HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-05 TranscriptionPage 1
ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER
Throgmorton: Before we proceed, I'd like to welcome everybody to our meeting. It's great to see
you on this cold winter evening. I also want to note that Pauline Taylor can't be
physically present with us because she hurt herself in an accident. Pauline, was it
about 10 days ago?
Taylor: Yeah, about two weeks.
Throgmorton: Yeah, and she'll be fine but, uh, right at the moment she can't be here with us,
but ... she'll be he ... she'll be here at, uh, one of our ... future meetings, uh, just a few
weeks from now.
Taylor: Hopefully!
Throgmorton: So ... hopefully, that's right!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 2
ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS ITEM
2a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — January 18
Throgmorton: It reads ... and the question is do I have the correct glasses on to do this properly.
And I ... I want to warn you, I'm going to make a whole bunch of mistakes tonight,
and luckily though we have a really skilled City Clerk and City Attorney here, uh,
with us to make sure I recover from whatever those mistakes might be. Okay.
(reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Human Rights Commissioner Orville
Townsend. (applause)
Throgmorton: (mumbled, away from mic) (laughter)
Townsend: (mumbled) Martin Luther King Jr. was an ordinary person that achieved
extraordinary outcomes. Civil rights, freedom, equality. Here in Iowa City over
the years, we've been working to parallel that. I think we've been doing a good
job. This past year we've had multiple organizations come together to work to
make life better, to give equality ... and I would hope that we will continue to work
together to make Dr. King's dream a reality. (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 3
ITEM 4. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA)
Throgmorton: This is for items not on the agenda. Uh... uh, please come forth if you have
particular questions or topics you want to introduce to us, as long as they're not on
the agenda. Please don't take more than five minutes. So would anybody care to
speak? It looks like Joy!
Beadleston: Good evening! Um, I do want to say I'm so happy and welcome to all the new,
um, City Council Members and the ones that ... are coming back (laughs) for
another term. So, um, it's really great to see new faces and I'm hoping that we
have wonderful leadership and action (laughs) this, uh, term. So, um, I did want
to thank you. I saw on the agenda that we are going to have a resolution to
support the, um, Muslim community and um, to stand together. Um, I've ... this is
something that's really close to my heart because my background is, um ... has, I
have a lot of members of my family that are Muslim, Christian, Catholic (laughs)
but um, they started the first mosque in America and have a great, great, um,
reputation for volunteering, um, in our family from when we're young and to old
age, so ... it's really important to me cause at times when there is hate, um, for
rhetoric out there that, uh, it really damages Muslim businesses, uh, Arab
businesses, and hate spreads because a lot of people don't even know, um, who a
Muslim is. You know (laughs) we're everywhere in the world. Um, and the same
with religion — no one should be hateful towards any religion, I believe, either and
so this is a really huge leader ... ship stand (laughs) in the community to be doing
this, so I want to thank you for taking action, um, on this and also I saw where the
Board of Supervisors, I believe, also stood up and, um ... had a proclamation, so
that's outstanding and I want to thank you cause I do speak out a lot, sometimes it
doesn't ... it's not always pretty and it's not easy (laughs) but um, I felt it's really
important. I also want to, uh, request that we do keep the agenda for the
transportation on the top of the list and um ... also, um ... there ... the other thing
(laughs) I wanted to talk about was, uh, the um ... (mumbled) one more thing, let
me see. Sorry! I lost my track. Uh, when you meet ... I, we talked or you talked in
the meeting about meeting with, um, Harreld, for lunch and I hope you can bring
up accessibility issues on the University of Iowa campus. The Women's Resource
Center is opening this month and they don't have, um, access completely for
people with disabilities, and it really is a hindrance for a lot of people that want to
participate at the Women's Resource Center, so I hope you bring that up and also
other accessibility issues on campus and transportation issues also with a cover,
you know, for the students by the Old Capitol. Um, it should have a protection
and the property seating in that area for students and the community, um, so I
hope when you do talk with Harreld that you bring those issues up cause they're
very important, especially for a campus that had women leaders, um, they ... they, I
don't know if everybody knows that, the history of the University, but they were
one of the first universities to allow women, so we should ever ... never have
anything that hinders a woman from getting her education and prospering in the
community. So ... um, the one other thing I'll bring up is, uh, the issue with the
snow. Um ... it also hinders people with disabilities and we need to make sure the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 4
curb cuts are clean, and I ask the community to also, you know, cause I know
money's an issue with the City (laughs) sometimes that they also ... if they have a
snowblower that they get out there and help their elderly community members
and people with disabilities because maybe they don't have the access to a
snowblower and, you know, we don't want to see anybody have to call an
ambulance because they're eld... elderly and trying to snovel... shovel snow, excuse
me (laughs) Okay, thank you!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Joy. Uh, Tom, I don't know ... you and I should try to take note of that,
uh, the topic that Joy (both talking) Good!
Markus: ...got ya!
Throgmorton: Brandon!
Ross: Hi, I'm Brandon Ross. Um ... first of all, again, welcome to all the new Councilors
and welcome back to those who have been here, and uh... I would just like to say
that, uh, in the spirit of...of Martin Luther King, uh, that I hope that this Council
will, uh, support all issues that have to do with the working classes and um, I
believe that Dr. King stood up for those who worked for their income and uh, not
merely by manipulating capital, um, not (mumbled) real estate people, uh, or
upper corporate people or otherwise very wealthy people. The majority of our
city is really working class, um, and those who have ... those people, uh, most of
the people will say that they're middle class, uh (laughs) usually month-to-month.
They're really struggling. Um, I would say that, uh... that a big concern, uh, to put
on the calendar, I hope, is affordable housing. Um, I have a friend, uh, who is
paying $1,200 a month for a one -bedroom apartment. Uh, at this point he needed
to have a certain kind of lease and there are a lot of apartments that are $1,200 a
month for a single bedroom. If you make $10 an hour, which is considered within
the working class, uh, realm right now, and even good for some people, you're
making, uh, $1,600 roughly a month. $1,200 out of that is quite a bit. Uh, you
know, let's not forget taxes are taken out of that, as well. That leaves you with
maybe $300, $250, whatever ... $350. What do you pay for ... for your food? $10 a
day (coughing, difficult to hear speaker) $300. Uh, how many Councilors
actually... actually make it through with paying $10 a day for food nowadays?
Food's going up. Uh, and I think that also when you have affordable housing, I
think you should have affordable housing, as well as I think you should have rent
control in this city, uh, which is something that other cities have done
successfully. And when you ... when you take away the stress of...of rent, uh, on
people who give everything... everything, every month of the year and still have
credit card debt. When you make rent more in accordance with, uh, a livable
situation where people can afford, then more money is actually circulating, there's
more currency down low and so what happens is these people who are otherwise
spending their money on rent will spend that money in other areas. Small
businesses in town, and small business owners are paying massive rent. I see a
business owner here who pays rent. Uh, at least one of you. Uh,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 5
and ... it ... debilitates the economy and so I say ... that, uh, with ... with Dr. King in
mind, I think that if he stood for something ... a lot of people say that Dr. King
really stood for racial equality, but if you listen ... you listen to him in his last
speeches, you're hearing a man who is really standing up for the working person.
How can you have that when Iowa City, for instance, in the past 15 years. Let's
not kid ourselves. Has been building... housing for the wealthy. Let's build for
everybody! Thank you so much!
Throgmorton: Thank you. Anyone else? Reverend Doyle!
Landry: Good evening. For the record, Doyle Landry, Positive Vision Ministries. I ... have
heard ... uh, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s name more than I can stomach for this,
uh, 5t' of July, uh, 5t` of January. A year ago ... the January 6`h City Council
meeting, the then City Council set forth that you were going to be honest about
race. Six months later, the meeting that took place in a small conference room,
we're at the six (mumbled) and I speak specifically to the four Council, um,
Members who make up a majority. I asked for six month update because again,
what we do very well in Iowa City is we talk. Talk is cheap. It's safe. It's nice,
but when black boys and men continue to be racially profiled in this city ... not by
the Police, but by employers who, uh, deem us unworthy of a job, regardless of
degree, regardless of...criminal background... we have a problem... because if you
notice in Chicago, uh, for me as a native... younger people operate differently.
And for the fearless, young people who, um, some of 'em have moved here, not to
be ... for negative reason, but to attend the University or Kirkwood, or just to live.
They come with that same fearlessness that you're not ready for. And what I
mean by that is ... the racism that people dance around or only embrace for when
it's convenient, it has really taken root in the last year, even since ... the analysis
that was put forth very bluntly about where Iowa City stands in relation to City
hiring, promotion, and retention. I put that out there is because again, at the end
of the day, uh, for those of us who ... really understand civil rights ... Dr. King was
assassinated for being a man who stood up for economic justice. Economic
justice, meaning regardless of my skin color, I'm a man and if I'm doing the work,
I deserve the work. There are too many African Americans in this city, regardless
of education, who have been locked out of employment because of your old -boy
network. There are too many African Americans who leave because they know
elsewhere people can be honest about ... um ... work. So here we are a year later and
when ... attempts are rebuffed to ask about ... efforts and individuals are putting in
resumes to, uh, better themselves because ... and I speak this in terms of individuals
who, um, may be leaving the City. At the end of the day, African Americans who
have put in a fair work, fair worth ... uh, still are left behind, and not to negate other
races, but I would be a hypocrite if I, uh, used the racial justice in believing that I
speak for all races. Nope, African American. So ... I would hope that if we're
going to be honest in 2016 since nothing was done in 2015, that we start having
an honest conversation, that may hurt and will hurt some feelings, about race.
Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 6
Throgmorton: Thank you. Anyone else? All right! Ordinarily we would move on to Item 5, uh,
but ... we think it would be helpful to move Item 7 up to this moment in the, uh,
agenda, and....so I would invite a motion, uh, from one of our Council Members
to that effect.
Taylor: (mumbled) I move that we, uh, move Item 7 up to Item 5.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Roll call.
Karr: It's a motion.
Throgmorton: Motion! All in favor say aye. Opposed? Motion carries 7 — 0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 7
ITEM 7. SUPPORT IOWA CITY MUSLIM COMMUNITY - RESOLUTION
DECLARING SUPPORT FOR MUSLIM COMMUNITIES AND URGING
ALL TO STAND TOGETHER FOR PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING
Throgmorton: So let me read this resolution. (reads resolution) So, uh...
Dilkes: Need to have a motion to get it on the floor.
Throgmorton: We need a motion to get it on the floor.
Dickens: So moved.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Uh... (several talking) Sorry! It's a motion so there's a roll call.
Dilkes: Discussion.
Throgmorton: Discussion! Thank you. I told you I'd need help! (laughs) Joe, you wanted to
say something. Go ahead!
Coulter: On behalf of the Human Rights Commission, and the, uh, Muslim communities, I
want to thank the City Council, uh... and you, Mayor Throgmorton, uh, for this
statement of solidarity and support, uh, for us and I look forward to
accompanying you, uh, to present the proclamation to the (mumbled) and the, uh,
Executive Committee, uh, at the Iowa City, uh... Muslim, uh... church.
Throgmorton: Mosque.
Coulter: Thank you, mosque! (laughter)
Throgmorton: I'm not the only one that occasionally makes a mistake! Okay, so ... would
anybody else in the audience like to say something on this particular point?
Beadleston: Um, yeah, I just wanted to say again thank you. Um ... this'll be really important to
the Muslim community and uh, it's a really great honor to know that our
community leaders have stepped up and really made a commitment to this
important, um, resolution and the proclamation of the supervisors, Board of
Supervisors, um ... and I really am proud of...our leaders. I just don't know if I said
that before, but I really ... I'm very proud of you and this means so much to the
Muslim community. I've worked with people all over this country and in other
nations, Muslim leaders, um ... and I know that, uh, this is something that's not
happening in every community, so I think... everyone needs to be really proud of
the people of our city for being leaders. Thanks!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 8
Throgmorton: Thank you, Joy. Anyone else in the audience? Seeing none, discussion among
Council Members? Hearing ... oh...
Botchway: I just think it's important, um, I really appreciate. There's folks in the audience
that were at the, um, Muslim solidarity, um, event not too long ago with Johnson
County. Um, you know, it's just important from an Iowa City perspective as we
are kind of the pinnacle, um, as we think about it from a campaign standpoint, an
election standpoint. Some of the rhetoric that's being spewed is ... is just kind of
deplorable and so, um, you know, us supporting this, I think, is a step in the right
direction. I hope other communities would do so as well.
Cole: But I think Joy makes a good point. This is not only going to be about words.
This is going to be about standing, shoulder -to -shoulder with our friends and
neighbors of the Islamic faith. Um, frankly what they've had to endure, um, is ... is
terrible and so I'm really glad that we're taking a proactive leadership role in this.
We have to make clear that this is not only going to be words. We will stand with
you. We do encourage you to report any claims of harassment, threats, or
violence to our law enforcement and let us know how we can best serve you.
Throgmorton: Anyone else? All right, there's a motion on the floor so, um...
Karr: Roll call.
Throgmorton: Roll call (mumbled) All right. Thank you!
Dickens: (mumbled) number 6 at this time or (mumbled)
Throgmorton: Uh, I think when it comes up, but it would ... do we need to formally remove Item
6?
Karr: No, they'll be no action. You can announce if someone is (mumbled) no action on
Item 6 if you'd like.
Throgmorton: Okay. So we'll come to that when we (mumbled)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 9
ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 5a CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB -5) CODE AMENDMENT
— ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14, ZONING CODE, SECTION 4B-
4A- 7, TO ALLOW RESIDENTIAL USES ON THE GROUND -LEVEL
FLOOR IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB -5) ZONE IN THE
AREA BOUNDED BY GILBERT STREET, VAN BUREN STREET,
BURLINGTON STREET AND THE MID -BLOCK ALLEY SOUTH OF
JEFFERSON STREET, PROVIDED CERTAIN FORM -BASED ZONING
STANDARDS ARE MET.
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: Open the public hearing now, right? Open a public hearing (bangs gavel) John
Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, good evening, Mayor, Members of Council. Uh, John Yapp, Development
Services. Uh, this code amendment was discussed during the recent
Comprehensive Plan amendment process, uh, for this area. Uh, and essentially
what the code amendment would do is not require commercial uses on the first
floor, uh, in this area. Uh, the area we're focused on now is fairly targeted, uh,
too....and my shading didn't show up very well on this ... here's abetter map. Uh,
targeted to the ... three and a half block area between Gilbert Street and Van Buren
Street, north of Burlington Street, south of the alley between Jefferson Street, uh,
and Market Street. Uh, the reason we're bringing this code amendment to you
now is ... is in conjunction with the next item, uh, on your agenda. Uh... what this
code amendment would do would be to state that in this area, uh, commercial uses
are not required on the first floor, uh, in the CB -5 zone. Currently in all CB
zones, uh, commercial uses are required. Uh, many of us have seen some vacant
commercial spaces in the, uh, outlying part of the downtown. Uh, and we've
discussed, uh, allowing residential uses in those areas, uh, with certain design
standards. What staff is recommending is use... utilizing the form -based code
standards, uh, to allow residential uses in those areas, according to certain
building types that are described in the form -based code. Uh, this is a graphic
from the form -based code of an ... I'll admit they're somewhat generic, uh, graphics
but they show townhouses, an apartment building, multi -dwelling building, and a
liner building, uh, as potential residential type structures, uh, that would be
allowed. Uh, a liner building, at the lower right hand of the graphic ... is a, uh,
residential building that lines a, uh, parking deck, uh, that would be behind the
building. Uh, again, this code amendment would, uh, be in the three and a half
block area between Gilbert, Van Buren, Burlington, uh, and the alley south of
Jefferson Street. Uh, a summary of the code amendment is buildings with
residential uses on the first floor would be required to comply with form -based
code standards. Uh, buildings that have commercial uses on the first floor would
continue to be required to have commercial, uh, development standards. Uh, this
code amendment would provide the flexibility to allow residential uses on the first
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 10
floor. Uh, this allows for a greater density of residential uses within the
downtown area, uh, while eliminating the requirement for commercial areas
...commercial uses in an area where commercial uses are either not desirable or
feasible. Uh, staff recommends approval and the Planning and Zoning
Commission have recommended approval. Be glad to take any questions.
Throgmorton: Any questions for John?
Thomas: John, didn't the, uh (clears throat) as I remember in the Planning and Zoning
discussion, wasn't there a reference to the, uh, south Gilbert... subdistrict as the...
Yapp: The...
Thomas: ...standard?
Yapp: The standards would be based on the south Gilbert District form -based code
standards. That's correct (both talking)
Thomas: So that language in the south Gilbert...
Yapp: That's correct.
Thomas: ....District would apply then to these three (both talking)
Yapp: For building design ... for the residential building design component, the frontage
component.
Thomas: Just for the frontage component.
Yapp: Frontage and ... uh... placement, building placement components, as well.
Thomas: Um, what ... what controls, if any, pertain to the building heights then in this ... and
I'm particularly concerned about the ... the area to the north of Iowa Avenue. This
half block area, on the north side of Iowa Avenue up to the alleyway.
Yapp: And if I can show that (noise, unable to hear speaker) currently zoned CB -5. If I
can get my mouse ... this area here. Uh, north side of Iowa Avenue.
Cole: That be at the UAY location?
Yapp: That is, yes. UAY and, uh, adjacent property to the east.
Thomas: So, I know we had discussions, um, on the three municipal blocks pertaining to
building heights, along Iowa Avenue, as I recall...
Yapp: Correct.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 11
Thomas: (both talking) ...two to four story height limit in the Comprehensive Plan for that
frontage, the southern frontage of Iowa Avenue between Gilbert and um, Van
Buren. So ... or ... I guess it would be Johnson... Johnson Street. No, it's Van Buren.
Yapp: Van Buren.
Thomas: Van Buren.
Yapp: Yes.
Thomas: So w ... how does that, I don't recall there being any discussion of building height
control ... any kind of Comprehensive Plan amendment discuss... discussion about
building heights on the north side of Iowa Avenue.
Yapp: (both talking) The, uh, the area on the north side of Iowa Avenue was amended
into the Central District Plan. Uh, building height however is controlled by
the ... the zone. Uh, and in the CB -5 zone, uh... has a 75 -foot tall height limit.
Thomas: Right but that ... so that gets back to my question then on the ... the Comprehensive
Plan because the ... the, um, the zoning we are ... will be in our next item discussing
would be for CB -5 zoning... correct?
Yapp: That's correct.
Thomas: So ... so that area is also CB -5, but there were building height, uh, additional
language in the Comprehensive Plan regarding building heights along Iowa
Avenue for the southern ... you know, for the parking lot that we'll be discussing in
the next item. I don't recall there being any discussion about ... in the, at the
Comprehensive Plan level regarding build ... I guess the question in my ... would be
then, is there any building height control, uh, other than what CB -5 allows on the
north side of Iowa Avenue that's included in this?
Yapp: It would be controlled by the CB -5 zone.
Thomas: Simply by the CB -5 zone?
Yapp: That's correct.
Cole: So this proposal for 5a then would apply to that, um, area north of Iowa Avenue
then?
Yapp: If...if the owner chose to use ... to have residential uses on the first floor.
Cole: Okay.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 12
Yapp: Yes.
Cole: Well earlier you had talked about the lack of commercial use on ... on first floors, is
that empirically proven? Is that just sort of an ad hoc observation? Is that just
sort of feedback, because as I look at sort of our commercial needs downtown,
um, it really is a question of cost. I think there's a lot of people that are looking
for office space but are really sort of priced out. Um, what efforts has the City
made to ensure that we do have optimal utilization of our first floor commercial
space, cause I tell ya, this does concern me to change this. I could look at
potentially tweaking that, but ... um, what efforts has the City made to ensure that
we do have the optimal utilization on some more of these ... these vacant
commercial spaces?
Yapp: I guess I cannot answer that larger question. Um, and Wendy Ford our Economic
Development Coordinator is not in the room currently. Uh, but this proposal is
based both on ... what I'd call empirical, anecdotal evidence of vacant commercial
spaces. Not in the core of downtown, but in the outlying perimeter of the
downtown, and as ... a significant amount of public feedback, uh, during our
Comprehensive Plan amendment process that... especially in the areas that are ... are
in a ... a border zone between the core and residential neighborhoods, that it's not
always appropriate, uh, or desirable to have ... to require commercial uses on the
first floor. And ... on the flip -side, uh, there has been a desire to increase
residential density within walking distance of downtown, and within walking
distance of campus, and those residents in turn help support the commercial uses
that are downtown.
Throgmorton: Other questions for John? Thank you, Mr. Yapp!
Yapp: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Would anybody else like to address this particular item?
McCallum: My ... my name is Mark McCallum. I live at 113 S. Johnson. Uh, I support this,
uh, provision, but I'd ask to go a little bit further. For years ... you know, I've
always looked at the Peninsula model where they have actual live/works
.(coughing, difficult to hear speaker) to you is ... um ... why aren't we looking at, um,
in ... look at (mumbled) and some of the ... develop small, aff...affordable
commercial spaces that we've lost due to new redevelopment proposals, and I
think there's something that the City needs to be doing in regards to trading
opportunities for small business people who actually want to live and work in
their ... their space, and so, um, I ... so that's the larger question I'd ask. I ... I see ... I
agree that there is a lot if you go down south Gilbert, lot of vacant, um (clears
throat) commercial spaces and that is not good. I'd rather see that ... that space
utilized, uh, in ... you know, or give property owners an option and perhaps ... I see,
would like to see a provision allowing developers to, um, either go both ways —
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 13
develop units that could be either lived in or worked in or both. So I ... I just pose
that question to you tonight.
Throgmorton: Anyone else? Seeing no one else, uh, ready to speak I'll close the public hearing.
(bangs gavel) Closed.
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Botchway: (mumbled) first consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Discussion?
Karr: I'm sorry, who moved and seconded?
Dickens: Botchway, Dickens.
Karr: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Discussion? (noises in background)
Dickens: I know I brought this up, uh, with Tom several years ago, noticing that Gilbert
Street area has been empty for multiple years and at that time he had told me that
they were already looking into this and hadn't received a lot of feedback, so I'm
glad to see that this is moving forward. Uh... you know, it ... having empty
buildings costs everybody more, empty spaces, so ... if we can fill 'em with either
apartments or the option of putting businesses in, I think it's a great option that
you're able to do, not forcing one or the other, that it leaves a little more leeway
to ... to build these buildings and make 'em affordable.
Mims: I would agree, I'm glad to see this moving forward, like you said, Terry. It's
something that we've, you know, talked about in the past and, you know, there's
certain areas, um, you know, where want to keep that first floor for commercial,
but I think there's certain areas where we can have that flexibility and this makes a
lot of sense.
Thomas: I certainly support the, um, the question of allowing residential use on the ground
floor. Um, I ... I'm not clear on ... on why the ... the, um, the area to the north, the
north side of Iowa Avenue up to the alleyway has been included as a part of this
amendment. Uh, and what I'm not... understanding is ... is how the, um ... the
building height controls which we have in the Comprehensive Plan for the
municipal block area, uh, which as it pertains to this would be on the south side of
Iowa Avenue. Um, it would seem to me if...if that building height limitation on
the CB -5 was put in place for the southern side of Iowa Avenue, east of Gilbert
Street, that um ... if...if the concern was with the ... you know, the ... the,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 14
um ... (mumbled) character of Iowa Avenue that we would apply the same standard
on the north side of Iowa Avenue, uh, for symmetrical purposes. Uh, to, um ... to
make sure that the building heights on ... on the north and south sides of Iowa
Avenue would be consistent. Um ... (clears throat) and I ... if I understood staff, I'm
not hearing that there are such controls ... uh, in the, um ... on the building heights
on the north side of Iowa Avenue.
Throgmorton: Only if there's residential activity on the first floor of the mixed use building,
right, John?
Karr: We're going to reconnect (mumbled)
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Yapp: Should I wait?
Karr: Please. (noises, re-establishing phone connection)
Taylor: Hello! Thanks, I'm back on!
Karr: Okay, thanks!
Yapp: Uh, Pauline, John Yapp, uh, on staff responding to a question. The, uh, control on
height is embodied in the zoning regulations. So for the CB -5 property, it ... the
control is 75 -feet. Is the height limit (both talking)
Thomas: And there's nothing in the Comprehensive Plan that would limit the building
height on the north side to two to four stories, as we have on the south side of
(both talking)
Yapp: That's correct. There ... there is not. For the, uh, property on the south side of
Iowa Avenue ... uh, we have a rezoning application, and because we have a
rezoning application, that gives the City the opportunity, uh, to ... uh, include ... uh,
regulatory height limits as a part of that zoning application. However, for the
property on the north side of Iowa Avenue, that ... is already zoned; it's private
property. Um, the regulatory measures are embodied in the zoning, the CB -5
zone. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you. Okay, let's see, uh, we now .... (mumbled) Did I already close the
public hearing, didn't I (several responding)
Karr: ...have a motion on the floor.
Throgmorton: Motion's on the floor, um, we ... uh, discussion?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 15
Thomas: Well I ... I guess I'm not ready to give up on the question of commercial on the
ground floor. Um, I think that office space, commercial use is ... is a ... there's a
huge shortage of it. I guess I agree with Mark on his question of the possibility of
the live/work. Um, it's close to the downtown, and I'm also concerned in terms of
the general development process where we have the specific zoning, uh, change
here that's... that's tethered to another proposal that we have later on in the agenda,
um ... I'm willing to look at allowing more flexibility on our first floor commercial
spaces, whether that is a live/work, um, greater flexibility, but in terms of
completely eliminating the commercial, um, component on our ground floors, um,
at least at this point, I have concerns about that. Um, I ... I could consider
something new in the future that would possibly change that, but at least as of
right now, um, I'm not supportive of this.
Mims: It is a pretty limited area though too.
Thomas: Yeah.
Botchway: (several talking) ...didn't know if John was going to come in, but I think Susan
answered it, I mean I'm ... I'm completely in favor of this, just from what Susan
mentioned about the flexibility, um, you know, I ... Terry had kind of mentioned
this beforehand and I give him more credit, but urn ... I like it. I like different
things, especially in this area. Um, you know, I ... I'd like to see it.
Throgmorton: Yeah, I'm going to support the ordinance as well. I ... I, though I think Mark raises
an interesting question about live/work units and I ... I'd like to see John, uh,
connect with Mark, or ... or provide us with a response in one way or another to
that particular point, though maybe not directly as a matter of this particular
ordinance because we're going to vote on it, at least take first consideration now.
Okay. So, um, we have a motion on the floor. Uh, all in favor of the (both
talking)
Karr: Roll call.
Throgmorton: I'm sorry, roll call!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 16
ITEM 5b REZONING CITY HALL PARKING AREA — ORDINANCE
REZONING 0.98 ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM NEIGHBORHOOD
PUBLIC (P-1) TO CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB -5) ZONE FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED SOUTH OF IOWA AVENUE BETWEEN
GILBERT STREET AND VAN BUREN STREETS. (REZ15-00022)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: So I need to ask, uh, ex parte question. Says, uh, anybody ... does anybody need to
make public disclosure about ex parte, um ... conversations. (several talking)
Open the public hearing first. There ya go! Let's see, that's like the Ie mistake,
right? Okay! We're good (several talking) All right, so ... I'll open the public
hearing (bangs gavel) Now ... would anybody need to make a disclosure of ex
parte ... ex parte communications? Hearing none, Mr. Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, this, uh, concept came to the City Council, uh, last summer. Uh, at the time,
it was announced that the Unitarian Church property, uh, was for sale. Uh... the
applicant, uh, Jesse Allen, came to the City, came to City Council with a concept
plan that would include allowing development on the City's surface parking lot,
north of City Hall, uh, while allowing preservation of the original structure of the
Unitarian Church. Uh, at that time, the Council, uh... consensus was to allow
further development of this concept. Uh, that resulted in a rezoning application,
which is before you tonight. Uh, the property in question is ... is north of City Hall,
the surface parking lot, and at the time we also had some discussion about surface
parking lots in a downtown setting. Uh, and ... I think there's both an ec... an
economic argument that would say surface parking lots are really dead zones, but
more importantly, uh, there's a ... a vitality argument, uh, that surface parking lots
are designed for cars, not for people. Uh, buildings, however, can be designed for
people. Uh, this graphic shows the zoning pattern. The, uh, parking lot is
currently zoned P-1, which is a public zone because it is owned and used, uh, by
the City. The Unitarian Church property is zoned CB -5. Uh, property to the
north is CB -5; to the east is CB -5, and to the west is CB -10. Uh, this graphic
shows the recent Comprehensive Plan amendment, uh, for the three -block area.
I'll focus on the .... the north part of the area. The Unitarian Church structure is
shown as a potential historic building. The, uh ... frontages along Iowa Avenue
and Van Buren Street are shown as two to four stores in height, and the interior of
the property is shown as four to six stories in height. Uh, and this is a photograph
of the existing parking lot, with City Hall in the background. Uh, this is the site
plan for the, uh, proposed development and I'll go over it very generally. Uh, the
applicant's architect, David Zahradnik, uh, will ... will give a more detailed, uh,
overview of the building. Uh, but the building includes four story, uh,
townhouses. They'd be stacked townhouses — two stories each — along the Iowa
Avenue and Van Buren Street frontage. Uh... there would be a parking deck in the
middle of the property that would both replace, uh, City staff parking and provide
parking for the residents in the building, as well as a ... a, um, small amount of
spaces available for users of, uh, the office space. A fire station, uh, would be
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 17
located facing Gilbert Street, and what ... what the City has long desired is ... is a
pull-through fire station. Uh, right now fire trucks have to back in to the fire
station on Gilbert Street. This would allow fire trucks ... when they're returning
from a call, so they're not at high speeds, uh, to pull in to the property at Van
Buren Street and pull all the way through, uh, and park in this area, uh, facing
Gilbert Street. Uh... yesterday and again earlier today, uh, we received an updated
graphic of, uh, setbacks, uh, for the ... for the project, and we've passed out hard
copies, uh, for you of these tonight also, cause this is a little hard to read.
Urn ... the question of setbacks was a topic of discussion at the Planning and
Zoning Commission level, and how ... how close would this building be, both to
the right-of-way and to the sidewalk. At that time, uh, the applicant had not yet
had the property surveyed, so it was difficult to answer those questions. Uh, now
the property has been surveyed, uh, and we have some ... a little more precise
information, but I would say that this is still, uh, approximate in that the building
has not yet been final designed. Uh, but as ... as proposed, uh, the building would
be four -feet, uh, setback from the property line, uh... on both frontages. Along
Van Buren Street it would be about 12 -feet from the sidewalk, and ... along Iowa
Avenue it would be about 9 -feet, 4 -inches, uh, from the sidewalk. Iowa Avenue
is a very wide right-of-way. It's about 120 -feet wide. Uh, and there's a ... a very
wide space between the sidewalk and the curb for, uh, the street trees, uh, that are
there. Uh, this also shows those setbacks in comparison to the Unitarian Church
property, which is between, uh, 7 -feet ... excuse me. Yeah, about 7 -feet and 14 -
feet from the sidewalk. So this building would be in between that 7 -feet and 14 -
foot area. Uh, and ... compared to the, uh, structure on the east side of Van Buren
Street at Iowa Avenue, which is, uh, right on the property line, uh, about 4 -feet
from the sidewalk. Uh, other ... another structure in the area is New Pioneer Co -Op
building, that's also built right up to the property line. This is an image, uh,
looking from the Iowa Avenue and Van Buren Street frontage of the,
uh... townhouses concept, with the ... there'd be apartments above the parking deck.
Uh, the townhouses would function as a liner building, lining that parking deck,
uh, and ... and hiding it, if you will. Uh, one of the things ... I want to emphasize is
that ... uh, rezoning this property and what staff has recommended it be rezoned
according to general conformance with the mass and scale of this ... this concept
plan, uh, rezoning this property does not ... require that the City sell the property to
the applicant. Uh, we've not yet received detailed financial information from the
applicant, uh, and because the City owns the property, uh ... ultimately it will be up
to the City Council to enter into that development agreement. The rezoning is an
important step, but it's not the last step. Uh, but I think the applicant is interested
in hearing your feedback, as they proceed toward more refined, uh, design and
those ... that higher level of detail would be included in the development
agreement, uh, for the property. Be glad to take any questions. Otherwise I'll turn
it over to the architect.
Zahradnik: Good evening! Um, Dave Zahradnik with Neumann Monson Architects. I guess
I'll take just a couple minutes to kind of walk you through this proposal just a
little bit, and please keep in mind that this is still very conceptual. Um, as John
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 18
said, we were here back in, uh, July of last year, kind of gave you a very rough
(mumbled) how this might come together, and uh... now we've taken it up a few
more steps further, just kind of gettin' it down the road a little bit more and
hopefully we can get this through the zoning. Um ... we had been working, uh,
Neumann Monson had been working with the UU Church on their new site
location when this all came up. Uh, one of the things they were looking for was a
way to get their maximum property value. Um, obviously the maximum property
value is there, without the church standing. Um, be that as it may, that's what can
get them the most money for their new facility. Um, they had been looking with
several different developers along the way, trying to figure out how to make that
happen, potential of tearing down the building. Um, obviously one of the studies
we looked at on what that land value could be worth, uh, it's worth quite a bit to
them without the church on there. Um, we're fortunate enough to find a developer
who's interested in finding a different solution that allows for that building to still
remain and to be able to develop this property in a way that could meet some of
the City's needs, um, because honestly when the City found that the property was
up for sale, and they didn't have first right of refusals, they were thinking of, 'Wait
a minute, we wanted that for our fire station.' So we found ways to try to make
this a kind of more of a win -win-win situation for everybody here and uh,
hopefully this is, uh, this is something that we can look forward and work
towards. Um, I'll tell you a little bit more about the site here. This is that, the
Unitarian Church. Uh, the parking lot here has about 80 cars in it right now that
the City uses for parking, uh, both police, uh, fleet vehicles, fire vehicles, and uh,
City staff vehicles. Uh, so certainly as a part of this proposal we thought that we
needed to try to, uh, maintain that parking for the City's needs. Uh, we also took a
look at, uh, the historic nature of this church and seeing what we could do to save
that. Uh, also knowing that the fire station wanted to have these pull-through
bays that John was describing earlier. Uh, we kind of came up with a concept on
how we could, uh, make that happen. Um ... I'll tell ya just a little more about how
this will come about. We're looking at having a good building separation between
this church little stand-off, as a little jewel right here in the corner, creating kind
of a pedestrian plaza between the ... the building on this side, which is a little bit of
a taller mass, and the church, so that we could have an entry court right in here,
off of Gilbert, that would allow for a small addition on the church that would
create elevator access so it's accessibility. Right now that's one of the big reasons
the church is vacating — it is not accessible. Um, they have a lot of issues with,
uh, stairs, restrooms. Uh, we're planning that there would be a entry element
there that comes in at grade and then you go down about a half story to the lower
level, up to the, uh, upper level, and this church, right now we're thinking of
potentials for... commercial space. I mean we're thinking it's (mumbled) right now
that could be rented out in the future for multitude of different uses. Um, the
other concept we were working on here is that idea of...if we did this parking,
how can we provide for all of the uses that are on the site and still accommodate
the City. So that's when we started looking at the structured parking. Um, we're
looking at accommodating roughly a little over 200 spaces right now, which
would accommodate all the needs of this, uh, residential and commercial uses that
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 19
are on this site, plus provide for all the City vehicles that are currently parked on
that site. Um, in this, um ... proposal (mumbled) as John described, there would be
a liner building that is made up of two-story ... two two-story condos stacked on
top of each other, each with walk-up from the street. The idea of that is to kind of
reminiscent more of the brownstone, uh, kind of that type of a look, kind of a
transitional feel where the height of the building would be 50 -feet or less and be
kind of a transition as you're coming into downtown from the residential area,
kind of taking it more to that, uh, downtown scale as you ... as you're moving in
from the east on Iowa Avenue. Um, going back to ... this area here, above the, uh,
parking deck we would have about 54 units. All be accessible units on that level,
uh, so that there would be ele... or elevator access at each end and street entry at
each end of the building. Uh, maybe I will ... move forward a little bit and as I ... I
think John had done a pretty good job of describing this thing, so maybe I'll
bypass that. Uh, talk a little bit about the townhomes. Each townhome, uh, has
access at the first floor here. Also as you're coming in from the ramp, you'd be
able to park at the back of your townhome, on the first floor, and have first floor
entry into that townhome. So ringing the building is a two-story townhomes that,
uh, have access both from the street level and from your parking garage. Uh, we
did have to make some special considerations in designing this ramp to be able to
get the fire trucks through there. Most parking ramps are not designed for the
height of a fire truck to go through. So we did make some special considerations
and a little bit more expensive ramp to try to build, given the fact that we needed
all that clear area for the drive-through here. There will be a, what we call a
speed ramp, which is a ramp that takes you right up to the next level of parking,
right along this area here, and as you see, this would be the, uh, entry court area
with elevator access that takes you up to the commercial floors that are directly
above the fire department and up to the residential units. Um, this is still early
concepts. We're still working out exactly how all this is, but gotta think of this
from the ... the basic ideas here. Uh, and we also will have an entry access from,
uh, Van Buren side here where we would be able to go up to the... residential units
above, and then there are three flats type units that do not have walk-up, uh, that
would be accessible units along those townhome designs, but have elevator access
off of the Van Buren entrance here. Uh, if we go up a couple of levels here, the
next level as you come up the ramp here, there is access to two floors of,
uh... class -A office space, about 6,000 square feet on each level. And then there
would also be entry access to the next level, that second stacked, uh, of
townhomes, at your first floor of that townhome, at gra ... at that level parking
access. So you could bring your groceries directly in without having to go up and
down on these stairs, and at that point you do have, uh, car access to those flat
units that do not have stairs within them. So we are providing accessibility, both
for the townhome type ... style design and for the units that are above. Uh, when
we get above we have, uh... three floors of units, a mix of three-bedroom, two-
bedroom, and uh, studio apartments, uh, 54 units in total, uh, all having elevator
access and being accessible units. This is a view looking at it from ... uh,
the ... comer here where the Iowa Avenue ramp is right here at the side. You're
looking here at the ... fire truck access doors that would be fronting Gilbert Street.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 20
And then the two levels of commercial, urn ... space right here. This is the
Unitarian Church, kind of set off aside, kind of like this little jewel on the
corners.... the... the thought process we've had, and then we're looking at the
townhomes, and as you can see, all of the parking is really masked by the ... the
building itself. We've looked at materiality, uh, again this is all conceptual, but
we feel it's very appropriate. These townhomes would be of a masonry type.
We've done some, uh, materiality surveys up and down Iowa Avenue, looking at
the type of materials that would be appropriate to keep that scale down and ... and
the mass was when the... residential units that rise above that height, we're looking
at something of a lighter material. Might still be of a terracotta, might be more of
a terracotta panel or an architectural metal panel or something, but we feel that
that break in color, or just break in amenities, helps keep the scale of this building
feeling less than what it is. Urn ... so those are some little architectural tricks we're
doing. There would be balconies, um, and then again ... this is the view that John
had shown you earlier where you do see this townhome design as you're coming
in from Iowa Avenue, a ... around Van Buren here, with that, uh... three stories of
apartments that are back over the ramp, back in the ... in the... recessing, back in the
area. Um, I guess if you have any other questions I can kind of go over other
parts of the design. I ... I can't stress enough, this is still very conceptual. We have
to go through a lot of design review, and a lot more drawings. Even though it
looks like we have things figured out, it's just kind of a start here, so...
Throgmorton: Any questions for David?
Botchway: You're mentioning accessibility from ... can you go back to that, uh, slide where
you were talking about accessibility inside the parking ramp. You know, I know
this is purely conceptual but ... is there thoughts on whether or not you're going to
have the, um, you know, the required width for accessibility on both sides? Cause
you have your driver coming out of the car, but you might have somebody on the
other end, from that standpoint as well?
Zahradnik: Uh, we would have ... we are not at that level, I guess (mumbled; both talking) We
started laying out these spaces and we put them, you know, the required
(mumbled) spaces would be down on the first floor.
Botchway: Okay.
Zahradnik: So ... honestly, these units down here would not have (mumbled) right at their back
door. They would have van accessibility and then to the elevator and up to the
unit. But because of the heights we would need for van accessibility, which does
give you that ... extra option, so...
Dickens: How far is the, uh, setback on the top? Three floors? From ... Van Buren and
from, uh, Gilbert Street?
Zahradnik: I don't (both talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 21
Dickens:
Zahradnik:
Dickens:
Zahradnik:
Dickens:
Zahradnik:
Dickens:
Zahradnik:
Dickens:
...past the townhouses or...
You're talking about how far back from ... (both talking)
Van Buren...
...Iowa Avenue to this...
No, from Van Buren (both talking) coming in. Or do they go all the way to the
edge of the building?
No, this ... right here is where that would end.
Okay.
So ... if I go back to the slide ... I think this was 23 -feet off of Van Buren Street.
This is another 25 -feet; so it's roughly 50 -some feet about (both talking)
...setback quite a ways (mumbled)
Throgmorton: And it's what, about 75 -feet back from, uh, from Gilbert? Am I reading that
correctly? The ... those top three floors? (several talking)
Zahradnik: ...this is about 60 -feet right here and there's about another 25 -feet here and then
that was about, uh, so it's ... it's more than that. We would have ... 29, 25 (both
talking)
Throgmorton: If you go to ... go to the rendering that's from the northwest, looking toward the
building. All right, never mind. I see. It's hardly... virtually no setback from
(both talking) top three stories, from Gilbert Street.
Zahradnik: Right!
Throgmorton: Right.
Zahradnik: There is some setback ... of the fire station. This comes out more towards the
property line here. There's a little bit of a setback right at the... residential area
here. (both talking)
Throgmorton: So I'd like to (mumbled) things here, just in the spirit of, you know, knowing that
this is still at a fairly conceptual stage, so just, you know...
Zahradnik: Sure!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 22
Throgmorton: ... feedback. Uh, one question I've has ... one question I have concerns, um, people
who are working on the second and third floors of that building, of the tall
building, or living in any of those floors a ... above ... the front, uh, and I'm thinking
about the fire truck sirens ... going off. So, what do you ... what do you have in
mind for mitigating the loudness of the sirens within the building?
Zahradnik: That is something that we're really going to have to take a hard look at. So, I
(laughs) it's not the first time that it's been brought up.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Zahradnik: So ... but we will look at that.
Throgmorton: Fair enough! (both talking) If I were gonna live there (both talking) I kinda had
that in mind, right. The other thing I wonder about really has to do with the,
uh... you architects call these renderings. What do you ... yeah, I'm not an architect;
I'm an urban planner, right? So, anyhow, when I look at the rendering, and ... and I
look at the top three stories, I think, uh, you know, I ... I think you could do better
than that. I think you could push it, in terms of really improving the overall
quality of design as seen from ... from the outside, and maybe even the two ... two
floors of...the commercial or office space that you have in mind. Uh, you know,
I'm sure you've already put thought into it, so I'm not trying to tell you how to do
your job (laughs) but it just ... when I look at it, from my own background and
thinking of a person walking along there, I ... I think you could do better. So...
Mims: See and I think that is the thing that is incredibly challenging, Jim (both talking)
Throgmorton:... sure it is, yeah.
Mims: ...because not that it's so challenging for them ... it's challenging because everybody
has a different opinion ... on what is attractive and what they like. I mean ... we've
got old buildings with brick, and even new buildings with brick. We've got glass
and metal buildings downtown that some people love and some people hate. And
so ... you know, what you would say you would like to see "better design; they
could do better,' somebody else can easily look at that very same rendering and
say 'hey that looks pretty sharp; I like that!' So ... I think as a Council we have to
be really careful ... I mean and obviously here tonight we're talking about rezoning,
and ... but as I said, they ... you know, the developer wants to get some sense of
where we're coming from because there are more votes and approvals that have to
come, but I ... I think we just have to be really, really careful that we're not going to
be the ... the, uh, design police, um ... you know, on these projects. So ... (both
talking) personally I like the looks.
Throgmorton: I'm sure they would understand I'm not saying 'do this,' right? (several talking)
Well, just for David; any questions?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 23
Cole: In terms of the church itself, at this point there's no intention to make a residential
use of that, cause I think one of the things I have ... had concerns on other projects
where, you know, the developers have preserved the historic structures. They just
end up being sort of apartments. Um, any thought as to what's going to go in
there? Or is it possible that it may be residential inside (both talking)
Zahradnik: ...no discussions about residential at all.
Cole: Okay, so that's likely (mumbled) commercial use?
Zahradnik: Right.
Cole: Okay. I agree with Susan. I mean, if we're ... if we're in sort of a ... but if we're in a
very preliminary stage I guess what I want to get a sense from you though is that
when you do these design renderings, um, how expensive is it? Is it just a
question of, you know, redoing a design on a computer or is there some actual
tangible costs with that, because I don't want to...
Zahradnik: Well in terms of the ... (both talking) I don't want you to think just cause this
looks like a finished product, there's a long way to go to actually get this vetted in
terms of what the materials really are, how they all go together, and how they
look. So ... we're kind of at a ... odd spot where developers don't want to invest a lot
of money to get through the approval process, and so, you know, we have to try to
get stuff on paper so that people can start to conceptualize some of the ideas we
might be having, are floating around the office, but ... we can't spend the hours and
hours it takes to really vet the design fully just to find out that there's no,
uh... um ... there's ... you're gonna be opposed to the whole concept. So...
Cole: And there's a lot of elements that I like on it that are really good. The only thing
that I'm thinking of is especially with Iowa Avenue, and when you think of a
signature avenue in the City of Iowa City, looking both the east and west, I do
think we need to get that community feedback because that's one thing, you know,
once it's built, um, and ... and I am very protective of Iowa Avenue. So, um, but I
think there's a lot of elements that I like and I think Jim is right (mumbled) on the
right track, but I'm not a huge fan of this particular design. Um, but I like the
element of the townhomes too, so...
Botchway: Two more points, um, the first point being I just want to state, and you know, as
we're talking about this from a developer standpoint, I do appreciate the, you
know, preserving the church. I mean that's a huge deal. I do appreciate, you
know, taking the time to make this a, I think you said three wins — win -win-win
situation. With a (mumbled) excuse me! With a fire truck, um, access point, as
well ... going back to ... my second point is, going back to (mumbled) point as far as
talking about that dead zone, cause I know that we're ... we are kind of...hiding the
dead zone (coughs) Excuse me ... almost, because ... I don't know, and I know that
you're talking about the ... is there any way to move the parking structures
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 24
underground, or do something differently, and so yeah. I mean that's... that's a part
of it. I just ... that's my ... we ... we haven't done anything ... to me we haven't done
anything necessarily... we've done something differently with the space, obviously.
I'm (several talking) ...see the parking but it's still there, and so it's not necessarily
usable from that perspective, from you know what Mr. Yapp was talking about as
far as you know... building for people. And I don't know if there's any other
concepts that you had talked about or thinking about from that...
Zahradnik: As far as underground, I guess the easiest way to illustrate some of the struggles
we have here is this dotted line that you see right here. (several responding) This
is the floodway zone, or the 100 -year flood line. So we've made every effort ... our
first floor of all of our structures has to be a 100 ... or 1 -foot above that. So all of
the townhomes. Parking could probably go down below into the flood zones
(mumbled) but it might not be the wisest thing for us to do.
Botchway: Right. Right.
Zahradnik: So we are trying to keep this up so that we are ... building out of the flood plain.
Cole: But the parking will not be visible from the street, cor... that's the concept of the
townhomes, correct?
Mims: A liner, right. (several talking)
Cole: ...which I think is a good ... good element (several talking) Yeah.
Throgmorton: Any other questions for David?
Thomas: Have you developed a view of the project from ... uh, Washington Street?
Zahradnik: We have not. We have not. I mean we have some models and things, but we
focused on the two elements of Iowa Avenue, thinking that that was the signature
side of this building. Like I said, each one of those takes a lot of time to develop
and vet out all of our options, so ... um, at this point in the early concept stage, we
have not taken a lot of time looking at just that side of the building, but I think
we've tried to represent some of the character that you'd see ... in the whole
development through those two images that we've developed.
Thomas: I ... I raise it because I think it's another factor in terms of that ... that three-story
building above, because that's going to form the backdrop of this building.
Zahradnik: Right.
Thomas: And so it...it provides a kind of a ... a ... a screen, so to speak. Right now, you know,
the City Hall is profiling against the open sky. It won't be doing that any more.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 25
So how that ... how those two elements play together, I think, is ... you know, has
some significance in that this is the City Hall.
Throgmorton: Any other questions? So I need to open the public hearing formally, right? I
don't think I did that. (several talking) Did I? Okay! Anybody in the public, uh,
care to speak to this particular item?
Beadleston: Hi, Joy Beadleston. Um, I'm very familiar with Jesse Allen Homes. My brother
has worked with grandpa in the past, um, Jesse's grandfather, um, and I'm really
confident that they normally build some really outstanding properties, especially
along Rochester. Um, I was a little bit worried when they built (laughs) one of
the properties on Scott Boulevard. Actually to me, I'm sorry, it looked ugly, but
then I ... they painted it and that looked completely different! (laughs) So that was
really awesome cause I was scared for a minute, and then um, I am worried too
about the fire trucks going through. I live by a fire station. I get woke up a lot,
and um, definitely I would think it would need some soundproofing, and if the
City and Jesse Allen are entering this as partners, it seems like, not sure (laughs)
but it seemed like it's ... like I would have to worry about the resale value, you
know, of those homes with no soundproofing, and I know that ... that, uh, fire
station gets used quite a bit, so the sirens are going off a lot and um, how it's
gonna, you know, affect the fire trucks going in and out all the time (laughs) And
the other thing is affordability. Are any of these homes, townhomes going to be
affordable? Um ... thank god they're accessible — that's a good thing. And the
other thing I do not think right now they're beautiful. I'm hoping they do make it
a lot better looking. It looks, um, really ... I mean I know beauty is (mumbled)
beauty but it is important to a lot of people in the community, especially when
200 people an hour go through the Library. So a lot of the ... the community go
through that area all the time and I ... I would hate to them ... to always be looking at
that building saying'oh god that's ugly!' You know! And have it be an eyesore
for people. So I do think it's really important to look at what the majority of the
community think would be better, and I am confident, of course, that, you know,
from the past experience with Allen Homes that they do make a lot of really nice
properties that they can definitely improve this one, and urn ... and I think that was
my major issues. Landscaping I think was last. Yeah, it looks really beautiful.
They have a lot of trees in the design and bushes and all that, but ... will it be
mandatory or will it just be something that looks pretty, but when it actually
happens there's no landscaping (laughs) at all. So that's an important thing to
consider too. We need as much landscaping as possible. We've lost a lot of trees
in our city so ... thanks!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Joy.
Ross: Hi, Brandon Ross. Urn ... yeah, a lot of talk of accessibility. Um, I would like to
think that it will be accessible to people who can afford to live there, and that
includes a growing senior population, um, handicapped people, uh, working class
people. Will there be any, uh, places that will be affordable to people that
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 26
actually are working in the neighborhoods, at the store, uh... uh, stores around
town and things. That's a major point of accessibility, uh, to me. Um ... we have
had, uh, I would say that the concern about how far back from the street is ... is a
normal concern because walkability actually identifies the city. There are studies
that show that if a building is not too far back, but far enough back, where perhaps
trees can be planted, uh, that good planning, which doesn't have to be "design
police," is just regular planning. Good cities do it. Uh, and so you want it to look
nice. Iowa Avenue, I think, should have trees. Uh, but there are studies that show
whether or not you should have a ... a large building that's flush against a sidewalk
or it should be put back and how much. I think we can ... you can look at those
things. Um ... and again, uh, I'm another one for the fire truck concern. Uh, that
will change the whole neighborhood as a throughway, even though it's a pain for
fire, uh, drive ... fire truck drivers to back in, and I've seen it. Everyone's seen that
beer barrel polka a number of times and have been on Gilbert, uh, but walkability
and livability, uh, is something that I have a concern for. There are a lot of people
who go to the stores around there. There's the new Pioneer Co -Op which will be
affected by fire engines going in, and we tend to plan large for fire engines, and
uh, I brought this up with some friends earlier that, uh... the fire truck takes up a
vast amount of space and uh, the fire chief often times requests, uh, larger spaces
for even bigger trucks, which always tends to be the trend, but not... shouldn't
necessarily be. So ... accessibility, yeah, is it walkable? Is it ... is it friendly to
people ... and is it friendly and accessible to people in that people will be able to
afford to live there, and uh, so again, I ... I'd ... those are main concerns of mine.
Thanks!
McCallum: Mark McCallum again. I see three positives on this ... on the plan. Um ... one, the
church, um ... this is the first ... or second developer, I guess, that's come forward to
try to save a potentially historic property where everyone else in town wants to
tear something like that down. So to me that's very paramount, uh, community
benefit. Two, parking is a big issue, so I ... this is a plan, very creative plan I think,
that addresses parking needs without, um ... uh, parking is a very big issue in the
College Green Area, so it seems to address a ... a very challenging effort that, you
know, the housing needs, the City needs and everything. I don't know, from fire
truck, uh, standpoint, I think this is a big improvement. Every time the fire
department goes to lunch, they shut down three blocks of Gilbert Street, uh, to
back those trucks out. I'm in that neighborhood every, you know, every day and
so that drive-through is a brilliant idea. Thank you.
01,6;101
Tremble: Hello! Alilha Tremble. I'm with Friends of Historic Preservation. I, um, I just
want to compliment Jesse Allen again for this project. I'm ... this was a project
where we could have easily lost another really important historic building, um,
but it ended up being a win -win-win, you know, three times over, as we said.
Um, the fire station is going to have their pull-through; the church will be
preserved; um, and that parking lot will not longer be on our main ... our main
view, our main thoroughfare, you know, to the Old Capitol. So I think the ... I
think this is a ... a, uh, great project and I would really like to see more cooperation
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 27
between City and um, and developers like this. I think this is really great. Um, I
think, um, these buildings could be made to look like they fit in. Um, we
certainly don't want new buildings to look exactly like old buildings, but there are
ways to make them look very compatible, and um, make them look like they fit
into the neighborhood. Um, and as long as those things are kept in mind, I think
this is going to be a very good project. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you.
Michaud: Hi, I'm Pam Michaud. I live at 109 S. Johnson. I'm also thrilled that the
Unitarian Church, uh, has a good chance of being repurposed, and I'm sure it'll be
in a very tasteful way. Uh, Old Brick has certainly done that, and it seems to be,
uh, cash flow all right too. It's... providing a wonderful venue for, uh, fundraisers,
receptions, wedding receptions, dances. So I think that something similar, on a
smaller scale, would also work for ... Unitarian Church. Or a visitor's center,
which the City could be party to. Uh, I think the, uh, townhomes and the parking
situation look good. Um ... I'm guessing that there may be some lower value level
for the fire ... um, engines when they depart, um (laughter) There could be a
phased -in, uh, at least after hours. I don't know. Anyway, that's... that's something
I'm sure they can come up with creatively. Um ... but I ... the only problem I have
so far with the conceptual thing is, uh, the affordable housing. Um, I know for a
fact that there are many dozens of studio apartments that are renting for $1,200 a
month within three blocks of that location. They are not all occupied by
neurosurgeons, uh, nor are they occupied by single graduate students, uh, or
young professionals. They're doubled up. There might be a few in, uh, the Plaza
Towers that are really for the affluent, but ... I think in many other locations that
I've chatted with people, uh, there ... there are two graduate students to a studio
apartment. So there's no bedroom door. They're just little partitions, and um, we
don't want to really replicate, uh, the housing density of Hong Kong. Um, I think
that two-bedroom apartments are in high demand. There are lots of three and
five -bedroom apartments downtown. Two-bedroom apartments would be an
improvement for many graduate students. Um ... so otherwise, I love the design
and I think that, uh... using a large pull-through lane is great. Uh, a public plaza or
walkway for the church area would be great too. Thanks very much!
Throgmorton: Thank you. Anyone else?
Landry: Absent from the discussion or ... or even involvement is whether or not there's been
a study done in terms of similar college towns, because at the end of the day,
um ... this is a very money -phobic environment where ... people don't sometimes
understand miracles take money and I mean that from the standpoint of when you,
regardless of race, ignore... children... and the thought that you can be someone,
some of the problems ... not some. Many of the problems that you have related to
affordable housing go back to kicking the can down the road and thinking that the
problems will solve themselves in terms of individuals getting up every day and
putting in a hard day's work for ... um ... suitable wages. (mumbled) saying that
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 28
from the standpoint of...when I look at this property, I'm not ... concerned about
sustainability or the aesthetics of it. I'm thinking 'who's going to be living there?'
and at the end of the day we can be honest about the conversation now, versus
being Iowa -nice and thinking that it's eventually going to be discussed. So ... um,
when is the actual meeting going to take place between, uh, property owners in
downtown Iowa City as it relates to market value, because that's something that's
a meeting overdue that when you have a network of individuals that have gone,
have done business with one another, who are friends with one another, who set
their own rates, eventually you're going to price out individuals who have never
been part of the network or part of the group, and ... it's again the conversations
that don't take place prior to these public hearings about ... what Iowa City's future
is, because your present is what has been kicked down the road, uh, at ... for at least
two generations. So missing from this conversation is your Economic
Development Director... and others who dictate... and I'm only just ... the Downtown
District as well. You have a SSMID district that I haven't heard any conversation
about how it fits into the property owners who are paying additional for this
SSMID district, cause I'm only just saying that from the standpoint of you're
honest conversations prior to public hearings, where for people who ... on both
sides, when I hear affordable, it's a different type of conversation that people
deserve ... a place to live, but ... at the same time, some of the problems that
have ... that pre ... that have presented themselves can't be solved in a public hearing.
It comes from people being honest about individuals who are profiting off of land
owned by the City, and who's in that conversation, because again, at the end of
the day, once again, economic development doesn't start here. It starts here.
Think about it.
Throgmorton: Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, I don't see anybody else, so uh, before I close
the public hearing, I need to do what we call 'take the temperature of the Council,'
to see if a consultation with the Planning and Zoning Commission is needed. It's
a legal, important legal technicality. So I need to know, have a sense of whether
anybody's inclined to support ... or I mean inclined to oppose this particular
rezoning. (mumbled response) Yeah, I don't see any nos. Okay, so I'm going to
close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Dickens: Move the first consideration.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Discussion?
Botchway: So I guess I'll again say, um, since the developer's are here and kind of wanted to
understand some elements ahead of time, um, before we go into some of the
deeper work. Again, kudos. Uh, I really, I mean, I appreciate that. I think it ... I
know that when it comes back before us that plays heavily on my mind as far
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 29
as,um, what's going to be, um, discussed at that time. Um, I know .... I addressed
my parking concerns, um, but I know that's a tough thing to do, and to Susan's
point, you know, you can't do everything, and so I'll leave that, um, out. Uh, a
couple comments were made about the affordability. I was going to plan on
bringing that later on in the discussion, um, but I know that I've talked about it at
a previous Council meeting. If that's a discussion that can be, um, brought up
with City staff, I think would be good. Um, again, I'm not sure ... (mumbled) out
of our realm from, uh, discussion standpoint right now but I'd be looking to ask
that question later on, whether or not, you know, affordable housing was
discussed, um, at all, and I know that, you know, there could be some possible,
um, discussion about dollars or monies in that ... in that range, but I at least want
the conversation to happen. I think that's where, um, when I'm talking about it
from a process standpoint about... discussion about affordable housing, I at least
want us to have the discussion about it and get that on the table on a regular basis,
and so ... hope that you can do that, but again, I want to just again say kudos.
(mumbled) even said, you know, wrote down that I plan on Tweeting out, you
know, my appreciation as well, and so, uh, thank you.
Throgmorton: Others?
Cole: Well I tell ya what, some of the comments that have been made tonight have
really, um, bolstered my view that there's a lot that I really like about this
particular project. I'm excited about the fact that it's no longer going to be a
parking lot. I've mentioned Iowa Avenue. Um, it is sort of a shame that we have
this big, huge parking lot and there's really no active use of it, so that's really
exciting for me. Um ... in terms of the church, I really hope that, um, no residential
is contemplated for the church itself and that you think very creatively about what
is to be used there. Um, again, I have not liked it in the past where, you know, we
do save the building, which is great, but I really want a unique use that you focus
on. Um ... and one final thing, um ... I ... I really enjoyed hearing the comments
tonight, but don't be afraid to workshop it out in the community to get that
feedback. Um, one of the things that I particular appreciate about this
development team is what they did on north Linn. Um, there was development
project there that community members had some concerns about, and there was
sort of an interactive process where you responded to some of those concerns, and
I think it really was a win-win, um, concept. So, I would say you're definitely on
the right track and I think back to what Susan had said, if there's a issue where we
don't ... parts of it we don't love, I don't see that as sort of saying we're not going to
support it at all. Um, obviously I would have liked to have seen more of a
commercial component on some of the ground floor, um, but that's not enough to
sway my, uh, decision to oppose it.
Thomas: This is a, um (clears throat) I think a really complicated project, uh, lots of pieces
involved and trying to integrate into a unified whole, and um, you know, I think
it's ... where we stand now in the conceptual phase it's a really outstanding project
in terms of trying to integrate those elements. Um, the historic preservation, the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 30
introduction of a new building type. I ... I've always felt townhomes had potential
as a market element in Iowa City. (clears throat) One ... one comment that I would
have, and I ... I believe it can be resolved, uh... I think relatively in a short period of
time, I hope, uh, has to do with the setback on Iowa Avenue. Uh, and that would
be the distance, when I say setback what I'm describing is the distance between
the sidewalk and the building wall ... which right now is, uh, 9 -feet, 4 -inches. And
my sense is is that's a little bit too narrow in terms of a setback. We're talking
about a ground -floor residential use. Uh, so there are issues of privacy. You
know, this is one of the issues we open up by taking away the ground floor
commercial is you've got people living on the ground floor now. Uh, so privacy
is a concern, I think especially in this location because it's right near the
downtown. So ... so, you know, I've looked at this over the last couple of days, uh,
my sense is the ... the setback on Van Buren, which is 12 -foot, 1 -inches from the
back of sidewalk is preferable to the 9 -foot, 4. That's a roughly a 2 -foot, 8
diff... difference. I know, again, this is conceptual, but um ... we have some very
hard numbers that we're dealing with on this project in terms of the requirement
of the townhome, the requirement of the parking structure, so we don't have a lot
of flow in design terms, in ... in the sense of well, what can we adjust to make this
work. So ... so my suggestion would be (clears throat) and I had mentioned this to
staff is the ... the sidewalk itself on Iowa Avenue could be moved to the north, to
create more room between the building and the sidewalk area. It would actually
place the sidewalk more or less centered between the building wall and the ... the
curb along Iowa Avenue. Uh, so we could gain that roughly two and a half feet
by moving the sidewalk to the north. Um, that ... that's within the public right-of-
way, so it's something I think we as a city can look at and make a determination
on. Um ... my hope is that we could do that relatively quickly, perhaps between
this consideration and the next consideration, to ... to confirm that in fact, uh,
when ... as we get into design development that that would be an option, that we
could ... we could explore and actually apply to the project. Uh... in that sense I feel
the ... the one issue that's kind of the unspoken issue on this project is the question
of Iowa Avenue. Uh, you know, if you look at Riverfront Crossings, that was a
plan that included both the buildings and the design of the streets. And I think,
you know, in looking at this, we need to make sure the sidewalk widths on Van
Buren are right. I think now they're 4 -feet, probably need to be 5 -feet, and my
sense is that we ... we ... because we can control the public right-of-way, we can
adjust, as required, to make this thing work.
Mims: I'm comfortable... ideally I would like to see more setback, but I, again, I think
with the constraints that we have here and certainly at the point we're at now,
keeping in mind this is still the rezoning and we've got two more readings just on
the rezoning. So I think the idea of the actual details on the setbacks and the
placement of the sidewalk are ... are things that we can look at later, but um ... we've
also got some trees there that would be an issue if we tried moving that sidewalk.
Some of those (both talking)
Thomas: Possibly.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 31
Mims: Yeah. But ... I would go with it the way it is. All right, and certainly for tonight is
rezoning. I'm very supportive.
Dickens: I'd just like to thank the architect. I know it's an Iowa City firm, so I'm glad to see
that we're using Iowa City firms for a project like this because we do have that
kind of talent in this town and it's great to see.
Throgmort_ on: Well I'm going to support the ordinance as well. I ... I find it fascinating and rather
moving to hear the many very positive comments that, uh, that have been made by
various people, uh, from the public, uh, but also by Members of the Council. It's
really terrific to see that there are these subtle challenges that ... I ... John, I saw you
taking notes about the sidewalk; maybe something can be done about that. David,
I don't know where you're sitting now. Jesse, uh, maybe it's possible to think
through a little bit more, as I'm sure you're going to do about, uh, about the
exterior design and ... and maybe the sound insulation, so to speak, uh, of...of the
interior of the building. But, uh, I'm ... I'm definitely supportive. There were some
comments made about affordability, uh, I mean affordable units within this
structure. There were also ... John said something about the development
agreement. I have no doubt whatsoever but there'll be some financial, uh,
implications for preserving the building, the UU structure — the church, and if we
incorporate some, uh, affordable housing with ... with the developer's agreement,
within the building, there'll be a cost to the City, uh, it'd be part of the
development agreement. That's a different topic. We'll come to it when we get to
it. So, um, roll call. Pauline, I must, uh, apologize to you. Um, it ... it's my bad. I
should have asked you whether or not you wanted to comment, uh, right, uh, right
during this discussion period.
Taylor: Well I ... I did have some concerns about the affordable housing issue and
(mumbled) mentioned that (mumbled) Riverfront Crossings and Downtown
Master Plan, and I know on Riverfront Crossings that there are statements in there
as far as 15% of the units would be affordable, uh, and then the question is what's
affordable, but somebody brought that up so that's... that's all I (mumbled)
concerns about.
Throgmorton: Okay! Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 32
ITEM 5c REZONING 600 BLOCK OF S. DUBUQUE STREET —
ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 1.03
ACRES OF PROPERTY FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL (CC -2)
ZONE TO RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS - CENTRAL CROSSINGS (RFC -
CX) ZONE LOCATED AT 602, 604, 608, 610, 614, 620, 628 SOUTH
DUBUQUE STREET. (REZ15-00020) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Throgmorton: Open the public .... (mumbled)
Mims: No (both talking) second consideration.
Throgmorton: Right, second consideration.
Dickens: Move the second... second consideration.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: But I need, uh, for new Council Members I need to ask ... uh, about whether...
Cole: Yeah, I was just going to make a public statement that I am going to recuse
myself. I was involved in representation of one of the tenants in one of the
cottages and though... although it's not a legal conflict, I do believe in an
abundance of caution I should recuse myself from consideration in this matter.
Throgmorton: Pauline, John, no problem? Okay, with regard to, uh, the ... the other four of us
who were here for the first reading, uh, any ex parti ... parte communications? No,
me neither! Okay, John!
Yapp: Uh, normally with second considerations we do not, uh, give much of a staff
report. I thought tonight I'd give a brief overview for the new Council Members.
Throgmorton: Sure! Okay!
Yapp: Uh, this ... this property is on the, uh, east side of Dubuque Street, south of Prentiss
Street. Uh, the property is currently zoned Community Commercial. Uh,
Community Commercial is Iowa City's general commercial zone. Uh, it
encourages low -scale commercial buildings, with no specific location standards or
design standards, uh, and residential apartments are allowed above commercial
space only by special exception. Uh, the proposed zoning is Riverfront Crossings
Central Crossings zone. Uh, this zone allows a broad mix of commercial and
residential uses. It's very much a mixed-use zoning district. Uh, for the Central
Crossings area, the maximum height is four stories. Uh, the south half of...this
block ... uh, proposed for rezoning is designated as a required retail storefront, uh,
so would require retail in the first floor along the south half of the block. Uh, for
the remainder of the block, residential building types would be allowed, and the
Riverfront Crossings zone has a significant amount of building design standards,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 33
uh, including facade articulation and composition, window coverage and design,
entranceway and frontage standards, building material standards, awnings and
canopy standards, and even the, uh, location of mechanical equipment. Uh, I have
a few slides just to show the elements of the form -based code regarding, uh, this
slide shows building placement requirements. Uh, this zone does encourage
buildings up closer to the frontages of...of the property. Uh, as opposed to a
typical, uh, suburban commercial property would have parking in the front, with
the building set way back. Uh, again, land uses, multiple land uses are allowed,
and uses can be mixed — both vertically and horizontally — within the building.
Uh, and there are special standards in the Riverfront Crossings zone for auto -
oriented uses. Although that's not being considered tonight. Uh, Riverfront
Crossings zone also has requirements regarding streetscape and setback, uh,
standards. Uh, there's a landscaping strip required in between the sidewalk and
the street. Uh, sidewalk location and then ... uh, frontage requirements for the
private building, uh, and the area between the building wall and the sidewalk is
a ... what I'd call a semi -private area where you'd find the porch or the stoop or the
terrace, uh, frontage type. Again, building articulation standards, entranceway
standards, materials, roof design, and signage standards. Uh, Riverfront
Crossings also has standards re ... re ... regarding a pedestrian street, and this is, uh,
new in the Riverfront Crossings zone in that a street ... uh... before Riverfront
Crossings had to be a vehicular street. Now we have standards for a pedestrian
street and buildings can have frontage on a pedestrian street. Uh, this rezoning
and its consistency with the Comprehensive Plan, uh, reviewing the goals of the
Riverfront Crossings, uh, plan, uh... the defining features of the Central Crossings
District are the two rail lines, uh, both Crandic Railroad and Iowa Interstate
Railroad and Ralston Creek all cross in this district. The Master Plan objectives
(clears throat) are to encourage contextual in -fill, uh, leverage investments in
transit through transit -oriented development or encouraging densities near transit
locations, uh, restoring and enhancing conditions along Ralston Creek, providing
that mix of residential and retail uses, and promoting new housing options. Uh,
the project that, uh, the developer, uh, developed, uh, consists of two buildings,
uh, with a ... a private, uh, pedestrian street in between the two buildings, as well as
in the interior of the, uh, second building. Uh, the first building would be at the
corner of Prentiss and south Dubuque Street. Uh, you can see some of the
frontage elements, uh, both with the, uh, frontage type, the sidewalk, the
landscaping strip, uh, the diagonal parking, how that flows into the, uh, pedestrian
street in between the two buildings. Uh, entrances to the buildings would be, uh,
off of that pedestrian street, and then the, uh, southern building would have that
retail space. Uh... just to the south is the, uh, railroad tracks. And then this is the
image of the, uh... again, the concept plan image of...of the two buildings, how
they would relate to each other and the space in between, uh, the two buildings.
Uh, with that, uh... this is second consideration, although it is a new ... new City
Council. Uh, staff and Planning and Zoning Commission have recommended
approval. Uh, Planning and Zoning Commission approval ... uh, was by a vote of 4
—1. The, uh, condition recommended is the ... uh, mid -block private pedestrian
street, a minimum of 35 -feet wide in between the two buildings, uh, to help break
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 34
up the two buildings and provide that pedestrian space. The, uh, applicant is also
here if you have any questions for him.
Throgmorton: Wonder if any of our new Council Members have questions for John.
Thomas: John, I think (clears throat) the only question I would have ... in a way was I think
prompted by thinking about the, um ... you know, the previous project that we just
looked at, and that is the frontage...
Yapp: Uh huh.
Thomas: ...and that, uh, we have two building ... two buildings there. One where the
residential goes down to the... essentially down to the ground floor, and the other
is ... is ground floor commercial, to the south, and along the street we have
diagonal parking for pretty much the entire block length. So I was looking at the
street types in the Riverfront Crossings plan and it...it had sort of a standard ... uh,
street design for residential frontage and a standard street design for commercial
frontage. The, uh, commercial had diagonal parking. The, uh, residential had
par ... uh, parallel parking. And so ... my question would be on the block to the
north, was there any consideration given for parallel parking as opposed to
diagonal, uh, apparently to create more sidewalk space in front of the residential,
but also to get the, urn ... you know, the headlights, the ... the fact that the cars would
be oriented more toward the residences, uh, which would be on the ground floor.
Yapp: Sure, and I believe the, uh, where the commercial is proposed there's diagonal
parking there currently.
Thomas: Right. This, yeah, right now it's sort of a mix.
Yapp: Right.
Thomas: So in that sense (both talking)
Yapp: ...to be honest we ... we did not focus on the parking ... in our discussions with ... with
the developer. We were focused on the ... on the private property, but that's an
excellent point. I think as we proceed with, uh, street improvements in this
district (both talking)
Throgmorton: Pauline, did you have any questions you wanted to ask John?
Taylor: Well I do like, if I'm remembering the picture I've seen previously, uh, in the past,
I do like the separation of the buildings at mid -block with that usable, shared open
space. I like that design, and I think the way you incorporated ... if I'm thinking
where this is, it's ... it's like a hill, on a hill, and I ... I think, um (mumbled)
incorporated the design into that, um, geographic area very well, but yeah, I
would be concerned about parking also.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 35
Yapp: I didn't catch her last...
Taylor: Oh, I said I would be concerned about parking also.
Yapp: Oh, thank you!
Throgmorton: Uh, thanks, Pauline. Uh, I ... I don't know if...Kevin, if you'd like to say anything
or not. You don't need to, I mean ... yeah, okay! Uh, so, uh, we need a motion,
don't we?
Karr: We already have (several talking)
Throgmorton: Oh, well, there ya go! Um ... discussion?
Botchway: I expressed my concerns at the last meeting but ... you know, like I said to Kevin, I
think it's, you know, a good project. So, I'll be supportive.
Dickens: It's a nice ... nice use of that area.
Thomas: And I'll support the project.
Throgmorton: I'm good to go! Roll call. Thank you!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 36
ITEM 5d REZONING ALONG MORMON TREK BOULEVARD SOUTH
OF HWY 1- ORDINANCE CONDITIONALLY REZONING
APPROXIMATELY 7.98 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED EAST OF
MORMON TREK BOULEVARD BETWEEN GRACE DRIVE AND
EAGLE VIEW DRIVE FROM COMMERCIAL OFFICE (CO -1) TO
INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL (CI -1) ZONE. (REZ15-00021) (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move second consideration.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Urn ... roll call? No! What? (several talking) Yeah, uh, so ... sorry! Uh, yeah, so
we need to know if anybody has any ex parte communications to report. I do, but
does anybody else? Okay. I do. Uh... with, uh, owners of nearby property, who I
had the great pleasure of visiting. Uh, Jane, right? I get confused. Janet Driscoll
and George, um, Dane. Sorry? (unable to hear person from audience) Francis!
I'm sorry! Yeah, I ... I should get a new jay ... day job! Uh, anyhow, I ... I had the
pleasure of going out to visit with both of you, and I want to thank you very much
for letting me do that. And really all I did was take a look at the property and,
um ... learn what it's like to drive on the road going up the hill and things like that.
But thank you! So ... no details really about this particular redevelopment were
discussed. John!
Yapp: Uh, just a recap. Uh, this rezoning is for a, uh, vacant property, uh, in between
Mormon Trek Boulevard, Grace Drive, Eagle View Drive, and Dane Road.
Um... the Comprehensive Plan identifies this property as appropriate for either
Intensive or Highway Commercial, or Office Park Commercial, uh, hence the
hash marks on the property. When the property was annexed in about 2003, it
was zoned Intensive Commercial. Uh, around 2007 it was rezoned to office
Commercial, at...at the request of an applicant. Um ... now the applicant is
requesting to rezone it back to Intensive Commercial. Uh, the intent is for
construction of a ... of a medical clinic, uh, that would include a variety of uses, uh,
including family practice, pharmacy, mother's milk bank, a home care office, uh,
warehousing for storage and distribution, and other related functions. Uh,
normally a medical clinic would be allowed in the Commercial Office Zone, uh,
but because of some of the proposed elements in this building, uh, specifically the
warehouse and distribution, uh, the mother's milk bank, which would include
some processing, uh, of the milk, the, uh, Intensive Commercial Zone is the more
appropriate zone. Uh, this is the proposed, uh... concept plan, uh, for the project.
Some of the pertinent elements are the, uh, landscaping and trees along Dane
Road. Uh, the area at the, uh, northeast of the property, which would have
landscaping and grasses, uh, and hedge, uh, provided on the property. Uh, this
shows the ... the size of the building, uh, and other landscaping around the
proposed... proposed around the building. Uh, staff recommends approval, subject
to general conformance with the site concept plan. Uh, no outdoor storage being
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 37
permitted on the property, and exterior lights being no more than 25 -feet in
height. Uh, those conditions came about after a, uh, neighborhood meeting with
the developer, uh, and uh, neighboring property owners and other
interested... interested parties. Uh... discussed the project and... and... came... came
with these conditions to ameliorate those concerns. Uh, Planning and Zoning
Commission recommended approval, uh, as well.
Throgmorton: Thank you, John!
Yapp: Thank you! (several talking)
Throgmorton: ... confused about where we are (mumbled) first reading or second reading (several
talking) Yeah, discussion?
Botchway: Um, I'm supportive. I think that, uh, you know, for that area, new families and
some other things, I think this is a good project. I'm excited about it. I know
there is another medical, uh, facility kind of further along Camp Cardinal, but this
is close to where I live and there's a lot of new families in the area, so I'm excited.
I ... I appreciate this project.
Thomas: I just ... I missed my opportunity for asking a question, but um ... which was, uh, is
the parking that we see in the plan, uh, required by our ... off-street parking or ... is,
does it match the off-street parking requirement or...
Yapp: I don't have the numbers in front of me, but it is, uh, slightly more than what
would be required.
Taylor: I believe at the first consideration with Dobyns recused himself because of his
employment at the University of Iowa, which was, um (mumbled) um,
and ... (mumbled) by the University (mumbled) since October, but if people felt
there was any kind of a conflict, I ... I would recuse myself, but I don't believe
there would be.
Dilkes: I don't think there is, Pauline.
Taylor: Okay.
Throgmorton: Anybody else need to say anything? Roll call. All right!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 38
ITEM 5e VACATING AIR RIGHTS OVER ALLEY — ORDINANCE
VACATING AIR RIGHTS ABOVE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY IN
NORTH -SOUTH ALLEY BETWEEN HARRISON AND PRENTISS
STREETS. (VAC15-00005) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Throgmorton: I don't think we do that. I got a note (several talking)
Karr: No, we're not doing expedited. That was an error. Please cross out (mumbled)
expedited action.
Mims: Okay!
Botchway: Move second consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Yapp: Uh, this is an application from Midwest One Bank who has constructed a new
building, uh, at the corner of Harrison Street and Clinton Street, uh, to vacate air
rights above a public alley, uh, 25 -feet in the air, to facilitate a skywalk, uh, in
between the bank building and the, uh, future parking structure, uh, on the
property. Uh, we've notified utility companies, have received ... no information
that there would be any conflict with utilities. The alley would continue to be
able to be used for traffic and pedestrian circulation. Here's an image of the, uh,
bank building. And here's a ... this is a massing study, but of showing the,
um ... location of the skywalk in relation to the future parking ramp.
Throgmorton: Any questions for John? Discussion?
Cole: I'm generally not a huge fan of skywalks, but in the particular I think it makes
sense here, so (laughs)
Throgmorton: That's exactly what I was thinking! (laughter)
Cole: It's not going to become Minneapolis or Des Moines.
Throgmorton: Any other discussion? (several talking in background) Okay, roll call.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 39
ITEM 5f REMNANT RIGHT OF WAY VACATION - VACATING
PORTION OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY LOCATED BETWEEN 124 W
BENTON STREET AND 731 S RIVERSIDE DRIVE (VAC15-00006).
(SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Yapp: Um, this is a vacation of a remnant (both talking)
Karr: ...put it on the floor first.
Yapp: Oh I'm sorry! (several talking)
Mims: Move second consideration.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Okay, it's on the floor. John.
Yapp: Thank you.
Mims: I motioned. Who seconded? (several talking) Botchway.
Yapp: Uh, this is a ... a vacation of a remnant, uh, piece of right-of-way on the north side
of Benton Street, uh... at the location of the future, uh, Kum n' Go. It's a ... it's a
piece of right-of-way that, uh, we did not know was there until we started entering
into detailed design work, uh, with the Kum n' Go property. Uh, this shows the,
uh, zoning pattern. It ... the property is zoned Riverfront Crossings, West
Riverfront District. Um ... this piece of right-of-way has no utilities in it and it's
not used for any pedestrian or vehicular circulation. Uh, staff recommends
approval and Planning and Zoning recommended approval.
Throgmorton: All right. Discussion? Roll call.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 40
ITEM 5g REZONING CARDINAL POINTE WEST — ORDINANCE
REZONING 16.18 ACRES LOCATED SOUTH OF KENNEDY PARKWAY
AND WEST OF CAMP CARDINAL BOULEVARD FROM INTERIM
DEVELOPMENT - RESEARCH PARK (ID -RP) ZONE TO LOW
DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY (RS -5) ZONE. (REZ15-00018) (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Are we doing expedited on this? I move that the rule requiring that ordinances
must be considered and voted on for passage at two Council meetings prior to the
meeting at which it is to be finally passed by suspended, that the second
consideration and vote be waived, and that the ordinance be voted on for final
passage at this time.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Roll call. Right?
Dilkes: Motion.
Throgmorton: Motion. Sorry!
Dilkes: Oh, no, I'm sorry! I'm wrong! See, I (several talking and laughing)
Throgmorton: We should have discussion (mumbled) Discussion?
Cole: Has there been any controversy surrounding that (mumbled)
Dickens: ...is this the one we got the late handout or is that the next one (several talking)
Taylor: I ... I had concerns about this rezoning. Can I bring that up ... do I bring that up
now?
Throgmorton: Yes. (several responding)
Taylor: Oh, okay! This is Pauline, obviously. I'm ... I'm just really concerned about
this ... this area and the ... the school, Borlaug, nearby and adding that many
residential lots there and potentially having that many more children trying to
cross, uh... uh, Cardinal, or Kennedy Parkway, or part of that Camp Cardinal
Boulevard. It ... it just concerns me and I ... I would hope that, um, the developers
would work closely with the School District as far as getting signage up, uh, you
know, the flashing lights and whatever (mumbled) folks of that, uh, as they come
upon that area, that there could be children crossing there. I mean I drive that
road plenty of times and there's so much road kill along there and a lot of deer
(mumbled) but they ... they won't necessarily be watching for children and my
other concern was the affordability of the units. Um, somewhere I read that the,
um, price range would be somewhere between 225 and $350,000 and we keep
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 41
talking about affordable housing and then we add, you know, 20, 30 more units
that are ... are not affordable to most folks in this community. So, those were kind
of my ... my major concerns about this, uh, being redeveloped to residential lots.
Throgmorton: John!
Yapp: Uh, John Yapp. Uh, we discussed the, uh, crossing of Camp Cardinal Boulevard
at the last Council meeting, and I have discussed that with our Transportation
planners. They've put it on their list to collect the traffic data and discuss that
with the principal of Borlaug and develop a strategy, uh, for that crossing... which
would be implemented next summer. Um ... regarding the, uh, price of the units, I
don't have information about the ... the price. Let me see ... I don't see the developer
in the ... in the room.
Cole: Packet did say 250 to 325, or am I...
Taylor: Right, right, that was ... the information I saw. Page 216 of our information.
Cole: So why ... what was the reason then to, um ... think we need ... why didn't it work as
an Interim Research Development Park? Was it going to be something else (both
talking)
Yapp: The, yeah, when this ... when this larger property was first, uh, annexed, the
thought was, uh, that it would be future Office Research Park area. Uh, since that
time, there's really not significant demand for Research Park type area. The, uh,
district plan for this area also calls out the, uh... that clustered residential
development would also be appropriate for the Camp Cardinal corridor. Is it too
early for me to give the report? Are they still voting on expedited (both talking)
Mims: We're still voting on expedited (several talking)
Dilkes: But you can give it! (several talking)
Yapp: Would you like me to go ahead and ... (several talking)
Throgmorton: I want to ask a question, so I don't make a mistake. Um, I ... I'm supposed to ask
about ex parte conversations among, uh, the (coughing, difficult to hear speaker)
Council Members that participated (several talking) I should do that now.
Dilkes: You should do that now.
Throgmorton: Yeah, so have any of our new Council Members, uh, had any ex parte (several
responding) Pauline, have you?
Taylor: No.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 42
Throgmorton: Okay, and have any of the older Council people had any since the last meeting?
Okay, great! We're good to go. John!
Yapp: Okay this, uh, rezoning is proposed for the south side of Kennedy Parkway, on
the west side of Camp Cardinal Boulevard. Uh, it's currently zoned Interim
Development Research Park. The Interim Development, uh... zoning indicates
that at the time it was zoned or annexed it was not yet ripe for development, in
that it didn't have utilities or access. Uh, since that time, the ... area on the east side
of Camp Cardinal Boulevard has developed. Uh, utilities have been extended, uh,
and the applicant... would extend Kennedy Parkway, uh, as part of this project.
Um ... to get back to Rockne's question, the district plan for this area, uh, does
identify clustered residential development as an appropriate land use. As ... as part
of the concept plan for the larger property, uh, it includes a mix of housing types,
including single-family, uh, multi -family townhouse style units, and a multi-
family building, with ... a majority of the wooded slopes and ravines preserved on
the property, uh, both to comply with the sensitive areas ordinance, uh, but they
also function as a ... as a buffer, uh, from Highway 218 and from Camp Cardinal
Boulevard. Uh, what you're considering tonight is the rezoning for the first phase
of this project. Uh, which is a proposed single-family, uh, residential
development. The future phases of the project, excuse me ... uh, would require
additional rezoning actions, uh, but this is the concept plan that the, uh, applicant
has submitted for the larger property.
Throgmorton: Questions for John?
Cole: So the owner just... own... owns that part of the property. He doesn't own the rest
of it?
Yapp: Uh, the owner is Southgate Development. They own the whole property.
Cole: The whole property. Okay.
Yapp: At this ... they're only prepared to develop the first phase at this ... at this time,
uh... that's where utilities and road network is available, at this time. Then
the ... then they'd start with the subsequent phases.
Cole: Okay, and they are intending to do the more higher density development.
Yapp: That is correct.
Throgmorton: Any other questions? Okay, we have a motion for expedited action on the floor.
Uh, this is a roll call? Yes, uh, roll call.
Mims: I move that the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Botchway: Second.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 43
Throgmorton: Roll call. Or discussion, I'm sorry! No discussion? Roll call. Okay, Item 5h.
Karr: I'm sorry, can I get a motion to accept correspondence for expedited action?
Botchway: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Um ... um...
Karr: Botchway, Dickens?
Throgmorton: All in favor say aye. All opposed. Motion carries 7 — 0. Or, Pauline, I didn't hear
ya.
Taylor: Yes, I approve.
Throgmorton: Yeah, motion carries 7 — 0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 44
ITEM 5h CARDINAL POINTE WEST, PART ONE — RESOLUTION
APPROVING PRELIMINARY PLAT. (SUB15-00023)
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Discussion? (mumbled)
Botchway: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens.
Throgmorton: Oh, there ya go! I gotta do that, don't I? Okay. You got that, Marian, right?
Okay. Discussion? Roll call.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 45
ITEM 11. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION
Throgmorton: Let's start down there with you, Rockne.
Cole: Nothing to add.
Dickens: (mumbled) but I think Joy Beadleston said it very well that, uh, make sure that
you clean those curb cuts and if you can go around the, uh, fire hydrants, that
helps the Fire Department in case there is a fire, that, uh, they can get to that fire
hydrant because that's very important.
Botchway: Two events comin' up, uh, one is kind of the MLK, uh, Day of Service
celebration. Uh, that'll happen on January 18th at The Spot, 1030 Cross Park
Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa. I don't know the zip code. Um, it is from 9 to 11 and 2
to 4 is going to be kind of a community give-away or, um ... um, just kind of a
project, and then there also is the, uh, the actual event that starts at 11 and then
another event is actually, and I think I sent both emails to Marian, so there should
be (mumbled) um ... in the future, but is, uh, at the Bethel AME Church, um,
starting at 2...2:00 that same day. Uh, they're going to have a program around, uh,
MLK as well. So, uh, be excited to, uh, try to attend as many of those events as
possible.
Throgmorton: Excellent! Let's go to Pauline next. Pauline!
Taylor: Um ... (mumbled) just hope to be back on my feet real soon and be able to attend in
person!
Throgmorton: We're looking forward to seeing you!
Taylor: Thanks.
Throgmorton: Okay. Susan?
Mims: Nothing.
Throgmorton: John?
Thomas: Nothing.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.
Page 46
ITEM 12. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
a) City Manager
Throgmorton: City Manager?
Markus: We had 368, um, snow complaints for failure to clean your sidewalks.
Throgmorton: I've walked on half of 'em! (laughter)
Markus: And, uh, you know with these snows, what happens if you don't get out there and
clean 'em off, they get packed down (mumbled) it gets icy (noises in background)
It's the neighborly thing to do, to clean your walks, so that people can get out and
move around (mumbled, away from mic) ...encourage everybody to ... pay
attention to taking care of your walks. Uh, the other thing I'd say is we're in the
middle of budget season. Had a training session from Mr., uh, Bockenstedt last
night and he did a real nice job with that. Uh, 8:00 is the next session on Saturday
morning and ... marathon session pretty much all day Saturday. Um ... and I think
it's at ... what time on Monday night?
Karr: It's Monday the 101 at 1:00.
Markus: 1:00 we go and (mumbled) other meeting after that but... it's... it's a fairly intense
discussion about how the City spends their money.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of January 5, 2016.