HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-07 Info PacketCITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET
CITY OF IOWA CITY
www.icgov.org August 7, 2014
IN Council Tentative Meeting Schedule
MISCELLANEOUS
IP2 Memo from Public Works Dir.: Iowa City Gateway Project - Summary of the July 15, 2014
Work Session
IP3 Letter to City Manager from Public Works Dir.: Retirement
IP4 Letter from Johnson County Public Health Director Douglas Beardsley: Diversity Policy
Implementation
IP5 Civil Service Entrance Examination: Maintenance Worker II — Streets
I136 Article from Council Member Throgmorton: Iowa's largest solar farm unveiled in Johnson
County
IP7 Article from City Manager: 5 Ways in Which You've Got it Wrong When it Comes to Cities
IP8 Article from City Manager: Place -based development and streetcar transforming
downtown Tucson
IP9 Article from City Manager: Why `place' is the new American dream
IP10 Article from City Manager: How Your City's Public Transit Stacks Up
IP11 Article from PW Dir. to City Manager Markus: Report: Farmers not motivated to use
conservation practices
DRAFT MINUTES
IP12 Historic Preservation Commission: June 12
IP13 Planning and Zoning Commission: July 17 (Formal)
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CITY Of IOWA CITY
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
08 -07 -14
City Council Tentative Meeting Schedule IN
Subject to change August 6, 2014
Time Meeting
5:00 PM Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM Formal Meeting
Tuesday, September 2, 2014 5:00 PM Work Session Meeting Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM Formal Meeti
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 5:00 PM Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM Formal Meeting
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 5:00 PM Work Session Meeting Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM Formal Meeting
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 5:00 PM Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM Formal Meeting
Monday, October 27, 2014 4:30 PM Joint Meeting /Work Session North Liberty
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
5:00 PM
Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
5:00 PM
Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
5:00 PM
Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Tuesday, December 16 2014
5:00 PM
Work Session Meeting
Emma J. Harvat Hall
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 7, 2014
TO: Tom Markus, City Manager
FROM: Rick Fosse, Public Works Director P:
RE: Iowa City Gateway Project
Summary of the July 15, 2014 Work Session
On July 15, 2014, staff and the Iowa City Gateway design team spoke at the City
Council work session. We were there to discuss plan updates since our last meeting in
April and to seek input on landscaping and corridor aesthetic concepts.
The following list is a summary of items that were discussed and decisions that were
made:
• Realignment of Dubuque Street from Mayflower to Foster Road: This change
was done in order to move Dubuque Street and Ridge Road farther away from
private residences, to eliminate the need for a retaining wall near 1818 N.
Dubuque Street and to better align the curves with the proposed speed limit
change. City Council was in favor of the work done to realign Dubuque Street at
the north.
• Meander the Iowa River Trail through Terrell Mill Park: An option to route the
Iowa River Trail through Terrell Mill Park similar to its current alignment was
presented. The meandered trail would provide greater separation from the road
and create a more trail like setting. However it will be at a lower elevation than
the roadway, making it possible for the trail to be flooded and closed when the
roadway is open. The City Council preferred the meandered trail alignment.
• Include a 6 foot sidewalk on the east side of Dubuque Street from Ridge Road to
Foster: With the realignment of Dubuque Street away from adjacent property
owners as noted in the first bullet point above, the 6 foot sidewalk on the east
side of Dubuque Street could now be extended to Foster Road within the existing
right -of -way. This walk will also serve as an alternative route for the Iowa River
Trail when it is flooded in Terrell Mill Park. The City Council was in favor of the
six foot walk on the east side up to Foster Road. A resolution establishing this
design element will be placed on the September 2, 2014 agenda to reflect this
decision.
• Add a River Walk: A River Walk along the bottom of the retaining wall between
Kimball Road and Park Road, including a grade separated crossing of the Park
Road intersection was presented and pro's and con's discussed. City Council
decided to maintain the current design with a single trail on top of the wall. It was
decided that on the south side of the Park Road Bridge, an observation platform
August 7, 2014
Page 2
or pedestrian overlook would be developed that can later serve as a connection
to a potential trail extension along the east side of the river in the future.
• Landscaping and Aesthetics: Concept ideas for landscaping and aesthetic
features were discussed, including street and pedestrian lighting, railings, park
furniture and median treatments. Comments from the City Council were minimal
at this time. It is the intent of staff and the consultant to advance these concepts
into final design and share additional information throughout the process.
Options for aesthetic ties between the bridge and Hancher Auditorium were discussed at
a coordination meeting with the Hancher Design team on Wednesday, July 16. At the
conceptual level, there were some good ideas passed around and the two design teams
will remain in contact and continue to share information as the Gateway project moves
into final design.
During the design process, the web site and the public email distribution list will continue
to be used whenever there is new information available.
Cc: Ron Knoche, City Engineer
Melissa Clow, Special Projects Manager
July 30, 2014
Tom Markus, City Manager
City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Re: Retirement
Dear Tom:
CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240 -1826
(319) 356 -5000
(319) 356 -5009 FAX
www.icgov.org
I will be retiring at the end of this year with my last day on December 31, 2014. 1 have
thoroughly enjoyed my career with the City of Iowa City and the many talented and dedicated
individuals I have had the good fortune to work with. I feel good about the City's direction and
accomplishments over the past thirty years and am privileged to have been a part of it.
I want to thank you for the opportunities and guidance you have offered. I look forward to
assisting in any way possible with the successful transition of leadership within the Public
Works Department.
Sincerely,
Richard A. Fosse, P.E.
Public Works Director
IP4 M
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PUBLIC HEALTH
a jUL 16 A X111 2i,
Board of Health
Promoting Health. Preventing Harm.
1 T Y C L E Rf� Michael P. McLaughlin, PhD
VJV. C# T Y ` = Mary Jo Meggers, RN
Bonnie Rubin, CLS, MBA, MHA
Victoria Sharp, MD, MBA
DOUGLAS BEARDSLEY, MPH Peter D. Wallace, MD, MS
DIRECTOR
Date: July 15, 2014
To: Iowa City Community School District Superintendent and Board of Education
From: Johnson County Board of Health
Re: Diversity Policy Implementation
The Johnson County Board of Health applauds the Board of Education for its efforts to
continually improve the academic outcomes of students in the district and to address
areas of need. We are encouraged by your efforts to address disparities across all
segments of the socioeconomic scale (SES). Research has shown that integrating all SES
levels is effective at raising academic performance. In the Public Health realm,
epidemiological data links lower education and poverty with poor health outcomes.
Improving academic performance is one strategy to improve the long -term health of a
population.
We understand that the implementation of plans to achieve the Diversity Plan's goals has
been, and will likely continue to be, very complex and will be beyond the scope of the
Board of Health to provide detailed recommendations. We do want to take this
opportunity, however, to encourage you to make every effort to preserve and expand the
ability of students to walk or bike to school and to encourage students and their families
to make such choices. ICCSD has been a great partner and has made significant progress
in the area of walkability /bikeability. Your principals, teachers and families of students
are to be commended for their enthusiasm and participation. Walking and biking to
school yields many physical, social and environmental benefits which improve the health
of communities. We support the concept of sustainable neighborhoods and we trust that
those considerations will be taken in to account as you implement your plan.
There is a growing body of science which could be helpful in assessing the potential
health impacts of policy changes. Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a combination of
procedures and tools by which a policy may be evaluated for its potential effects on the
health of a population, and the distribution of those effects within the population HIA
seeks to maximize the positive health impacts and minimize the negative health impacts
of a proposed policy. The Waukee Community School District (Dallas County),
partnering with the Iowa Public Health Association and Dallas County Public Health
855 S. DUBUQUE STREET, SUITE 217 ♦ IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 ♦ PHONE: (319) 356 -6040 ♦ FAX: (319) 356 -6044
agency, is completing a HIA related to a comprehensive boundary study and the building
of a new high school. The aim of this HIA is to complement the GIS forecasts with
health equity forecasts so that a fully informed decision can be made, optimizing both
enrollment and health determinants and strengthening social cohesion and capability of
parental involvement.
A task of this magnitude will require the combined efforts of all units of local
government. By way of this letter we encourage all Johnson County municipalities to
ensure that the health, vitality and sustainability of neighborhoods and communities be
given strong consideration as planning and zoning decisions are made. We also
encourage and recommend that the identification of safe routes to schools and the
elimination of barriers to safe walking and biking routes to schools be given high priority
for public works and road projects.
We appreciate the opportunity to provide this input on the implementation of the
District's Diversity Plan. The staff of Johnson County Public Health anticipates
continuing opportunities to collaborate and strategize for the improved health of our
youth and communities and will provide whatever support they are able on this issue.
Thank you for your service to the community.
cc: City of Iowa City
Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County
City of North Liberty
City of Hills
City of Coralville
City of Tiffin
City of Solon
City of Swisher
855 S. DUBUQUE STREET, SUITE 217 ♦ IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 ♦ PHONE: (319) 356 -6040 ♦ FAX: (319) 356 -6044
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855 S. DUBUQUE STREET, SUITE 217 ♦ IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 ♦ PHONE: (319) 356 -6040 ♦ FAX: (319) 356 -6044
IP5
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CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240 -1826
(3 19) 356 -5000
(3 19) 356 -5009 FAX
www.icgov.org
August 1, 2014
TO: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council
RE: Civil Service Entrance Examination — MAINTENANCE WORKER II - STREETS
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
II - Streets.
Keith Klein
IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Lyra t. Dickerson, Chair
From Council Member Throgmorton via CM Markus
a IP6
Iowa's largest solar farm unveiled in Johnson County
Iowa's largest solar farm unveiled in Johnson County
KALONA — Amid the corn and soybean fields here in Amish country, a new type of farm has
sprung up, and one that state leaders hope will become just as vital to Iowa's economy.
Farmers Electric Cooperative, a rural energy company serving 650 members, has constructed Iowa's
largest solar farm — an expanse of 2,900 panels spanning 4% acres along a gravel road in southwest
Johnson County.
Local and state renewable energy proponents joined the cooperative's leaders for a ribbon - cutting
ceremony Thursday, a fittingly sunny morning that marked the culmination of three years of planning
and three months of construction on the solar array.
The Frytown -based cooperative's solar farm, which cost $2.2 million to build, will generate more
than 1 million kilowatt hours each year. That's enough energy to power about 120 homes, and
eliminate more than 2 million pounds of carbon pollution each year, project leaders say.
The array is capable of generating up to 1,800 watts of solar power per customer, giving the
cooperative the highest per- capita solar generation rate of any utility in the nation, said Warren
McKenna, general manager and CEO of Farmers Electric Cooperative.
"When we started down the solar road in late 2007, there was one tiny array with four modules in
Johnson, Washington and Iowa counties," McKenna said. "Washington and Johnson counties now
lead the state in solar. This is an extraordinary project that is part of an extraordinary effort by a little
rural electric co -op."
Farmers Electric Cooperative's first foray into solar power began six years ago when it installed small
arrays at nearby Township Elementary and Iowa Mennonite schools. It later established a solar
garden program, in which residents are able to purchase solar panels at a reduced price in an array
located behind the co -op's main building. The value of the power generated from the panels is then
deducted from their monthly bill.
Farmers Electric Cooperative expects to achieve its goal of generating 15 percent of its power locally
with renewable energy in the coming years. The co -op also has plans to double the size of the new
solar array in phases over the next decade, McKenna said
Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Michael Naig said the state already leads the nation when it
comes to wind energy, with 27.4 percent of Iowa's total energy production coming from that
renewable source, along with ethanol and biodiesel, which contributed $5.5 billion to Iowa's gross
domestic product last year.
http : / /www.press- eitizen.com/story/ news /local /2014 /07/31 /iowas- largest- solar -farm- unveiled Johnson -co... 8/1/2014
From the City Manager 1P7
SustainableCitiesCollective
5 Ways in Which You've Got it Wrong When it Comes to Cities
Posted August 4, 2014
About a month ago, a reader of ATC and friend of mine suggested that I write a post on some of the common
misconceptions that people hold about cities. I immediately thought it was a good idea and so I started a draft
post with some of my initial thoughts.
Over the past couple of weeks I've been collecting fallacies as they came to me, waiting until I reached a nice
round number like 5. Well today, I reached that number. So here are 5 misconceptions that I think people often
hold about cities. If you have any others, or if you disagree, please share your thoughts in the comment section
below.
1. Adding more lanes will solve traffic congestion
There's a saying I read somewhere: Adding more lanes to solve traffic congestion is like loosening your belt to
deal with obesity. I can't remember where I read it, but I like it a lot because it gets at the heart of this fallacy:
Trying to build our way out of traffic congestion has proven time and time again to be a losing battle. In fact, it
has been shown to make traffic even worse as a result of "induced demand." The more roads you build, the
more people drive.
2. A suburban home is always cheaper
While it is true that the direct cost of a suburban home is usually less than one in the center of a city, many
people often neglect to factor in the indirect costs of a home purchase — the biggest of which is usually
transportation costs.
As you move out from the center of a city and home prices start to fall, I like to think of it as transfer from
housing costs to transportation costs. In other words, what you save on the price of your home, simply gets
used to pay for a car (or perhaps a second car), as well as the additional time you're going to spend traveling.
So how much is an hour of your time worth? Have you ever attached a value to it and added it to the price of
your home? Because if you factor in transportation costs and your time, you might find that your suburban
home is actually more expensive.
3. Opposing new development and advocating for affordable housing is a responsible way to build
cities
Community opposition is a big part of the development game. But what a lot of people don't think about
is that when you oppose or stop new development (let's say it's residential), the demand for that
housing doesn't go away.
In fact, all it does is create more pressure on the housing stock that does exist and foster an environment
where the rich will starting outbidding the poor for housing. More simply, you end up creating a supply
constrained market and that drives up home prices. Demand > supply. So in reality, opposing new
development and, at the same time, advocating for more affordable housing is a contradiction.
As a comparative example, let's think about another basic human need: water.
Imagine that you could only buy water from stores (it didn't come out of taps). But that every time the delivery
people were trying to bring more water to these stores, that there was a group of people who fought and
opposed them. These opposers already had enough water for themselves and they didn't want additional
water being sold as it would bring new customers into their local grocery store and disrupt their way of life.
This, of course, caused the price of water to rise as the rich people started offering more for the water. This in
turn made it difficult for the poorer folk to afford any water at all. But instead of allowing the delivery people to
simply deliver more water, it was decided that out of the water that they have, that some of it should be
earmarked as "affordable water" and priced accordingly. That would guarantee that the poorer folk could still
have some.
Does that sound like a sensible solution to you?
4. Developers don't want to build big apartments
Here in Toronto there's a somewhat pervasive belief that developers don't want to build big condo and
apartment units. The thought is that small units are more profitable and so developers are doing everything
they can to squeeze people into small units. But I've argued before that this isn't the case. It's far more
nuanced than that.
To illustrate this point, imagine you're a developer debating between building two 500 square foot condo units
or one 1,000 square foot condo unit. If you build the two 500 square foot condo units you'll need 2 x kitchens, 2
x entry doors, 2 x separate color selection appointments, 2 x separate PDI appointments, and you'll have to
pay development charges on two 1 bedroom units (to name only a few things).
On the other hand, if you build one 1,000 square foot condo unit you're only going to need 1 of each of the
items listed above and you'll be paying development charges on only one 2 bedroom condo unit (which
currently works out to be less than what you'd be paying for the two 1 bedroom units — it's not quite double).
Which one do you think would be cheaper to build?
5. Technology is going to make cities irrelevant
Lastly, during the dot com era there was a growing belief that technology and the internet were going to make
cities and real estate irrelevant. Capital was flowing out of real estate and into tech companies, because that
was seen as the future. Bricks and mortar were pass6.
But since then we've learned that it's actually the opposite. Paradoxically, technology has made cities even
more important. The returns to being smart and talented are huge in the right place. So much so that our
biggest concern shouldn't be whether cities are going to become irrelevant, but whether we're concentrating
too much wealth and talent in only a select few.
So there you have it, 5 misconceptions about cities. I'm sure there are many others, so I'd love to hear from
you in the comment section below.
From the City Manager IP$
DOWNTOWN TUCSON,
Place -based development and streetcar transforming
downtown Tucson
• Intill
• Transit /transit - oriented dev.
Better! Cities & Towns
Tucson's Sunlink streetcar opened in July 25, linking University of Arizona and its Health Sciences Center to the
Fourth Avenue corridor, downtown, and a redevelopment district called Mercado.
Since the "modern streetcar" was announced in 2006, more than $1.5 billion in investment has occurred along its
route, including housing, restaurants, offices, and retail, according to the US Department of Transportation.
"Since 2006, when Tucson voters approved the $2.1 billion Regional Transportation Plan that included the modem
streetcar, downtown has seen aggressive redevelopment that has brought dozens of new restaurants, night clubs,
bars and shops which have transformed it into a vibrant entertainment district," the Daily Sun reported.
Similar stories have played out in many cities like Portland, Seattle, Atlanta, and Tampa that have installed
streetcars (and taken many other steps that have including planning, infrastructure investments, and tax- increment
financing) that resulted in big private investment.
The Mercado District is of particular interest to urbanists, including a new 14 -acre neighborhood built of southwest
adobe homes with narrow, winding streets.
This eight -block plan with seven small plazas, designed by Moule & Polyzoides, and Oscar Machado, won a CNU
Charter Award in 2006.
Like a lot of developments of the time, it suffered during the real estate downtown. Rio Development defaulted on a
bank loan in 2011, according to the Arizona Daily Star, but was able to buy time. The developer held on and now
their project is surging ahead. The built result is, objectively, pretty fabulous.
Source: Moule & Polyzoides
Architect Stefanos Polyzoides described the Mercado planning and building process:
1. A master plan enabled the incremental execution of the project in a variety of products of different sizes, from
single family houses to row houses, to courtyard housing to stacked flats over retail to plain stacked flats.
2. A development code established zoning and development standards and is compatible with the current building
codes as currently regulated by the City of Tucson. Pulling a permit is streamlined. 3. An architectural language
was invented during the charrette that is regional in its underlying material, construction method and environmental
performance dimensions.
4. Four small builders bought lots and designed their own houses working directly with their end users. Because of
the recession, there was no spec building and therefore no spec design.
5. Some of their projects were corrected in drawing form by Moule & Polyzoides for adherence to the project
language and code. Individual interpretations were encouraged across a wide spectrum.
6. Each building drew from the rich experience and interests of the builders with alternative forms of construction,
such as adobe, rammed earth, etc, and their practice of inexpensive, passive means of environmental control.
Source: Moule & Polyzoides
7. Each project was approved by a Design Committee composed of Moule & Polyzoides, the developer, and one of
the design/ builders, Tom Wuelpem. Key criteria are beyond the individual character of single buildings and refer
to the whole place. They include choice of frontages, a rich fabric of building and a diverse color palette.
Thirty homes are built and 10 more under construction, and larger buildings are in the pipeline.
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Phase 2 plan for Mercado. Source: Moule & Polyzoides
The redevelopment area was cleared in 1960s urban renewal.
Sunlink ridership
In its first three days of operation when no fared was charged, Sunlink averaged 20,000 riders daily, a level that
surprised everyone. As fares were instituted ($1.50 per ride, $4 daily pass), ridership dropped to 3,200, which is 88
percent of the long -term daily projection. These first -week numbers were prior to the return of university students
for the fall semester.
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Phase 2 plan for Mercado. Source: Moule & Polyzoides
The redevelopment area was cleared in 1960s urban renewal.
Sunlink ridership
In its first three days of operation when no fared was charged, Sunlink averaged 20,000 riders daily, a level that
surprised everyone. As fares were instituted ($1.50 per ride, $4 daily pass), ridership dropped to 3,200, which is 88
percent of the long -term daily projection. These first -week numbers were prior to the return of university students
for the fall semester.
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The Sunlink streetcars were built in Portland — the first system to be launched with US -built streetcars in 60 years.
Downtown Tucson and adjacent neighborhoods appear to be roaring back to life with new investment and the rail
transit connections.
Why 'place' is the new American dream I Better! Cities & Towns Online
From the City Manager
Better places, stronger communities.
Why'place' is the new American dream
Bloe post by Robert Steuteville on of Aug 2014
market trends
Robert Steuteville, Better! Cities & Towns
Page 1
The new American Dream will transform cities and towns in the 21st Century. To understand it, we have
to grasp a few features of the previous American Dream, which created the metropolitan regions that we
know today. That Dream is still operative — although it has faded a bit since the 20o8 housing crash. A
Pew study shows the country now evenly split between two visions of the good life.
There were many good parts to the loth Century American Dream. It provided shelter for three
generations of Americans. It delivered a house, a yard, and a car (later two or three cars) to most
households. It also tended to separate society by income, reduce community connections through sprawl,
and increase automobile and road costs.
The top tier of that American Dream was the McMansion. The front of the McMansion has what is called
"curb appeal," an effect not unlike what the peacock achieves with its feathers. The multiple gables, the
big, little -used front lawn, the porch too shallow to sit in — all have little practical function.
http : //bettercities.netlnews- opinion / blogs / robert- steuteville /21230 /why - place- new - american-... 8/6/2014
Why 'place' is the new American dream I Better! Cities & Towns Online Pagz- 2 .
Those are status symbols — as is the big, expensive car. You can't walk anywhere from the McMansion.
There's nowhere to walk to. For the children who grew up in these areas, the shopping mall was the town
square.
This generation went to college, where many experienced walkable neighborhoods with diversity, culture,
and mixed -use main streets and downtowns. Most don't want to return to the cul -de -sac.
Some say that cities are on the rise, and suburbs are declining. I don't think it is that simple. Rather, the
new dream is based on the idea of "Place." When you go to a community with layers of history, with charm
and character, where many people gather, you react emotionally and psychologically. That feeling, which
everybody has experienced, is known as "sense of place." That sense has value. After six or seven decades
of sprawl, many people seek it. Whether they get it in a central city, small city, suburb, or small town
doesn't matter.
Place -based development
Recently I learned a new term, "place -based development," from James Tischler of the Michigan State
Housing Development Authority. The term refers to any development or investment that generates a
sense of place. Place -based development is objectively a better investment today, and it creates higher
values. Place -based development can occur in cities, suburbs, or rural areas, but it works best in urban
centers and mixed -use corridors.
Compared to the last half of the loth Century, which was a disaster for cities, downtowns and urban
neighborhoods will do better in the 21st Century. Nevertheless, many of the best opportunities for place
based development will arise in the suburbs.
In just two years, the suburban municipality of Lancaster, California, saw $2'73 million in economic
benefit from a revitalization of its main street in 2010.
Place -based development correlates with Walk Score (walkscore.org), because Walk Score measures more
than walkability — it measures the economic impact of Place. Economic activity gravitates toward Place —
which raises the Walk Score.
The new American Dream especially appeals to the young and educated, and that is significant for
developers, investors, and planners alike. Every community — suburb or city — wants to attract this
demographic, the so- called "creative class" or "entrepreneurial class." Call them what you will, the urban
preference of this group is a powerful argument for adopting the new American Dream.
Unless suburbs transform themselves to align with the new American Dream, they risk losing population
in the young and educated demographic. The leaders in Northwest Arkansas, where Walmart is
headquartered, are coming up with a strategy to deal with that reality (we report on that in the July -
August print issue of Better Cities & Towns).
In the new American Dream, the incentive is enjoyment and participation in the economic benefits of
Place. The chief thing we need to understand is that to create Place, a community must be brought
together, and the land must be used more efficiently than it was when socioeconomic segregation reigned.
http:llbettercitie s. net / news - opinion /blogs /robert- steuteville /2123 0 /why- place- new - american -... 8/6/2014
From City Manager Tom Markus
1 08-07-14
IP10
How Your City's Public Transit Stacks up
Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post
After decades of planning, the Washington Metro's Silver Line finally opened last week.
The line aims to make inroads in a car- centric swath of Northern Vireinia, but D.C. itself
is already known for its robust public transit. How robust?
Very. To receive grants from the Federal Transit Association, transit systems of all types
(heavy rail, light rail, buses, etc.) must provide monthly ridership data to the National
Transit Database (NTD, data available to download here), which compiles it by census-
designated urbanized areas. The measure used is "unlinked trips," which counts transfers
during the same journey as separate trips. This figure can be converted to "trips per
resident" by dividing unlinked trips in 2013 by 2012 population estimates from the
American Community Survey (ACS), yielding a figure that's neatly comparable among
cities of varying sizes.
The U.S. has 415 urbanized areas with populations over 65,000 — large enough to get a
one -year ACS estimate — and 70 percent (290) of them reported data to the NTD in
every month of 2013. The gaps are mostly small cities: The 54 largest urban areas were
included in the data set, as were 93 percent of urban areas with over 200,000 residents
(169 out of 182). All 290 cities are ranked in the searchable table below, by trips per
resident.
Search:
RANK URBAN AREA POP. (2012) TRIPS PER CAP.
1
New York - Newark, NY -NJ -CT
18,617,730
229.8
2
San Francisco - Oakland, CA
3,368,743
131.5
3
Washington, DC -VA -MD
4,782,117
99.6
4
Athens - Clarke County, GA
128,615
99.5
5
Boston, MA -NH -RI
4,261,138
94.3
6
Urban Honolulu, HI
820,535
88.4
7
Champaign, IL
144,685
87.4
8
State College, PA
87,702
85.0
9
Chicago, IL -IN
8,666,409
74.7
10
Philadelphia, PA- NJ -DE -MD
5,477,933
67.8
11
Iowa City, IA
109,437
66.0
12
Seattle, WA
3,169,595
63.6
13
Portland, OR -WA
1,914,940
58.4
By this metric, Washington had the third most -used transit system in the U.S. in 2013,
narrowly edging out Athens, Georgia (home to University of Georgia), and Boston. With
99.6 trips per resident, Washington still trailed San Francisco (131.5 trips per resident) by
• significant margin. And both were dwarfed by New York (229.8), which is operating on
• completely different scale.
The chart below shows how New York's unlinked in trips in 2013 compared with the
next 16 biggest transit systems:
New York's Transit Stands Alone
Unlinked public transit trips by urbanized area, 2013, in millions
New York - Newark 4.279m
Los Angeles -Long Beach - Anaheim = 679
Chicago = 646
Washington M476
San Francisco - Oakland 0443
Boston E 402
Philadelphia 0 371
Seattle, 202
Miami, 171 4,214m
Atlanta 140 total
Portland, OR 112
Baltimore 106
San Diego 104 The NYC area had
Denver - Aurora 102 more trips than the
Minneapolis -St. Paull 95 next 16 largest
Houston 85 systems combined.
Dallas -Fort Worth - Arlington 79
It's clear why New York is the only U.S. system to register on the international level.
Most of New York's trips were on the MTA subway (62 percent), followed by MTA
buses (21 percent), NJ Transit buses (4 percent) and LIRR commuter trains (3 percent).
New York, Washington, Boston and Philadelphia the urban centers of the "Northeast
Corridor" — all fall into the top 10 in trips per resident. They also fall into the top 10 of
urban population. Do certain regions tend to support better public transit, or is this just a
product of city size and density?
Among all 290 cities, there's a clear relationship between trips per resident and both total
population (the r- squared is 0.41) and population density (r- squared = 0.21). This means
that it's not particularly revealing to map all the cities together, because larger, denser
cities are clustered in the Northeast and on the West Coast. But if we look only at the 248
urban areas with fewer than 1 million residents, the total population relationship (r-
squared = 0.0002) and population density relationship (r- squared = 0.07) disappear.
The maps below show the distribution of this "small city" subset, including small cities
that did not report to the NTD. Bubble area is proportional to population.
Public Transit Use in Small Cities
By 2013 trips per resident for 248 urbanized areas between 65,000 and
1 million residents
Top third
POPULATION • Top third
• tm
! Other
• • 200k No data
i
•
Bottom third
•
0 • e
2. Honolulu
186.4 trips)
•o
•• • .• .'
• 90 •
3. Champaign. IL •
(87.4 trips) ++
1. Athens. GA
+ (99.6 trips)
•
!
POPULATION ® Bottom third
m
Other
200k No data
• O
• i
• s 248. Atlantic
C ty. NJ
i + (0.5 trips)
247. Spartanburg,
+ • SC 10.7 trips)
• � i
246. Port Charlotte. • i
FL (0.8 t6psl •
There's a pretty clear geographic trend here. The top transit systems are clustered in the
Northeast and West. The South, including Texas and Oklahoma, has some of the worst
systems, and the Midwest is mixed. Many small cities are missing from the NTD data set,
but it's a fair assumption that non - reporting cities generally don't have top -flight transit
systems (although Utah has some excellent systems that didn't provide full 2013
reporting). These cities are disproportionately in the South.
The 42 cities with over 1 million residents show a similar geographic trend:
Public Transit Use in Large Cities
By 2013 trips per resident for 42 urbanized areas over 1 million residents
Top third
POPULATION
tom
` Top third
.
Other
.
Ym
• /.New Pod
B. nsw
J3A Idir S1
•
19 O.O.
199.4 trios)
Bottom third
"PULATION
10.
1 0 Bottom third
Other
• 43. Indiampehs •
• (4.816Pa)�
•
40. Nashdlle. TN
41.Memphts, TN • (9.9 trips)
(9.51riPS) •
Indianapolis, Memphis, Tenn., and Nashville, Tenn., combined for just 30.7 million
unlinked trips in 2013. By the end of 2025, the Washington Metro projects that the Silver
Line will handle 115,000 trips per day, or 42 million a year. Some cities have some
catching up to do.
From PW Dir. Fosse via CM Markus
AGRICULTURE
Report: Farmers not motivated
to use conservation practices
By Orlan Love, The Gazette
Without more money and commit-
ment, Iowa's plan to reduce nitrogen
and phosphorus pollution of rivers
and lakes will fail, Iowa Policy Project
said in a report released Thursday.
. Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strat-
egy "is especially weak on the larger,
rural source of pollution from applied
nutrients," said IPP founder David
Osterberg.
The report, cowritten by-Osterberg
and University of Iowa graduate '.
student Aaron Klirie, offers several
recommendations for strengthening
the 2013 Nutrient Reduction Strategy,
which relies heavily on voluntary
conservation practices.
Those practices have not worked,
Osterberg said, because too many
farmers do not see or acknowledge a
problem.
'The report cited studies, including
a 2011 Iowa Farm'and Rural Life Poll
conducted by Iowa State University,
that found many farmers are hot well
'motivated to implement voluntary
conservation practices.
According to the ISU poll, 51 per-
cent of respondents said they had
made no conservation expenditures
in the previous 10 years, the report
stated.
The report noted that about three -
fourths of Iowa streams and rivers
and about two - thirds of its lakes and
reservoirs were considered impaired
in the most recent listing.
Nutrient pollution from Iowa fields
is also polluting water in other states
and the Gulf of Mexico, the report
said.
It also pointed out obvious
shortcomings in the nutrient
reduction strategy such as the
lack of a target date for the
accomplishment of its main goal — a
45 percent reduction in nitrogen and
phosphorous discharges.
The authors' suggestions for
improving the nutrient reduction
strategy include more money, better
monitoring of results and requiring
each farmer to implement ai least two
conservation practices:
e 'Comments: (319) 934 -3172;
oden.love @sourcemedia.net
Uti -U7 -94
IP11
IP12
MINUTES PRELIMINARY
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
JUNE 12, 2014
EMMA HARVAT HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Kent Ackerson, Thomas Agran, Esther Baker, Gosia Clore, Kate
Corcoran, Ben Sandell, Ginalie Swaim, Frank Wagner
MEMBERS ABSENT: Frank Durham, Andrew Litton, Pam Michaud
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Miklo, Chery Peterson
OTHERS PRESENT: Jennifer Cappos, Connie Champion, Theresa Dunnington, Melissa Fath,
Nick Newhard, Jon Ozeroff, John D. Spiegel, Alicia Trimble
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: (become effective only after separate Council action)
None.
CALL TO ORDER: Swaim called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Swaim requested that, of the certificate of appropriateness items, item three be moved to the
beginning. The consensus of the Commission was to consider item three first.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANYTHING NOT ON THE AGENDA:
There was none.
DISCUSS LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR 203 N. LINN STREET:
Miklo said this property is located at the corner of Linn and Market Streets. He said the property
owner has requested to have it designated an Iowa City landmark.
Miklo stated that at the same time, the Planning and Zoning Commission is considering the property
for a rezoning from the central business service zone to the central business support zone, which
allows a greater variety of commercial uses based on the parking standards.
Miklo said, however, the Commission's concern is the landmark status. He said that if the landmark
status if approved, it would provide the Commission with review of the exterior alterations to the
building and would also make the property eligible for special zoning incentives and considerations.
Miklo said the site inventory form prepared by Jan Olive Nash of Tall Grass Historians thoroughly
documents the importance of the history of this building. Miklo said the original portion of the building
was built in 1872, with a significant addition in 1895.
Miklo stated that, as noted in the report, it was originally built as a bakery by Alois Bashnagel, who
was a German immigrant. Miklo said the Commission's role in reviewing this is to determine whether
it is eligible as a local landmark. He said that most properties in Iowa City that are local landmarks
are also listed in the National Register, and the criteria are very similar. Miklo said that a National
Register nomination is not being considered at this time, just the local designation.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 2 of 18
Miklo said it is important that the Commission consider the criteria in the code, because there are
zoning incentives involved with designation as landmarks, including potential tax incentives, as well as
rules and regulations that would apply to the building and the property. He said there are two criteria
in the code that this must meet: that the property is significant to American or Iowa City history,
architectural, archaeology and culture; and that it possesses integrity of location of design, setting,
materials, and workmanship.
Miklo said that in terms of the importance of the history, that is well documented in the report. He said
it reflects early Iowa City commercial constructions as well as the immigrants' influence on the
community.
Regarding the integrity of location and design, Miklo said the reason that is a criterion is that some
buildings have been altered to such an extent that they are no longer recognizable as historic. He
said that this one, as noted in the report, other than some minor modifications to some window
openings, is very similar to the way it appeared when it was built.
Miklo said there are four other criteria of which the Commission needs to find that this meets at least
one. He said that based on the information submitted in Nash's report, staff finds that it meets two of
them. Miklo stated that the building is associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of local history. He said that the building reflects the early
commercial architecture of Iowa City, as well as the immigrant influence on the community. Miklo said
staff also finds that this meets criterion E, in that it represents a period of construction techniques from
history.
Miklo said staff therefore recommends that this be approved as a local landmark designation. He said
the applicant has a representative present to answer questions.
Ackerson asked which part of the building is the addition. Miklo responded by showing the original
building at the corner and the area that is the addition. He said there are some historic maps that
show the evolution of the building, which was initially a bakery, then later converted to a hotel, then
used as a restaurant and saloon on the ground floor, and then various uses over history.
Corcoran asked about the upper floors. Miklo replied that there is a combination of rooming units and
a few apartments.
Sandell referred to a specific view and said that one can see what appears to be windows along
Market Street. Miklo said there were one -time display windows in that area. Sandell said the ramp is
a recent addition, and Miklo confirmed this.
MOTION: Corcoran moved that the Commission approve the designation of the property at
203 North Linn Street, the Bashnagel Bakery, as an Iowa City historic landmark based on the
following criteria for local designation: it is significant to American and /or Iowa City history,
architecture, archaeology, and culture; it possesses integrity of location, design, setting,
materials, and workmanship; it is associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of our history; and it embodies the distinctive
characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; or represents the work of a master
or possesses high artistic values or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose
components may lack individual distinction. Baker seconded the motion. The motion carried
on a vote of 8 -0 (Durham, Litton, and Michaud absent).
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 3 of 18
CONSENT AGENDA - CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS:
336 South Governor Street.
Peterson said this application is for dormer windows in the three dormers, with two on the side to be
egress windows so that the opening size was changed. She said the one on the front would stay the
same opening. Peterson said staff is working with the owner and anticipates coming up with an
appropriate design.
MOTION: Ackerson moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 336
South Governor Street, as presented in the application, with the following conditions: provide
product information for the new windows; locate egress windows so as to minimize the cut in
the existing fascia; new window trim must match the material, profiles, and dimensions of the
historic trim. Baker seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 8 -0 (Durham,
Litton. and Michaud absent).
CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS:
617 Brown Street.
Ackerson said that because he is an owner of this property, he would recuse himself from
consideration of this item. He then left the table.
Peterson stated that this property is on the south side of the street in the Brown Street District. She
showed a view from the street, stating that this is a four - square from the early 20th century.
Peterson showed a view from the back and said that the work has already advanced to the point
where the window is installed. She said staff has been working with the contractor and the owner and
has come up with suggestions for how to get this project into compliance with the guidelines.
Peterson said it is not compliant, because it doesn't have the appropriate trim that one would expect
on windows.
Peterson showed the bay window on the side of the house. She stated that the windows are trimmed
out, and the edge of the roof is trimmed, and that is what one would expect for the bay window on the
back. Peterson showed a sketch of the expression of the sill and trim at the base, with a different
roof, so that there can be window head trim and some roof fascia trim. She said the owners are
willing to do this.
Peterson said staff recommends approval, with the condition that the final design be approved by the
chair and staff. She said there is also a component involving stucco repair to match the rest of the
house, which is acceptable to staff.
MOTION: Corcoran moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 617
Brown Street, as presented in the application and described in the report, with the following
conditions: the installed bay window will be modified with a roof that includes fascia trim and
window head trim, and with an extended base that includes a defined sill with the applicant to
provide information detailing these modifications for the final review and approval by the
Commission chair and staff; and new stucco work shall match existing stucco on the existing
foundation. Sandell seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 7 -0 (Durham,
Litton. and Michaud absent; Ackerson abstaining).
Ackerson left the meeting.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 4 of 18
725 East Davenport Street.
Peterson said this property is one of the University /Neighborhood partnership projects. She said that
a lot of work has been done already, and this is the final phase of the exterior.
Peterson showed the front of the house on Davenport Street. She showed the back of the house and
where the basement door /landing is. Peterson said that is what needs Commission approval.
Peterson said that, with the door removed, the proposal is to put in a window with the same head
height but filled in with block to match, with new water table trim, a couple of boards of siding and then
trimmed out like the rest of the windows on the house. She said that because it is a change in the
size of an opening, it needs Commission approval. Peterson stated that staff is asking for the usual
documentation of products and final window size.
Swaim asked if there is another entrance to the-basement. Peterson said there is a way to get into
the basement from the interior.
MOTION: Baker moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 725 East
Davenport Street as presented in the application, with the following conditions: provide
product information for the new concrete block; provide product information for the new
window, including dimensions; confirm materials for infill between the window and the top of
the concrete block; and provide information as needed for staff review of all other listed work
items. Wagner seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 7 -0 (Ackerson, Durham,
Litton, and Michaud absent).
814 Ronalds Street.
Peterson said this property is on the north side of Ronalds Street. She said the project involves the
addition of a screened porch. Peterson showed the front and back sides of the house. She said the
property is a key, contributing property in the Brown Street Historic District.
Peterson showed a photoshop of what the screened porch would look like. She said it would fill in the
corner and extend beyond the wall of the first floor space, with a landing and stairs down. Peterson
said that details for the railing were missing, and the drawings did not show skirting, so staff is just
asking that those remaining items be turned in.
Peterson said the roof ties in and is as would be expected. Swaim said that it still allows a little corner
on the right side but does not interfere with that.
MOTION: Corcoran moved to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 814
Ronalds Street, as presented in the application, with the following condition: applicant to
confirm skirting design for the porch and balustrade design for the stoop and stairs, including
dimensions for spindles and top and foot rails, for review and approval by staff. Baker
seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 7 -0 (Ackerson, Durham, Litton, and
Michaud absent).
220 East Jefferson Street.
Miklo said this property is in the Jefferson Street Historic District but is also individually listed on the
National Register of Historic Places and is a local landmark. He stated that the proposal is to replace
the windows on the first and second floors, with the exception of the decorative, leaded glass windows
on the front of the property.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 5 of 18
Miklo stated that the windows on this property are somewhat larger and of a higher grade than one
typically sees in a residential setting. He said they also have a rounded trim detail that reflects similar
detail on the church itself.
Miklo said the guidelines encourage the repair of windows, especially historic windows, before
replacement is considered, unless there is an indication that windows are severely deteriorated and
would be difficult to repair. He stated that he and Peterson both visited the property and saw a I
sampling of the windows but did not see any evidence of the sorts of things that normally lead to
window replacement, such as wood rot or warping. Miklo said that the windows they saw seemed to
be in very good condition compared to most that they see. Miklo said that even the glazing was in
somewhat good shape. He said that, as with any window, periodic maintenance in terms of painting
and repairing the glazing putty would be expected.
Miklo said they did observe that the sash cords were broken, and therefore the windows were a little
more difficult to open than usual. He said that a solution to that would be to repair the sash cords — a
relatively simple fix.
Miklo said that Peterson has some expertise in terms of having attended training courses on
preservation of historic windows, and, based on staff's observation, they did not find windows that
warranted replacement. Miklo said that, based on the literature and information from the National
Trust and the State Historical Society, staff feels that repair of these windows may be a more cost -
effective approach compared to replacement.
Miklo said that at this point, staff does not recommend approval of the application. He said that if
certain windows are found or demonstrated to be in poor condition, as the guidelines require, then
staff would recommend replacement of just those windows with replacement sashes that do not
obscure the trim and that keep the same profile and design of the existing windows. Miklo said staff's
recommendation is to deny the application, as submitted, but the alternative motion is to approve the
replacement of just those windows that are determined to be in poor condition.
Corcoran asked if the windows are of the type that has storm windows in the winter and screens in the
summer. Miklo said that these have modern storm windows — combination storm windows. He said
the interior windows appear to be the original windows.
Peterson stated that the storms are well done and fit inside the distinctive trim.
Swaim said this is a lovely building that has been well maintained. She said that windows are
something that come before the Commission quite often. Swaim said there is a lot of research that
shows that replacement doesn't often offer a better alternative than actually repairing what is there.
She said that it also maintains the integrity of the house, because windows are an enormous part of
the expression of the house.
Spiegel said that he is the resident of this home. He said he has lived in the house for four years and
has been unable to open any window in the house simply for ventilation. He said that the windows
that are operable are only operable with great struggle and do not offer copious ventilation, especially
the storms. Spiegel said something about while the storm windows are modern, they're certainly not
contemporary, and they lack a great deal of usefulness as well.
Spiegel said that the consideration for this request to make this property more habitable. They are
respectful of the exterior and its design. He said they simply want to provide the residents of this
property, those of this century and not two centuries previous, the ease of their operation and upkeep.
Spiegel said they really want to be partners in the restoration or upkeep and they should not be
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 6 of 18
denied because they have kept up the property. He said that if they had allowed the windows to
deteriorate, there would be no question about this.
Swaim said that part of the problem is that there is no evidence in the packet to show the Commission
that the windows have reached a point of deterioration where they need to be replaced. Miklo
confirmed this. He said that, as noted, there were broken cords, which does make it more difficult to
open the windows. Miklo said that if the cords are reattached, the weights then make it easy to move
the windows up and down.
Peterson said she thinks that repairing the existing is the more appropriate means of upkeep. She
said she feels that total replacement is quite extreme. Peterson said these are not deteriorated; they
need routine maintenance. She said they are a very distinctive feature of the property.
Miklo noted that the storm windows could be replaced. He said the guidelines would allow that,
because these are not original storm windows. Miklo said that if the storm windows are part of the
issue with ventilation, those could be replaced.
Swaim asked how one would repair the sash cords. Miklo said there is a pocket toward the bottom of
the window to the side. He said there is a screw there to be unscrewed that would provide access to
the weight. Miklo said that one would then run a new cord, tie it to the sash, and reassemble. He
said there are several contractors in town who specialize in window repair and confirmed this is not a
complicated process.
Miklo said the proposal is to use the Pella architectural series. He said the sample that he saw did not
meet the guidelines, because it would call for removal of the sashes and installation of a new liner
with the window package. Miklo said that sometimes can obscure the trim. He said the profile isn't
the same as the historic windows. Miklo said that if the windows were determined to be damaged or
in poor condition, then there are several sash replacement brands that fit in the original opening that
would not obscure any of the trim. He said that also, the profile and size of the sash would better
match the historic windows.
Baker asked how it would be determined whether a window is irreparable. Miklo answered that
Peterson has had some training in this, and he would have her look at the windows. He said that in
some cases, where photographs have been submitted, it is obvious that there is wood rot and /or
separation of the joints. Miklo said that window replacement has been approved in cases such as
that. He said that in cases where it is questionable, he would recommend a site visit and possibly
also having a window contractor take a look at this with staff to determine if replacement is necessary.
Spiegel said maintenance of windows is also a concern, and a new product would solve this
maintenance issue. He said the problem that they are having is the inability to keep property
maintenance. Spiegel said he does not foresee them being able to overcome that problem. He said
the only way to overcome that is by using one of those that require less maintenance. Spiegel said
that one can simply maintain these windows and make some very easy adjustments, but these are
not easy adjustments. He said the maintenance is a problem, and that is what he wants to get away
from.
Spiegel said the fact that this is burdensome to them is clear by the fact that they have been unable to
do it. He said that is why they are before the Commission in the first place. Spiegel said that the
amount of maintenance these windows require, they can't keep. He said that they could spend
money and get them back into somewhat of a pristine condition, and they would be back again.
Baker asked what kind of maintenance is being put into these windows now that is so burdensome.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 7 of 18
Spiegel said he thinks some of the window trim will crack and break in some areas and have to be
replaced. Spiegel said they are not modern window technology, and they would like to have that
technology.
Spiegel said that in other things that have been done with the building over the years, they have
always kept its historic appearance and presentation. He said they have done the things that are
appropriate. Spiegel said the cellar door is now made of steel, for example. He said it doesn't need
painting and seals better. Spiegel said this isn't an exhibition property; it is a living residence. He
said that historic tours of what it was like to live in an 1890s house are not conducted.
Swaim said she assumes that most of the cost of repair is labor. She said that cord replacement
would involve very little in the way of supplies. Swaim said that replacing the windows involves a
more monumental cost.
Peterson said that replacement is a bigger undertaking and a lot more disruptive. She stated that the
windows have held up all these years, because they are made of these very high quality materials
that one cannot get with modern windows. Peterson said the modern windows therefore do not have
the life expectancy of these originals that used old growth wood.
Peterson said that is why the old windows are preserved — because of the quality. She said that
anything needs maintenance, and as these are maintained, they have a much longer life expectancy
and so are more economical in the long run.
Swaim asked how often this maintenance has to be done. Miklo said that the cords generally last a
long time, perhaps over 20.
Ozeroff said that he is a parishioner at Saint Mary's and also a window replacement contractor. He
said that he was involved in planning for the replacement project. Ozeroff said that it is hard to tell
from the picture, but these windows are larger than typical. Ozeroff said that the windows on the
ground floor are 90 inches tall, and on the second floor the windows are 80 inches tall. He said they
are very heavy and are original solid, wood windows. Ozeroff said they are not easy to open up.
Swaim asked for the dimensions of the upstairs windows. Ozeroff said that it varies.
Corcoran asked if the application is to replace all of the windows, including those on the top. Ozeroff
confirmed this. Corcoran asked about the big picture window. Ozeroff replied that the big picture
window would not be replaced. The proposal is to replace the other 28 windows on the first and
second floor.
Swaim said that the windows in her house are 96 inches tall but not as wide as these windows. She
said that at one time they were painted shut, and then a painter used a putty knife and there was a
little touchup. Swaim said those that have been opened that way and those that were fine to begin
with really open quite smoothly.
Swaim said there are two ways of working this. She said the Commission could make a motion or
could set this aside and table it for a future meeting to enable some further examination of the
windows.
Corcoran said she would like to delay this consideration and discuss this further before taking any
action.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 8 of 18
MOTION: Corcoran moved to defer consideration of an application for the wholesale
replacement of windows at 220 East Jefferson Street. Clore seconded the motion. The motion
carried on a vote of 7 -0 (Ackerson, Baldridae Durham, Litton, and Michaud absent).
Miklo asked if a subcommittee of the Commission would like to visit the property inspect the condition
of the windows. Swaim agreed and said that someone skilled in working with old houses and
windows should be present. She said she believes there is a solution that will work for everyone.
508 South Summit Street.
Peterson said this property is a four - square in the Summit Street Historic District. She said the
application is for new soffits and roof fascia and gutters. Peterson said that gutters do not require
historic review, but soffits definitely do.
Peterson showed the existing and said that there is also work that has started and is non - compliant.
Peterson showed the original and the replacement that is aluminum. Peterson said it covered some
of the trim — the dark - painted bed mold — and is altering the historic trim.
Peterson said that staff feels this is non - compliant, because it is not one of the approved replacement
materials. She stated that the original is wood, and the replacement is aluminum. Peterson said it
does not meet the requirements for substitute material. She said the whole intent of the guidelines is
to repair, to replace in kind, and, as a last choice, to find a substitute material that would need to be
reviewed and approved by the Commission.
Peterson said there is a lot of supplemental information in the packet. Swaim added that there are
photographs in the packet of where this was rotted through.
Sandell asked, where the repairs are already done, if that trim piece is just covered up or if it has been
removed. Peterson said she would guess that it is covered up.
Sandell asked what percentage of the house has been repaired like this. Peterson guessed that it is
about half.
Peterson said that staff recommends that if something cannot be done in wood, fiber cement board is
the next best substitute. She said that it comes in a beadboard pattern.
Miklo said that it replicates beadboard. He said that in some cases, the beadboard can be patched in,
and if there is a large area, it may be more economical to use the plywood that mimics the beadboard
and is relatively simple to install.
Clore asked if that piece of trim is the only concern. Peterson said the concern is that the aluminum is
not one of the recommended materials for replacement. She said it does not have the same
character as the original. Peterson said that it is running in a different direction.
Miklo said the porch has been completed and portions of the front and side. He said someone from
the neighborhood had noticed and asked about this, and the owner had not realized a permit was
required.
Swaim said that for a house with such wide eaves, it is apparent in that the light falls differently on the
aluminum with the pattern pieces and such.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
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Clore asked if other houses in the district have aluminum. Peterson said that this may have been
done on some houses in the districts. She said that if it was done before the district was designated,
it wasn't a problem, as it was grandfathered in. Peterson said it is seen on other old houses, but it
would have been done before the area was designated a district.
Agran said, to clarify, that the portion of this that was done was recent, and then the project was
stopped because of this review. He asked what the ramifications would be for the owners at this point
if a motion to deny this were passed.
Miklo responded that the aluminum would have to be removed and the beadboard repaired or a
substitute material such as the plywood with the beadboard pattern installed. He said the gutters as
installed are allowed.
Baker said that this issue has arisen before, and the homeowners have been required to remove the
material when work has started. She said her concern about this is that it sets a precedent for people
to say they didn't know it required a permit and review before the Historic Preservation Commission
and be allowed to do something that is not allowed using that as the excuse.
Baker said she had similar holes in her eaves and soffits and had them repaired with wood. She said
there was more than one appropriate alternative to doing this.
Cappos said that she is one of the owners of this house. She referred to the letter citing what a treat it
was for she and her husband to move to Summit Street. She said they lived on Oakland Avenue
before in a house with aluminum siding and soffits. She said they moved two blocks, because they
wanted a bigger house and wanted to live in a historic district. Cappos said they love fixer - uppers,
and this is certainly a fixer - upper.
Cappos said they took on this house and did a lot of work on it. She said she did not look in the
handbook and did not know this wasn't okay, because she came from a house that has even more
aluminum. Cappos said she is sorry for not for the situation. Cappos said they plan to do a lot of other
projects on this house, and she expects to be before the Commission a lot more for permission to do
things that would never compromise the integrity of this home. She said it is really important to them.
Cappos said they have spent about $8,500 replacing all the soffits, fascia, and gutters. She said it
could cost another 15 to 20 thousand to replace this, if that is what the Commission decides has to be
done. Cappos said they cannot afford that right now, as they have done a lot of work on the inside,
including plumbing, updating electrical, removing lead paint, and removing asbestos from the
basement. She said there have been a lot of other projects to work on to get this house up to the way
it is now. Cappos said that she wanted to say she's sorry and would like the opportunity to make this
house even better for the neighborhood and the community.
Champion said that this house was a disaster. She said that it was infested with raccoons.
Champion said they have made so many improvements to this house. She said she hopes the
Commission can find some reprieve for them, because they have done so much for this house and
Dunnington said she is a friend of the Cappos family and has helped to restore the house. She said
that she and Cappos love historic properties, and that is why they chose to live here. Dunnington said
she finds this to be unduly punitive and harsh upon them, when it does not impact the street view of
the house in any way whatsoever. She said that prior to them taking on this house, it was wretched
and like a swamp. Dunnington stated that it was not owner - occupied, and there were tenants coming
and going. Dunnington said that Cappos worked so hard and so long and invested so much money in
this, because she cares about it. Dunnington said that to have this kind of overregulation and punitive
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 10 of 18
action is really going to impact their entire family financially for very little gain. She said she wanted to
offer her support for the Cappos family and what they have done to improve that neighborhood.
Newhard stated that he is one of the owners of the contracting company that did the work on the
soffits and the gutters. He said it starts with him, and he also apologizes to the Cappos family and the
Commission. Newhard said they made a mistake; they should have come to the Commission first
and asked permission to do this work.
Newhard asked that the new members of the Commission and the old members of the Commission
looking forward look at the soffit and fascia work maybe in a different view kind of like the gutters. He
said he feels that they really helped preserve the home, and he does not think it takes away from the
street view.
Newhard said his argument would just be to look at this; it's preserving it from critters, rotten wood,
and infestation. He said that some of the work in the photograph is not yet done; there is some wood
and some aluminum. Newhard said he knows there are rules; and rules are rules.
Newhard said that as the Commission moves along and encounters more situations like this, he
thinks it is something the board should consider — that soffits and fascia are not changing the look of
this historic, beautiful home.
Newhard stated that the gutters are six -inch commercial size gutters, and they are covering up the
fascia. Newhard said he would appreciate it if the Commission look at this as a single situation.
Miklo said it was asked what the ramifications are if the Commission doesn't approve this. He said
there have been situations where the Commission has given a time frame to undo work to take into
account the financial concerns.
Corcoran asked about the age of the Summit Street Historic District. Miklo said it was created in
1983.
Swaim said that in this case, a building permit was required. Miklo responded that it was required for
the soffit work but not for the gutters. He said that the fascia is not visible; it is behind the gutters.
Miklo said he does not think that is a concern.
Clore asked if there is anything in the Iowa City rules that requires the City to tell the builder that a
permit is required. Miklo replied that it is the contractor's responsibility to seek building permits. He
said the contractor would seek a building permit, and the building official would note that the property
is in a historic district and inform the contractor of the process that needs to be followed.
Clore asked the contractor if he was informed of this. Newhard, the builder, answered that he did not
apply for a building permit.
Clore asked, if the contractor is the party that did not apply for the permit, why the homeowners would
bear the financial burden of this. Newhard said that if this is denied, he will have to sit down with the
family and try to figure something else out. Clore asked Newhard if he takes on the responsibility for
that, and Newhard said he absolutely did. He said he did something that was wrong in this district.
Corcoran asked Newhard if, when he normally installs soffits at other locations, he applies for a
building permit. Newhard answered that he does. He said that a lot of work that he typically does
with his siding company is in North Liberty, where he does a lot of new construction, in which case the
permit is taken out by the general contractor.
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June 12, 2014
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Newhard said he had done work at the Cappos' previous residence but has not done a lot of siding
work in Iowa City. He said that he started as a gutter company and did not do a lot of that work in
Iowa City. Newhard said his company expanded into doing siding in the new construction market to
the north, but he has not done a lot of re- siding, soffit, and fascia work in Iowa City.
Newhard said it was an honest mistake.
Clore asked what the rules are when dealing with a case in which there was no permit. Miklo said
that if something is done without a permit, there is a stop work order, and no more work can occur
until a building permit is issued. He stated that the fine is a doubling of the fee for the building permit,
which is usually not very much. Miklo said that a building permit cannot be issued until the Historic
Preservation Commission approves of the proposal.
Agran said that he is very sympathetic to the property owner and also somewhat sympathetic to the
contractor. He said that he has worked for contractors and knows the importance of pulling the
permits, and one always takes a risk if a permit is not pulled, which he knows is sometimes the case.
Agran said he feels that this is an issue to be resolved between the contractor and the homeowner.
He said that if a permit had been pulled at the beginning, before $8,400 had been invested in this
property, the homeowner and contractor would have been notified that new soffits made of fiber
cement, an acceptable material, could have been put in and would have been more impervious,
theoretically, to animals than the wood. Agran said that that would have been a pretty good
compromise in terms of repairing these.
Agran said it is a tough thing to have this work half - completed. He said he is sympathetic to the
concerns of what kind of feelings this cultivates about historic preservation in the community but is
also sympathetic to the idea that, if a bar lets a lot of underage people in without carding them and
says we should have known better, well rules are there for that reason.
Agran said it's hard to hold double standards in that sense. He said this seems like a conflict that
needs to be resolved between the homeowner and contractor, and the Commission is here to produce
a simple response to the situation. Agran said that doesn't mean the situation is resolved in any way,
but he did not believe the Commission would be the party to provide that resolution.
Fath, who said she is a friend of Cappos, said the feeling the community has about historic
preservation is pretty negative because of things like this. She said this is a very expensive thing to
ask Cappos to do because of the aluminum soffit, and the soffit doesn't do anything negative to the
look of the house.
Baker said it is covering up some trim and wood details that were visible originally. Fath said paint a
black stripe to replicate the trim. It is nothing; it really isn't. She said that after seeing this meeting,
she would never live in an historic district. Fath said she doesn't want the Commission to decide
about how much money she can spend on her soffits.
Agran said he understands that completely. He said, however, if this was approached in the manner
of the church's application, from the very beginning, that motion was tabled because it seemed that
further discussion or reconsideration might be needed. Agran said that the fact that a building permit
was not pulled for the work makes this an issue that seems to be almost outside the Commission's
jurisdiction.
Agran said he did not know what he would do in the homeowner's position. He said it is not actually a
reflection on historic preservation so much, because if everything had gone according to the rules, it
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 12 of 18
may actually cost less than $8,500, because it could have been just soffit repairs instead of total soffit
replacement. Agran said this is what happens when one doesn't pull a building permit, and it doesn't
reflect on the nature of historic preservation.
Newhard said the cost assumption is wrong; it would be a lot more expensive. He agreed that he
made a mistake but said that is neither here nor there. Newhard said he knows he did wrong.
Regarding the permit, he said he needs to pay the fine and is living and learning.
Newhard said that is not the situation here. He said it is not about the permit. Newhard said it is
about the Commission looking at this house in a historic district and saying if it is okay or not okay.
He said that is what the Commission is deciding; it's not about the permit or anything else.
Newhard said regarding the cost he would like the Commission to throw the money out at this point
and make a decision about historic preservation. He said metal was a better way to preserve the
house.
Corcoran said the Commission's job is to enforce the guidelines, and that is the law. She said she
served for six years on Iowa City's Board of Adjustment. Corcoran said that like the Commission, it is
a quasi-judicial body in that it makes decisions about whether or not people can have variances from
the zoning code or special exceptions. Corcoran said there were many cases when people went
ahead and put on an addition or built over a boundary line or did something but did not inquire or do
any investigation. She said the Board of Adjustment had to enforce the ordinances of Iowa City that
were adopted by the City Council. Corcoran said people had to undo work and bear that extra
expense. She said she agrees with Agran and Baker in that the Commission has these guidelines to
enforce and must be fair to all the applicants who come before the Commission.
Corcoran said that if the Commission decides to rescind or partially abrogate the application or a
particular guideline or rule, then it does set a precedent. She said it is legal precedent, because the
next person who comes before the Commission with a similar situation, and it might not even be
soffits but something else, the person can invoke that precedent. Corcoran said that puts more
pressure on the Commission to ignore or move away from the guidelines and their enforcement.
Swaim said she agrees with Corcoran's points and said that consistency is critical to a body like the
Commission.
Cappos said she wanted to remind the Commission that five years ago, when she lived on Oakland
Avenue, she put an addition on the back of her home and came before the Historic Preservation
Commission to do that. She said they also did extensive remodeling of the house they moved into for
which they applied for permits for electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and fixing a load- bearing wall. Cappos
said they have always gone through the channels when they have decided to make changes to their
homes, whether it's additions or just updating whatever.
Cappos said it's not like she does this, and this is how she sneaks around. She said this is one time
in a massive amount of remodeling, and she screwed it up. Cappos said this is not her way of doing
business.
Swaim and Corcoran said they understand that this was an honest mistake on the parts of both
Cappos and the contractor.
Newhard asked if a permit is required for installing aluminum siding and soffits. Miklo said that if one
is doing siding work or soffit work in an historic district, a permit has to be obtained. Newhard asked if
a permit was required outside a historic district. Miklo responded that he does not know outside of the
district; he is familiar with the historic district.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 13 of 18
Dunnington said that she wanted to respond to the comment about a judicial body. She said that
since someone felt the need to inform the City about the aluminum soffits, which otherwise would
never would have come before the Commission, one can drive down Summit Street, Oakland
Avenue, and other places and find any number of things out of compliance.
Dunnington said that she feels like to abuse the power that the Historic Preservation Commission has
punitive policing with informants coming to the Commission to tell it about the hideous aluminum
soffits that are not even visible from the street really does weaken the position of the historic
preservation. She stated that a lot of advocates are being lost because of this.
Swaim said that Miklo pointed out that where there is non - compliance, it is because it was done
before a district was created. Miklo said the City did receive a call from someone in the neighborhood
questioning the work. Wagner said the City does not go around looking for non - compliance but is
made aware of this when a neighbor calls in. He said the City assumes it is being done right, and if
someone brings up a discrepancy, a building inspector investigates it. Wagner said that is standard
operating procedure.
Corcoran said that presumably there would be a heightened sense of the historic value and need for
preservation on Summit Street. Wagner added that the building permit asks if the property is on a
flood plain or in an historic district, and a contractor would check for that when the building permit is
applied for.
Swaim said that everyone on the Commission is amazed and astounded when someone takes on a
house like this that has fallen apart and does not have a good reputation because of tenants and
such. She said the City really needs citizens like this who take things like this on. Swaim said that, on
the other hand, the City also needs citizens like the ones who serve on the Historic Preservation
Commission to keep preservation functioning as it is supposed to, through the guidelines and the
ordinances that the Commission is supposed to enforce.
Corcoran asked, if a motion to deny is approved, what the process would be. Miklo said that a stop
work order has already been issued by the building official. He said the owners could therefore not
continue the work to cover the remainder of the soffit. In terms of removing the soffit, Miklo added
that there have been other cases when the Commission has given a period to come into
conformance. He said the owner would have the choice to leave it as it is for that period or to work
with a contractor to undo what has been done and replace it with a material that meets the guidelines.
Corcoran said she assumes that, if this is denied, the contractor and homeowner will have to discuss
this and then apply for a building permit to move forward. Miklo said that they would not be able to
move forward with the aluminum soffit but would have to go forward with an approved material. He
said that a substitute material; such as a marine grade plywood with a beadboard pattern, original
beadboard, or fiber cement with a beadboard pattern; could be approved in the motion.
Miklo said that original beadboard would not require approval; it would involve a certificate of no
material effect, but the plywood with a beadboard pattern or fiber cement with a beadboard pattern
would require approval, which the Commission could do via a motion. Swaim pointed out that original
beadboard would require working with staff and the chair but would not require full Commission
approval. Miklo agreed.
Swaim asked, for the section that has not yet had metal put on, if there are places that are still open to
raccoons and such. She stated that something has to be done for those places right away.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 14 of 18
Corcoran said that if this is denied and not allowed to go forward, would there be a need for the
homeowners to come back before the Commission with this particular project. Miklo said that if the
homeowners are going to replace the beadboard that is currently there with another material, they will
need to return to the Commission. He said that to expedite things, the Commission might want to
include in the motion the approval of beadboard or an approved substitute material of wood or fiber
cement board.
Corcoran said she is comfortable voting to deny this and having the homeowners come back so that
the Commission can make certain this goes forward properly. She said that the motion could be
drafted to include what the instructions are for what the owners would need to do to come into
compliance. Corcoran said the Commission can also build into the motion some protection that the
owners will also be working with staff and the chair to get final approval for this.
Swaim said she assumes the Commission would like to have this move along as quickly as possible
and not have this delayed by extra processes and visits. Corcoran asked if the Commission wanted
to include a time period in the motion for the owners to come into total compliance. Sandell
suggested setting the time period at five years.
Wagner said that this was really the responsibility of the contractor, not the homeowner. He stated
that the owners would not want to have their gutters half done for five years. Wagner said he did not
like the idea of five years to comply, because it sets a precedent. He said there are residents on
Summit Street who would love the Commission setting a precedent that when they do something
wrong they have five years to fix it up.
Corcoran suggested a two- or three -year period. Agran said that some of these things make more
sense to him when they are scaled up. He said that when the new building on the ped mall was going
up, if the permits had not been pulled at the very beginning, they would not have been given five
years to undo it. Agran said the debate among Commission members is a simple one to him. He
said it is informed by the financial and emotional complexities of this.
Agran said he sees the Commission's response as very straightforward. He said the stopgap occurs
before anything gets to the Commission, and that is the permit requirement. Agran said that since the
building permit was not pulled, he does not see that this has that much to do with the Commission.
He said the conflict needs to be resolved between the homeowner, the contractor, and the City or
courts as a mediator if there is conflict that cannot be resolved.
MOTION: Corcoran moved to deny a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 508
Summit Street, as presented in the application. Wagner seconded the motion. The motion
carried on a vote of 7 -0 (Ackerson, Baldridpe, Durham, Litton, and Michaud absent).
Miklo asked if the Commission wanted to consider a motion with an alternate material. Corcoran said
she agrees with Agran that this is a question of liability on the part of the contractor. Miklo said the
owners would not have to come back before the Commission if the contractor agrees to repair this
according to the guidelines, if the Commission approves a motion with a substitute material. He said
that if the owner uses original material, a certificate of material affect would be sufficient.
Agran said that since the City has put a stop on this, if work is to continue, the owner would have to
re -apply for a building permit anyway. He said that would then proceed along its normal course and
come back to the Commission. Agran said that if the new proposal is clear -cut, it could be approved
administratively and quickly.
Miklo pointed out that there have been other cases where the marine grade plywood /beadboard
pattern as a soffit repair has been approved administratively.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 15 of 18
REPORT ON CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY CHAIR AND STAFF:
Swaim said there is a list in the packet and asked if anyone had questions.
DISCUSS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST BUILDING 10 SOUTH GILBERT STREET:
Swaim said that Michaud brought this issue up but was unable to attend the meeting. She asked if
the Commission would like to defer this until Michaud can be in attendance.
MOTION: Baker moved to defer discussion of the Unitarian Universalist Building at 10 South
Gilbert Street to the Commission's next meeting. Corcoran seconded the motion. The motion
carried on a vote of 7 -0 (Ackerson Durham, Litton, and Michaud absent).
DISCUSS SUGGESTIONS FOR MITIGATION MEASURES TO OFFSET THE ADVERSE EFFECTS
TO HISTORIC PROPERTIES RESULTING FROM FEMA FUNDED UNDERTAKINGS FOR THE
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA:
Swaim said there are now three items before the Commission from which to choose. She said that
salvage of the Sabin School entry arches for reuse in a public park or school was recommended by
the Commission at their last meeting. The Commission had also recommended preparation of a
National Register Nomination for Horace Mann and an educational program about historic
preservation, but the School District has declined to participate so those two no longer possibilities.
Miklo said the Commission makes a recommendation to FEMA, which determines a course of action.
Swaim said the first option was the salvaging of one or more of the doorway arches from Sabin. She
said the second, which would be done by hiring a consultant out of the mitigation funds, was to revise
or rewrite a multiple property document for schools throughout Iowa. Swaim said that involves a case
when there is a large body of historic structures, such as railroad depots or a certain period of
churches, and then this kind of document would be written to give an overall context of railroad depots
in Iowa from 1850 to 1960. She said that then any individual depot that is nominated can pull from
that document, rather than starting from scratch in putting together the context for a nomination.
Swaim stated that the one that was done for public schools several years ago did not pass muster at
the national level. She said that is something the Commission could consider recommending.
Swaim said the other is an intensive level historical and architectural survey of the south side, which
has been one of the priorities of the Preservation Plan. She said that some of those things have not
been pursued because of lack of staff and consultant time.
Corcoran asked what a survey of the south side would encompass. Miklo said it is basically the River
Front Crossings area, which would be Gilbert Street west to the Iowa River and Burlington Street
south to Highway Six. He said it is an area where the City is encouraging redevelopment, so the idea
would be to determine what is there that is worth preserving or making a landmark.
Trimble said she is with Friends of Historic Preservation. She said that one of the things has come up
recently with Tate Arms, which was a rooming house for African American students. Friends is
working on a site inventory form for a local landmark designation. Trimble said that if an intensive
survey is done on the south side, then possibly more of those buildings could get landmark status
before they are torn down.
Trimble said it is really critical that this is done now, because most of those buildings won't be there in
five years. She said a survey would be very helpful, and Friends of Historic Preservation is willing to
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 16 of 18
take on writing those site inventory forms. Trimble said it will happen more quickly and easily if a
professional does all the research.
Miklo said he did talk to the Parks and Recreation Director about the archways and the planned park,
where the wastewater treatment plant is at the south end of Clinton Street, and the possibility of
incorporating one or more of the arches into some sort of feature in the park. Miklo said that the
director was very open to that occurring.
Miklo said that, from the City's perspective, there is concern about taking the stones and just putting
them in storage. He said they would want, as part of the approval, to have them reassembled in the
new park facility versus just giving them to the City to reassemble, because there could be quite some
expense to reassembling them. Miklo said that could be part of the recommendation if that is one of
the options the Commission selects as a recommendation.
Sandell assumed that there may be a trail connection between the City trail there and then south to
the new school. He said the archways might make a good threshold as kind of an historic feature.
Miklo said an attractive thing about using them in the new River Front Crossings Park is that it is the
same general neighborhood where the school is located.
Miklo said that there is a concern that just salvaging the stones would not be sufficient mitigation
unless they are actually reassembled, and there is some plaque or documentation that leads to
something meaningful about Sabin School. Miklo suggested the Commission prioritize the three
mitigation items.
Swaim said she would like to see that whatever mitigation is taken is something that benefits the
community. She said the heart of a community is often its schools, and that is what is being lost here.
Swaim said that while she believes in statewide history, if losing Sabin School is a way of saving
some of the south side as a result of an intensive level survey that is one way that she sees a bit of a
silver lining. She said that her top priority would be the arches, because they are a tangible way to
remind people and to show that preservation is not just a building. Swaim said her second priority
would be the south side survey, and she would not include the public school rewrite.
Corcoran asked about the arches being reassembled. Miklo said that FEMA has indicated that it has
to, based on its requirements, resolve the project and have everything completed by September 2016.
He said therefore the arches would need to be reassembled or there would need to be a commitment
to do that by that date.
Miklo said the park planning is going on now. He said the proposal is to remove the school building in
the spring. Miklo said if saving the arches is the choice for mitigation, the archways may need to be
stored for a period, unless the park plan identifies a suitable location before the school is demolished.
Swaim said this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of the things that preservation does in
terms of salvaging something and finding a new place for it in a public green space.
MOTION: Baker moved that the Commission recommend to FEMA that the following
mitigation solutions be considered in the priority order as follows: 1) the salvaging of the main
entrance limestone archway and two additional limestone entrance archways for delivery to
the City and reassembly for future use in a public park on the south side and 2) the intensive
level historic and architectural survey of the Iowa City South Side Neighborhood, identified as
Priority A in the Iowa City Historic Preservation Plan. Wagner seconded the motion. The
motion carried on a vote of 7 -0 (Ackerson Durham, Litton, and Michaud absent).
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
June 12, 2014
Page 17 of 18
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES FOR MAY 8,2014:
Swaim called for the correct spelling of Moffitt in two places on page one.
MOTION: Wagner moved to approve the minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission's May 8,
2014 meeting and public hearing, as amended. Baker seconded the motion. The motion carried on a
vote of 7 -0 (Ackerson Baldridae Durham Litton, and Michaud absent).
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Anne Schulte
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PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PRELIMINARY
JULY 17,— 7:00 PM — FORMAL
EMMA J. HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carolyn Dyer, John Thomas, Charlie Eastham, Ann Freerks, Jodie
Theobald, Paula Swygard, Phoebe Martin
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Miklo, Sarah Walz, Kirk Lehmann
OTHERS PRESENT: Mary Gravitt (3714 Wayne Ave #6), Glenn Siders (755 Mormon
Trek Blvd), Alex Hachtman (843 McCollister Ct)
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL:
The Commission voted 7 -0 to recommend approval of SUB14- 00014, an application
submitted by Southgate Development Services LLC for a preliminary plat of Sandhill
Estates Parts 3, and 4, a 51 -lot, 102.56 acre residential subdivision located on McCollister
Boulevard, Covered Wagon Drive, and Langenberg Avenue.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA:
Gravitt asked whether the junction College Street and Gilbert Street had been rezoned from P1
and P2. Miklo explained it has not been rezoned. Gravitt asked what zone would be required for
the Chauncy to be built to 15 stories. Miklo answered that CB10 is planned for the area.
Development Item
SUB14 -00014
Discussion of an application submitted by Southgate Development Services LLC for a
preliminary plat of Sandhill Estates Parts 3, and 4, a 51 -lot, 102.56 acre residential
subdivision located on McCollister Boulevard, Covered Wagon Drive, and Langenberg
Avenue.
Lehmann showed the preliminary plat and location maps from an aerial view. He explained that
only parts 3 and 4 are those currently under discussion and that parts 1 and 2 have already
been completed. He continued that the entire area of Sandhill estates was originally platted in
2004, but that it was not completed and the plat expired. He noted that the development will
complete Langenberg Avenue between parts 1 and 2, and the rest of the plat will be composed
of three large outlots reserved for future development.
Lehmann explained that the comprehensive plan for this area shows low density residential
single family and that its zoning reflects this. He noted that it is zoned as a planned
Planning and Zoning Commission
July 17, 2014 - Formal
Page 2 of 5
development overlay in order to protect the environmentally sensitive sand prairie present in the
center of the development; as part of the 2004 plat, Southgate dedicated 17 acres to the City for
this purpose. He stated that the surrounding neighborhoods to the north, east, and west are also
residential single family, along with parkland and undeveloped areas to the south, and that the
proposed development would be compatible.
Lehmann continued that the 2004 plat would not meet current subdivision and zoning
regulations because of the use of cul -de -sacs which is now discouraged. He noted that
Southgate worked with the City to help address these issues and improve street connectivity.
He stated that there are no sensitive areas within parts 3 and 4 and that park requirements were
fulfilled by the 17 acre dedication. He finished by showing pictures of the area to be developed.
Miklo added that staff received a revised preliminary plat which fixed the three items of
contention from the staff report, including stormwater management. He concluded by stating
staff recommended approval of the preliminary plat.
Thomas asked whether the 102.56 acres was just parts 3 and 4, or whether it was the whole
area. Miklo answered that the subdivision acreage includes the outlots for future development
along with parts 3 and 4. He clarified that the outlots won't be developed until Southgate
subdivides the area further.
Freerks opened public discussion.
Glenn Siders of Southgate Development Services stated that he represented the applicant and
that he had no problems with the staff recommendation. He said he would answer any further
questions about the development. Martin asked which streets from Sandhill Estates will connect
with the Pepperwood Addition. Siders replied that Sandusky Avenue eventually connect the two.
Mary Gravitt stated that she was interested in affordable housing and asked whether these
houses would be built on the flood plain. She added that building in the flood plain is more
expensive in the long -run. Miklo answered that this development is not in the flood plain.
Alex Hachtman from Sandhill Estates Part 1 asked about the plans for McCollister Boulevard
and whether the road would connect to Sycamore. He stated he was curious because of the
potential increased through- traffic in his neighborhood. Miklo said that the land through which
McCollister would go is currently out of City limits, though long -range planning shows that it will
be annexed, and McCollister will connect to Sycamore, north of the new school. Eastham asked
Miklo to clarify that McCollister will eventually connect to Scott Boulevard at Highway 6.
Miklo affirmed that it would, and continued that going east, McCollister will continue by the
Saddlebrook Development and then proceed northeasterly to Scott Boulevard.
Freerks closed public discussion.
Eastham moved to recommend approval of SUB14- 00014, an application submitted by
Southgate Development Services LLC for a preliminary plat of Sandhill Estates Parts 3,
and 4, a 51 -lot, 102.56 acre residential subdivision located on McCollister Boulevard,
Covered Wagon Drive, and Langenberg Avenue.
Martin seconded.
Freerks complimented Southgate for bringing the subdivision into compliance with current code
requirements, especially commending the elimination of cul -de -sacs and the connectivity it will
bring to the area.
Planning and Zoning Commission
July 17, 2014 - Formal
Page 3 of 5
Eastham, responding to Gravitt's desire for affordable housing, stated the price level of any
particular subdivision is out of the control of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
A vote was taken and the motion carried 7 -0.
Update on South District Plan Process
Sarah Walz presented her current background research for the South District Plan. She said
she interviewed neighborhood residents, developers, realtors, and nonprofit organizations to
generate ideas for the plan, and continued that staff has been touring the area. Her presentation
emphasized the abundance of parks and green space in the South District, and also presented
residents' ideas about the area. These included a desire emphasize the many positive aspects
of the area, to celebrate the area's diversity and affordability, to improve walkability and
connectivity for area neighborhoods, to extend Sycamore Street and McCollister Boulevard
while making them more pedestrian - friendly, to add more destinations and activities, and to
maintain good transit coverage. She also said that the new school would renew focus on the
area, and that building trust within the area and between the area and rest of the city is
important.
Freerks asked what the timeframe of the South District Plan was. Walz replied that the schedule
will be set soon, with at least one large public workshop, a couple of focus groups, and an open
house workshop. She added that meetings will occur throughout September and October with
the final plan complete by the end of the year.
Eastham asked if public access would be added to the Sandhill Prairie Park. Walz replied that
the City will add trails once the prairie's ecosystem can be strengthened from its fragile state.
She continued that creating trail connections between Sandhill and Wetherby is also important,
to which Miklo added that it is planned for the next phases of the Sandhill Estates.
Easthham noted that there are many jobs in the industrial strip along Highway 6. Walz said that
a lot of people living in the South District work in the industrial area, and that many of them walk
to work, though the industrial strip itself is outside of the planning area.
Walz continued that she hoped realtors and the public could tour the area with staff soon to
inform them of the amenities of the area. Martin said that South District homes are selling faster
this season than past seasons. She postulated that people are more willing to visit the area,
after which they like it.
Consideration of Meeting Minutes: June 19, 2014
Eastham moved to approve the minutes.
Martin seconded.
A vote was taken and the motion carried 7 -0.
OTHER
Miklo said that protest petitions representing enough properties to require a super majority, or 6
out of 7 City Council members had been submitted for the rezoning on First Avenue and Hickory
Trail. There was an indication that there were not sufficient votes to approve the rezoning,
which had been recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission. He
continued that the zoning code provided an opportunity for the Commission to meet with Council
Planning and Zoning Commission
July 17, 2014 - Formal
Page 4 of 5
and discuss any applications on which the two groups disagreed before a formal vote is taken
by the Council. He finished by stating that the meeting is not mandatory and the Commission
could pass on the meeting if they wished. He said that if the Commission chose to meet with the
Council it would be open for the public to attend but not participate.
Freeks stated that these meetings are learning opportunities for all involved, so regardless of
the formal voting outcome, she supports having a joint meeting. She added that the meetings
illustrate the importance of development issues to the community and provide a forum to find
best solutions for community conflicts. Eastham said he would like all the Commissioners could
be present if possible. Thomas added that because the Councilors did not share their opinions
about the rezoning, the joint meeting would provide an opportunity to understand their positions
on the proposal. The Commission concluded that they would like to have a joint meeting, and
Miklo said he would work with the City Clerk to set up the date and time.
Thomas said he thought it was decided that information from the City Manager pertaining to
planning and zoning from the City Council's information packet would be sent to the
Commission, but he doesn't think it is occurring. Freerks asked if this information can be
obtained online. Miklo responded that Council packets can be found online. Thomas said it is
difficult to find online. Miklo said that he will request that the City Manager send any relevant
information to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Thomas requested a presentation from the MPO and City Engineer regarding the planning and
design of arterial streets in Iowa City. He stated that transportation and land use is tied together
and so understanding the process by which major streets come about is important. Eastham
and Theobald agreed that they would like to see a presentation. Freerks added that it would be
beneficial to understand how much work goes into the process. Miklo stated staff will prepare a
presentation.
ADJOURNMENT:
Eastham moved to adjourn.
Theobald seconded.
The meeting was adjourned on a 7 -0 vote.
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