Planning & Zoning Commission for May 6, 2025
Agenda
6:30 PM, North Liberty City Council Chambers, 360 N Main St, North Liberty, Iowa 52317
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- Roll Call
- Approval of the Agenda
- Public Comment on any topic not on the agenda
- Preliminary Site Plan: Request of Iowa City Area Christian School Association for to approve a Preliminary Site Plan for two temporary classrooms and related infrastructure on approximately 22.09 acres. The property is located at the southeast corner of Hackberry Street and Juniper Court.
- Staff Presentation
- Applicant Presentation
- Public Comments
- Questions and Comments
- Recommendation to the City Council
- Preliminary Subdivision Plat: Request of Bowman Property LLC to approve a Preliminary Subdivision Plat for a 4-lot subdivision and related infrastructure on approximately 26.44 acres. The property is located at the northeast corner of West Forevergreen Road and South Kansas Avenue.
- Staff Presentation
- Applicant Presentation
- Public Comments
- Questions and Comments
- Recommendation to the City Council
- Preliminary Subdivision Plan: Request of Dahnovan Land Development, LLC. to approve a Preliminary Site Plan for 16 townhouse units in four buildings and related infrastructure on approximately 3.47 acres. The property is located at the southeast corner of Harlen Street and Julia Drive.
- Staff Presentation
- Applicant Presentation
- Public Comments
- Questions and Comments
- Recommendation to the City Council
- Zoning Map Amendment (Watts – West): Request of Watts Development Group, Inc. for a zoning map amendment (rezoning) from ID Interim Development District RS-6 Single-Unit Residence District on approximately 26.29 acres, RS-9 Single-Unit Residence District on approximately 34.81 acres, RD-10 on approximately 26.93 acres, RM-12 on 7.65 acres, and RM-14 on approximately 8.07 acres.
- Staff Presentation
- Applicant Presentation
- Public Comments
- Questions and Comments
- Recommendation to the City Council
- Zoning Map Amendment (Watts – East): Request of Watts Group Development, Inc. has submitted a Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning) from ID Interim Development District to RS-6 Single-Unit Residence District on approximately 15.21 acres, RS-9 Single-Unit Residence District on approximately 11.30 acres, RD-10 Two-Unit Residence District on approximately 16.69 acres, RM-12 Multi-Unit Residence District on approximately 7.17 acres and RM-14 Multi-Unit Residence District on approximately 8.05 acres. The property contains approximately 54.49 acres and is located on the east side of South Dubuque Street west of the west termini of Ogden Lane, Mary Lane, Kaiser Street and East Tartan Drive.
- Staff Presentation
- Applicant Presentation
- Public Comments
- Questions and Comments
- Recommendation to the City Council
- Zoning Code Ordinance: Request of the City of North Liberty for an Ordinance amending Chapter 168 of the North Liberty Code of Ordinances, governing districts defined and dimensional standards for RD and RM Districts.
- Staff Presentation
- Public Comments
- Questions and Comments
- Recommendation to the City Council
- Zoning Map Amendment (Urban Central District): Request of UCD Holdings, LLC for a zoning map amendment (rezoning) from C-1-B General Commercial District and C-3 Higher Intensity Commercial District to CU C-3 District Central Urban Higher-Intensity Commercial District and a Preliminary Subdivision Plat for a 7-lot subdivision and related infrastructure on approximately 04 acres. The property is located on the east side of North Highway 965/Ranshaw Way approximately 275 south of West Cherry Street and the south side of West Cherry Street approximately 600 feet east of North Highway 965/Ranshaw Way. The purpose of the request is to facilitate redevelopment of the property with primarily commercial uses and related infrastructure.
- Approval of Previous Minutes
- Planning Updates
- Adjournment
Minutes
Call to Order
Chair Amy Yotty called the Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Planning Commission to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 360 N. Main Street. Commission members present: Barry A’Hearn, Josey Bathke, Sheila Geneser, Jason Heisler, Valerie Ward, and Amy Yotty; absent: Dave Willer.
Others present: Ryan Rusnak, Ryan Heiar, Grant Lientz, Tracey Mulcahey, Josiah Bilskemper, Darron Ammann (virtually), Katelyn Wolf (virtually), Nick Dwyer (virtually), Kevin Digmann, David Smigel, and other interested parties.
Approval of the Agenda
Bathke moved, A’Hearn seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was all ayes. Agenda approved.
Public Comment
No public comments were offered.
Dover Development Preliminary Site Plan
Staff Presentation
Rusnak presented the request of Dover Development to approve a Preliminary Site Plan for a 133- unit independent living, assisted living, memory care facility and related infrastructure on approximately 9.18 acres. The property is located on the north side of West Forevergreen Road approximately 515 feet east of South Kansas Avenue. Staff recommends the Planning Commission accept the listed finding, the preliminary site plan would achieve consistency with the approval standards enumerated in Section 165.05(2)(E) of the Zoning Code, and forward the request to approve a Preliminary Site Plan for a 133-unit independent living, assisted living, memory care facility and related infrastructure on approximately 9.18 acres to the City Council with a recommendation for approval.
Applicant Presentation
Katelyn Wolf, Bartlett & West Engineering, was present on behalf of the applicant and offered additional information on the application.
Public Comments
No public comments were offered.
Questions and Comments
The Commission had no discussion regarding the application.
Recommendation to the City Council
Geneser moved, Ward seconded that the Planning Commission accept the listed finding and forward the Preliminary Site Plan to the City Council with a recommendation for approval. The vote was: ayes – A’Hearn, Yotty, Heisler, Bathke, Ward, Geneser; nays – none; absent – Willer. Motion approved.
MLDC. Inc. Zoning Map Amendment
Staff Presentation
Rusnak presented the request of MLDC, Inc. for a Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning) from RS- 7 PAD Single-Unit Residence District Planned Area Development and ID Interim Development District to RS-4 Single-Unit Residence District on approximately 4.10 acres, RS-9 Single-Unit Residence District on approximately 2.16 acres and RD-10 Two-Unit Residence District on approximately 10.34 acres. The property is located at the west terminus of Chipman Lane and the south terminus of Mayer Street. Staff recommends the Planning Commission accept the listed finding, the rezoning request from RS-7 PAD Single-Unit Residence District Planned Area Development and ID Interim Development District to RS-4 Single-Unit Residence District on approximately 4.10 acres, RS-6 on approximately 1.74 acres, RS-9 Single-Unit Residence District on .42 acres, and RD-10 Two-Unit Residence District on approximately 10.34 acres would achieve consistency with the approval standards enumerated in Section 165.09 of the Zoning Code, and forward the request for zoning map amendment (rezoning) from RS-7 PAD Single-Unit Residence District Planned Area Development and ID Interim Development District to RS-4 Single-Unit Residence District on approximately 4.10 acres, RS-9 Single-Unit Residence District on approximately 2.16 acres and RD-10 Two-Unit Residence District on approximately 10.34 acres. The property is located at the west terminus of Chipman Lane and the south terminus of Mayer Street. Staff recommends the Planning Commission accept the listed finding, the rezoning request from RS-7 PAD Single-Unit Residence District Planned Area Development and ID Interim Development District to RS-4 Single-Unit Residence District on approximately 4.10 acres, RS-6 on approximately 1.74 acres, RS-9 Single-Unit Residence District on .42 acres, and RD-10 Two Unit Residence District on approximately 10.34 acres to the City Council with a recommendation for approval.
Applicant Presentation
Kevin Digmann, MLDC, was present on behalf of the applicant and offered additional information on the application. The Commission discussed the application with Digmann.
Public Comments
David Smigel spoke regarding the proposed application and requested the amount of RD-10 be reduced and the amount of RS-6 be increased.
Questions and Comments
The Commission discussed the application including other areas in the City that are zoned RS-9, the lot sizes of RS-4, RS-6, and RS-9 zoning along with minimum frontages, communication with realtors regarding demand, assessment of remaining objection, total number of acres being rezoned, and that RS-6 seems to be a good middle ground.
Recommendation to the City Council
Bathke moved, Heisler seconded that the Planning Commission accept the listed finding and forward the zoning map amendment to the City Council with a recommendation for approval with the staff recommendation of RS-6 Zoning. The vote was: ayes – Ward, Bathke, Geneser, A’Hearn, Heisler, Yotty; nays- none; absent- Willer. Motion approved.
Zoning Code Ordinance
Staff Presentation
Rusnak presented the request of the City of North Liberty for an Ordinance amending Chapter
168 of the North Liberty Code of Ordinances, governing districts defined and dimensional standards for RD and RM Districts. Staff recommends the Planning Commission accept the listed finding, the proposed amendment would achieve consistency with Section 165.09 of the Zoning Code, and forward the request for Ordinance amendment to the City Council with a recommendation for approval.
Public Comments
No public comments were offered.
Questions and Comments
The Commission had no discussion on the application.
Recommendation to the City Council
Heisler moved, A’Hearn seconded that the Planning Commission accept the listed finding and forward the Ordinance amendment to the City Council with a recommendation for approval. The vote was: ayes – Ward, Yotty, A’Hearn, Geneser, Heisler, Bathke; nays – none; absent – Willer. Motion approved.
Urban Renewal Area Amendment
Staff Presentation
Heiar presented the request of the City of North Liberty for an amendment to the North Liberty Urban Renewal Area. Staff recommends forwarding the request to the City Council with a recommendation for approval.
Public Comments
No public comments were offered.
Questions and Comments
The Commission discussed the application including Cherry Street Corridor improvements, blight, improvements to the trail, impact on recreation center, proximity of the food pantry, debt service, names of developers, liking what they are doing for the town, local developer, and tying the community together.
Recommendation to the City Council
Bathke moved, Geneser seconded that the Planning Commission forward the Urban Renewal Area Amendment to the City Council with a recommendation for approval. The vote was: ayes – Yotty, Bathke, A’Hearn, Geneser, Ward, Heisler; nays – none; absent- Willer. Motion approved.
Approval of Previous Minutes
A’Hearn moved, Ward seconded to approve the minutes of the March 4, 2025, meeting. The vote was all ayes. Minutes approved.
Old and New Business
Rusnak presented that two good neighbor meetings were held regarding the Weno property being developed by Watts Development. The application will come to the Commission in May.
Adjournment
At 7:20 p.m., Heisler moved, A’Hearn seconded to adjourn. The vote was all ayes. Meeting adjourned.
Signed:
Tracey Mulcahey, City Clerk
