City of North Liberty recently issued the following announcement.
Included in each City Council information packet is a memo from the City Administrator offering a summary and context of items appearing on the agenda. We will begin publishing these memos here in our news feed to make them more accessible. You can sign up to be notified of news items, agendas and more by email.
This meeting will be held in person and may be accessed live by the public in person or on the internet.
This meeting may be accessed live by the public in person or on the internet at at northlibertyiowa.org/live, on Facebook at facebook.com/northliberty or on YouTube at youtube.com/ northliberty. Meetings are rebroadcast on cable and available on-demand on northlibertyiowa.org/meetings.
Meeting Note
Tuesday’s meeting will be held in person as well as live streamed at Watch Meetings Live.
Consent Agenda
The following items are on the consent agenda and included in the packet:
- City Council Minutes (12/14/21)
- Claims
- Liquor License Renewals & Updates
- Urban Fuel
- The Station II
- Walgreens
- Jalapeno
- Pancheros
In late 2021, the City Council verbally agreed to commit $100k of American Rescue Plan Act funding to the North Liberty Community Pantry. This agenda includes an agreement with the Pantry establishing terms and formalizing the Council’s decision to provide $100k to the Pantry. Staff recommends approval of the agreement.
Field Day Brewing Site Plan
This commercial site plan, located on the south side of Liberty Way, directly west of the Liberty Centre Pond, proposes a 20,910 square foot restaurant and brewery and related infrastructure. This is a large building, so architectural interest was achieved with window glazing, the use of masonry and metal panels, changes in wall planes and variations in the roofline. Additionally, the site contains a large outdoor area adjacent to the pond that will fit nicely with the vision of the Liberty Centre area. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the site plan at its January 4, 2022 meeting. Staff also recommends approval of the site plan.
Taco Bell Site Plan
This commercial site plan, located between West Penn Street and Liberty Way, directly west of Speedy Mikes, proposes a 2,234 square foot Taco Bell and related infrastructure. The building elevations show a substantial amount of window glazing, along with gray masonry and accent panels. Additionally, the site contains dedicated pedestrian walkways to West Penn Street and Liberty Way and has an outdoor seating area. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the site plan at its January 4, 2022 meeting. Staff also recommends approval the site plan.
Watts Group Development (The Preserve) Rezoning
Watts Group Development, Inc. is requesting a zoning map amendment on 3.9 acres from RS-6 Single-Unit Residence District to RD-10 Two-Unit Residence District – south side of Denison Avenue approximately 130 feet east of Brook Ridge Avenue– to facilitate development as single-unit zero lot line dwellings. The applicant indicated that the requested change will allow them to offer more affordable homes. The property abuts properties zoned RD-10 to the west so the request is compatible with the area. A good neighbor meeting was held on November 29, 2021 and no one outside of the applicant and City staff attended. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the request at its December 7, 2021 meeting. Staff recommends approval as well.
Zoning Code Ordinance Amendment, First Reading
This is a substantial amendment to the Zoning Code that City staff has been working on for approximately two years. The overarching goal was to make the Zoning Code more user-friendly and address contemporary trends and best practices. Staff will be prepared to summarize the changes at the meeting (a summary of the changes are contained with the staff report to the Planning Commission). The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Ordinance at its January 4, 2022 meeting. Staff recommends approval as well.
Rental Code Ordinance Amendment, First Reading
This is a companion request to the Zoning Code amendments. It is not a best practice to regulate rental housing in the Zoning Code. The Ordinance proposes relocating relevant rental housing regulations to Chapter 146 (Housing Code). Staff recommends approval of the Ordinance.
Land Use Map Amendment
This is a companion request to the Zoning Code amendments. This would change the Land Use designation of the UIHC property to “Public” as the University is a public entity. This amendment would allow the subsequent UIHC rezoning to achieve consistency with the Future Land Use Map. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the amendment at its January 4, 2022 meeting. Staff also recommends approval.
Rezoning Ordinance, First Reading
This is a companion request to the Zoning Code amendment. Three of the rezonings will allow properties to align with the proposed changes in the Zoning Code. The UIHC rezoning is to allow the Zoning Map to better reflect the actual use of the property. All property owners have been contacted and there are no objections to the request. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Ordinance at its January 4, 2022 meeting. Staff recommends approval as well.
Council Vacancy
On January 3, Mayor Hoffman transitioned from Councilor to Mayor, resulting in a vacant Council seat. Included in the packet is a memo from the City Attorney providing options to fill the vacant seat. In a more recent follow up with the County Auditor’s office, they have agreed to having one voting center (at the North Liberty Community Center) for a special election at an estimated cost of $5,000. Further, the Auditor’s Office is considering an election date of either Tuesday, March 1 or Tuesday, March 8, assuming the City Council decides on an appointment or election at the January 25 Council meeting. At the time of publication, the Auditor’s Office could not commit to a specific date as there was some uncertainty about a potential Clear Creek Amana School district special election.
Original source can be found here.
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