drive. He said as the process continues, he would like to see that
addressed so that the area won't simply be an automotive experience, but also a pleasant
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 7, 2013 - Formal
Page 9 of 11
pedestrian experience for people in the neighborhood. He said he really would like to see the
site plan taken further before signing off on it. He said he would like to see this as an opportunity
for the applicant to redesign the whole corner of Benton Street and Riverside Drive.
Theobald asked if the trail on Highway 1 will connect to this one. Miklo said currently it is not
planned, but in the long -term they hope to.
Swygard said she views this project as very positive for this neglected and under - developed
part of town. She said one of the goals with the Riverfront Crossings Plan was to create more of
a view of the river, and the proposed building actually will block it from the west. She said the
second building blocks any sort of visual corridor, but she likes the way it was designed to blend
in with Staples and start to create a visual cohesion for the area. She likes the breeze -way in
the center of the main building that will provide for river viewing. She would like to see more
windows on the north wall of the second building to open up the building as viewed from the
north. She would like rails on the trail to ensure public safety.
Eastham said he sees the difficulties in trying to make pedestrian attractiveness fit with this part
of Riverside Drive. He said this may be helped by the fact that three -fifths of this building will be
residential, unlike any other building currently in this area on the west side of the river. He said
the design of the building is very attractive. He said orienting the balconies to face the northeast
is a brilliant idea. He said at least they are trying to make some sort of pedestrian utilization of
this area. He said they do need to pay attention to the wildlife habitat as they go forward with
development of the area. He said this project is a good idea.
Swygard said she has a big concern about the two drives, especially the one closest to the
bridge, as traffic makes a left -hand turn out of it extremely difficult.
Dyer said she's been hoping for years that someone would build a building that's not just a
rectangle, but this one is a pretty nice rectangle. She's pleased that it's not privatizing the river.
She said interest in maintaining the trail is really important.
Eastham commended the staff for working so hard to get the proposal to this point.
A vote was taken and the motion carried 6 -0.
Consideration of Meeting Minutes: October 17, 2013
Swygard moved to approve the minutes.
Theobald seconded.
A vote was taken and the motion carried 6 -0.
OTHER
Holecek introduced Eric Goers from the City Attorney's Office who will be staffing the
Commission's meetings during Sara Greenwood Hektoen's absence.
ADJOURNMENT:
Swygard moved to adjourn.
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 7, 2013 - Formal
Page 10 of 11
Dyer seconded.
The meeting was adjourned on a 6 -0 vote.
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PRELIMINARY
NOVEMBER 21, — 7:00 PM — FORMAL
EMMA J. HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carolyn Dyer, Charlie Eastham, Anne Freerks, Phoebe Martin,
Paula Swygard, Jodie Theobald, John Thomas
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
None
Bob Miklo, Eric Goers
Cindy Parsons, Patricia Koza
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL:
The Commission voted 7 -0 to recommend approval of SUB13- 00022, a request for
preliminary plat approval of a 3 -lot, 0.75 -acre residential subdivision located at 220
Lexington Avenue subject to review by the City Engineer.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA:
There was none.
Subdivision Item
SUB13 -00022
Discussion of an application submitted by Parsons Properties for a preliminary plat of
Lexington Green, a 3 -lot, approximately 0.75 -acre residential subdivision located at 220
Lexington Avenue.
Miklo showed a location map of the subject property. He said the property is zoned RS -5 Low
Density Single Family, which allows single family homes to be constructed on lots of at least
8000 square feet and a width of at least 60 feet. He showed images of the subject property and
the neighborhood. He showed a plan of the subdivision and said that all three lots meet the size
requirements. He said the Comprehensive Plan shows the subject property as well as the
surrounding area as being appropriate for low density single family residential. Miklo said the
plat is laid out in accordance with the Subdivision Ordinance. He said unless a preliminary plat
doesn't conform to the City's requirements or there is a health or safety issue, the City is
obligated to approve a conforming proposal.
Miklo said there are steep slopes near the back of the proposed lot #1 but there is no grading
proposed within the steep slopes of this subdivision. He said there are some large trees on the
proposed subdivision site but they aren't large enough to constitute a grove, which is regulated
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 21, 2013 - Formal
Page 2 of 5
by the Sensitive Areas Ordinance. He said the applicants have indicated that they will work with
the City Forester to save as many trees as possible. He said there's a good chance that the
trees on the northern portion of the property will be saved, and it may be possible to save some
of the others.
Freerks asked how far shy it is of a grove. Miklo replied that a grove requires at least ten trees
at least ten inches in diameter, and there are seven trees on this property that meet that size
requirement.
Miklo said the proposed design will require three curb cuts onto Lexington, which should not be
an issue because of the low volume of traffic.
Miklo said a property of this size can't accommodate the City's requirements for open space so
staff is recommending that fees be paid in lieu of and those fees could be used in the nearest
park, which is City Park.
Miklo said this area has been studied by the Historic Preservation Commission and deemed
eligible for the National Register of Historic Properties. He said the Historic Preservation
Committee had a neighborhood meeting three years ago to discuss a historic district in this
area, but due to some property owner opposition no steps were taken for historic district status,
so at this time no Historic Preservation requirements apply to the subject property.
Martin asked what the fees are for the green space. Miklo replied that they would be the
equivalent of the value of 770 square feet, based on an appraisal or the price of the property.
Eastham asked if the sidewalk will be maintained as the subject property is developed. Miklo
said it would have to be maintained or replaced to City standards if it is damaged during
construction. Eastham said since storm water detention is not required on the subject property
can the City make sure that any increased storm run -off be directed toward the street. Miklo
said that can be done by the way the gutters are routed, but for developments of this size, run-
off is usually insignificant.
Freerks opened public discussion.
Cindy Parsons, one of the applicants, said she's here to answer questions or address concerns.
Martin asked if there will be requirements for what type of housing needs to be on those lots.
Parsons said there is nothing definite decided, but most likely the three houses will be built to be
compatible with the neighborhood.
Patricia Koza of 209 Lexington Street said during demolition of the house formerly on this lot,
the sidewalk was unusable and people had to walk in the street. She asked if during demolition
and construction an alternative sidewalk has to be provided. Miklo said he did not believe so,
but if there is concern staff can work with the applicant to see that the sidewalk closure is
minimized during construction.
Koza said that trees were removed on the subject property so that they no longer constitute a
grove. Miklo replied that owners of single family houses can remove trees, and that is not
regulated.
Freerks asked Parsons if there were trees removed in the grove area. Parsons replied that she
didn't think there was a grove area as defined in the Code.
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 21, 2013 - Formal
Page 3 of 5
Freerks closed public discussion.
Eastham moved to recommend approval of SUB13- 00022, a request for preliminary plat
approval of a 3-lot, 0.75 -acre residential subdivision located at 220 Lexington Avenue
subject to review by the City Engineer.
Thomas seconded.
Eastham said that the Commission's review of applications for subdivisions is limited to ensure
that the proposed use and lot areas meet the zoning requirements, and all that appears to be in
order in this case. He said there appear to be no requirements that are imposed by the storm
water management or other City codes.
Thomas said he's concerned about the definition of a grove and the possibility that trees were
removed during the demolition of the house. He said he doesn't like to hear that actions have
been taken to try and skirt the City's regulations. Miklo said he's looking at a plat that shows the
subject property before the house was removed, and it doesn't look like there were enough
trees greater than ten inches in diameter to constitute a grove. He added that if there had been
a grove, the Ordinance encourages the retention of as many trees as possible, but doesn't
require it.
Eastham asked if there are trees that meet the definition of a grove on a property, do the
Ordinances prohibit the issuance of a demolition permit and allow the property owner to remove
enough trees so there's no longer a grove as defined by the Ordinance. Miklo said if someone
owns a single family lot, which the subject property is, and it has a grove of trees, there is
nothing that prevents the owner from taking that grove down. He said, though, that if you have a
development site and propose a subdivision, then you are not allowed to remove the trees
without going through the review process. He said based on the information, he doesn't think
that is the case here because the trees didn't constitute a grove. Miklo said if it's done with the
intention of developing the site and it's a vacant site, then the Ordinance does apply.
Eastham said the way the ordinances exist now, an owner could sell property to a buyer who as
a condition of the purchase requires the owner to remove a grove of trees. He said he wasn't
talking about this particular instance.
Freerks said she does think that is something for the Commission to discuss. She told the
applicant that she thinks it's in their best interest to keep the trees that are such an asset to the
neighborhood and will make the lots more desirable. She said if the neighborhood and the
community are interested, they should pursue historic preservation and contact the City
because this is something that will probably continue to occur in this and other neighborhoods
where there are large lots scattered in desirable areas. She said she thinks it's up to the
neighborhood to say that they want to have something done about that. She said this
application complies with all the zoning standards, and she will be voting in favor.
A vote was taken and the motion carried 7 -0.
Consideration of Meeting Minutes: November 7, 2013
Eastham moved to defer the minutes.
Theobald seconded.
Planning and Zoning Commission
November 21, 2013 - Formal
Page 4 of 5
A vote was taken and the motion carried 7 -0.
OTHER
ADJOURNMENT:
Dyer moved to adjourn.
Swygard seconded.
The meeting was adjourned on a 7 -0 vote.
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IOWA CITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION DRAFT
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28,2013--5:30 P.M.
CITY CABLE TV OFFICE, 10 S. LINN ST. -TOWER PLACE PARKING FACILITY
MEMBERS PRESENT: Nicholas Kilburg, Matt Butler, Laura Bergus, Brain Elias, Alexa
Homewood
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Mike Brau, Bob Hardy
OTHERS PRESENT: Josh Goding, Hans Hoerschelman, Bond Drager, Emily Light
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL
None.
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
Goding reported PATV would hold their annual membership meeting on Nov. 21, 7 p.m., at the Mill
restaurant. Several new board members will be elected. Hardy said the city received notice from
Alliance Technologies that they have applied to the Iowa Utility Board (IUB) for a state issued
franchise to provide video service in an area that includes Iowa City. Alliance indicated they intend to
start providing service in Feb. 2014. As a result of Alliance's application, Mediacom informed the city
that they have applied to the IUB for a state issued franchise for Iowa City. Mediacom's application is
automatically approved once Alliance meets the conditions to provide service, which they have. The
existing municipal franchise has been nullified. If Alliance does not provide service by Feb. 2015, the
IUB can terminate the franchise and the previous municipal franchise with Mediacom can be
reinstated. In addition, Grassley said Mediacom has taken a position that the payment to the city for
the support of public access operations is not a fee but a grant and is not subject to the provisions in the
Iowa Code requiring the same level of financial support for public, educational, and government local
access channels after conversion to a state issued franchise as would have been required by the
municipal franchise up until the time the municipal franchise would have expired. Hardy said he
would be meeting with city manger Markus and the legal department tomorrow to review the city's
options. Bergus noted that the city's contract with PATV is still valid, although the city is not
responsible to provide PATV funds if the city does not receive funds from Mediacom. Hardy said the
city has received funding for PATV though December. The next draft of the broadband survey
narrative was distributed. Hoerschelman said the next major section to be done is the conclusion.
Bergus said she was more inclined to separate the survey from specific recommendations the
Commission might wish to make to the City Council on how the city might facilitate better broadband
service in the area. Brau said he will email a new version of the survey narrative to members and
asked them to review and comment so the final draft can soon be completed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Elias moved and Killburg seconded a motion to approve the amended September 30, 2013 minutes.
The motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS
None.
SHORT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
CONSUMER ISSUES
Hardy referred to the complaint report in the meeting packet and said all issues have been resolved.
LOCAL ACCESS CHANNELS REPORTS
Bergus noted there were written reports in the meeting packet from PATV, the City Channel, and the
library. Goding reported PATV would hold their annual membership meeting on Nov. 21, 7 p.m., at
the Mill restaurant. Several new board members will be elected. The next guidelines workshop will
be held Nov. 4. PATV will screen their sci-fi miniseries "Moon Zero Three" at the Mill restaurant on
Nov. 6. Light reported that Senior Center TV screening during the Senior Center open house and
presented information on SCTV. Producers have been discussing strategies to produce more
programs, particularly short-form works.
CABLE TV ADMINISTRATOR REPORT
Hardy said he had nothing to report that is not covered elsewhere in the agenda.
MEDIACOM STATE ISSUED FRANCHSE
Hardy said the city received notice from Alliance Technologies that they have applied to the Iowa
Utility Board (IUB) for a state issued franchise to provide video service in an area that includes Iowa
City. Alliance indicated they intend to start providing service in Feb. 2014. As a result of Alliance's
application, Mediacom informed the city that they have applied to the IUB for a state issued franchise
for Iowa City. Mediacom's application is automatically approved once Alliance meets the conditions
to provide service, which they have. The existing municipal franchise has been nullified. If Alliance
does not provide service by Feb. 2015, the IUB can terminate the franchise and the previous municipal
franchise with Mediacom can be reinstated. Hardy noted that another company, Phalanx Technologies
had previously applied for a state issued franchise that covered Iowa City and Mediacom took no
action to seek a state issued franchise. Grassley said that following the issuance of a state franchise to
Phalanx Mediacom did convert to a state issued franchise in Dubuque, which they used as a test case.
Mediacom perceived the Dubuque municipal franchise as more onerous than other municipal
franchises. Grassley said it is Mediacom's policy to seek a state issued franchise when available. In
addition, Grassley said Mediacom has taken a position that the payment to the city for the support of
public access operations is not a fee but a grant and is not subject to the provisions in the Iowa Code
requiring the same level of financial support for public, educational, and government local access
channels after conversion to a state issued franchise as would have been required by the municipal
franchise up until the time the municipal franchise would have expired. Hardy said he would be
meeting with city manger Markus and the legal department tomorrow to review the city's options.
Bergus noted that the city's contract with PATV is still valid, although the city is not responsible to
provide PATV funds if the city does not receive funds from Mediacom. Hardy said the city has
received funding for PATV though December. Butler asked Grassley what Mediacom's public
relations stance is with regard to state issued franchises. Grassley said Mediacom's policy is to treat
all communities the same.
BROADBAND SURVEY
The next draft of the broadband survey narrative was distributed. Hoerschelman said the next major
section to be done is the conclusion. This section might include the goals for broadband service in the
future. Ideas on what the city might do and what people think should be done could be included.
Recommendations could be formulated. Brau said specific recommendations might be developed
separately for consideration by the municipal government and the community. The survey could be
used as a supporting document for those recommendations. Bergus said she was more inclined to
separate the survey from specific recommendations the Commission might wish to make to the City
Council on how the city might facilitate better broadband service in the area. Brau said he will email a
new version of the survey narrative to members and asked them to review and comment so the final
draft can soon be completed.
ADJOURNMENT
Homewood moved and Elias seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
VWVK
chael Brau
Cable TV Administrative Aide
TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
12 MONTH ATTENDANCE RECORD
(X) = Present
(0) = Absent
(O /C) = Absent/Called (Excused)
Hoerschelman
Ber us
Homewood
5/28/11
X
X
X
X
x
6/27/11
x
o/c
x
x
X
8/27/11
x
x
x
o/c
X
9/24/11
X
X
X
X
X
10/24/11
X
X
X
X
X
11/26/11
X
X
vacant
X
X
Kilbur
2/25/12
X
X
x
x
X
Butler
3/26/12
o/c
x
o
x
X
4/23/12
X
X
X
X
X
5/21/12
X
X
X
X
X
6/25/12
X
X
X
X
X
7/23/12
x
X
X
X
X
8/27/12
x
x
x
x
X
9/24/12
X
X
X
X
X
10/22/12
X
X
X
X
X
11/26/12
X
X
X
X
X
12/17/12
X
X
X
X
X
1/28/13
X
o/c
X
X
X
2/25/13
X
X
X
X
X
Elias
3/25/13
o/c
x
o/c
x
X
4/22/13
x
x
x
x
0
6/3/13
X
X
X
X
X
6/24/13
x
o/c
z
o/c
X
7/22/13
o/c
x
x
x
X
9/23/13
x
X
X
X
o/c
10/28/13
X
X
X
X
x
(X) = Present
(0) = Absent
(O /C) = Absent/Called (Excused)