Staff reviewing possible changes after disagreement with county over requested rezoning
KCJJ Staff
02/17/19
Iowa City officials say they are looking into issues with the city’s zoning documents in relation to the city’s Fringe Area Agreement with Johnson County.
The county last month formally requested a meeting with the city to update that agreement after a dispute over a request rezoning of more than 11 acres of land on American Legion Road west of Wapsi Avenue. While the county, which has recently updated many of its planning and zoning documents, was moving toward approval, the Iowa City council recommended the county deny that request.
While Johnson County has the final say, the FAA allows both the city council and the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission a chance to weigh-in. Each recommended denial of the rezoning request because it does not fit with the current FAA.
However, city senior planner Anne Russett says city staff acknowledges there are inconsistencies between city zoning documents and the FAA due its having not been updated since it was implemented in 2006. Staff notes the city’s considerable growth – particularly the addition of the South District Plan and the Southeast District Plan – have caused the inconsistencies which “will need to be addressed.”
Russett writes the city needs to decide if the current boundary and zoning maps are appropriate for anticipated population growth and, if not, where they should be expanded.
The FAA consists of two areas: the city’s growth area, which is a one-mile perimeter directly adjacent to city boundaries, and another one-mile perimeter around the growth area where future growth is anticipated.
Russett says staff is in talks with county staff currently while also examining the growth areas with public works officials to determine if there are any infrastructure constraints to changing the boundaries.
