HomeMy WebLinkAboutVacation applicationppdadm/apps/P&Z Form7-vacation.indd
FOR STAFF USE:
Date submitted ..............................................................................................
Case # ..............................................................................................................
$.............................. fee paid on ..........................................................(date)
Application received by ...............................................................................
Copy to Applicant Copy to PCD Original to City Clerk
Applicant Information
Applicant
Name ...............................................................................................................
Address ..........................................................................................................
.................................................................................. ZIP ................................
Phone .......................................... email........................................................
Contact Person (if other than Applicant)
Name ................................................................................................................
Address ............................................................................................................
.................................................................................. ZIP .................................
Phone ........................................... email .......................................................
The City has a Good Neighbor Policy that encourages applicants
to meet with neighbors prior to submitting an application. Copies
of the policy are attached to this application form or are available
from the Department of Planning and Community Development.
Please check one of the following:
Applicant plans to use the Good Neighbor Policy
Applicant chooses not to use the Good Neighbor Policy
Description of the area to be vacated
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
Form 7: Application for Vacation
City of Iowa City Planning & Zoning Commission, (319) 356-5230 www.ICgov.org / PCD
Reason for seeking a vacation (attach additional pages if necessary)
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
Application Requirements Checklist
Please attach the following items. Additional materials may be required
during the review process. Failure to submit complete application
materials may result in delays in processing, so please use the following
checklist to confirm that your application is complete.
1. Location map of the area requested for vacation
2. Legal description of the property (if more than 25 words, deliver
or email electronic version to PlanningZoning@iowa-city.org)
3. Application fee
Return Completed Form To: City Clerk, City of Iowa City, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240
GENERAL INFORMATION ON PURCHASING VACATED RIGHT-OF-WAY
In conjunction with submitting an Application for Vacation, many adjacent property owners often
desire to purchase the vacated right-of-way. This memo provides general information regarding
the procedure you must follow to make such a purchase and the factors the City Council
considers when determining whether to accept your purchase offer and convey the vacated
property to you.
In order for the City Council to consider conveying the vacated right-of-way to you, you must
first submit a purchase offer to the City Attorney’s office. This purchase offer is in addition to the
Application for Vacation and will be considered separately. Once the City Attorney’s office has
received your offer, the City Council will consider a “Resolution of Intent to Convey” the vacated
right-of-way. A public hearing on the offer and resolution will be set, ideally on a date that
coincides with the Council’s final reading of the proposed ordinance to vacate the property. If,
after public hearing, the Council agrees that your offer reflects fair market value and the
conveyance is in the public interest, it may pass a “Resolution Authorizing Conveyance.” All of
these steps are necessary for the City to pass clear title of the former right-of-way to a private
party.
It is important to recognize that the City holds property “in trust” for the use and benefit of the
public, and thus, City property can be disposed of only in accordance with the public interest.
As “trustee” of public property, the City Council must dispose of such property in good faith,
upon adequate consideration, and upon reasonable and lawful terms. Generally, “adequate
consideration” has meant the City must obtain fair market value for the property to be conveyed,
assuming the transaction does not entail other public benefit.
Determining “adequate consideration” or fair market value for parcels of public property,
particularly former right-of-way property, can be difficult. The City Council considers the specific
facts of each situation when determining the appropriate payment for conveyance of such
property. In past conveyances, the amount of consideration has been based on the assessed
value of neighboring property or recent sales of neighboring or comparable property (on a price
per square foot basis). Although an appraisal is not necessary, when one is available, appraised
value of neighboring property can also serve as a basis for determining the appropriate
consideration. The existence of easements which limit the buildable area or use of the property
may support a lower valuation.
These figures of course do not take into account any “public benefit” or other unique
circumstances you may believe exist in relationship to your proposal to acquire the parcel from
the City. Please take all of these factors into consideration when submitting your offer, as
prospective purchasers are often asked to explain how their offer was arrived at and how this
relates to the fair market value of the property.
For more information on making an offer to purchase a vacated right-of-way, please contact
Assistant City Attorney Sara Greenwood Hektoen at (319)356-5030 or sara-hektoen@iowa-
city.org.
2014 FEES FOR REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS
City of Iowa City
Planning & Zoning Commission
and
Board of Adjustment
TYPE FEE
Subdivision
Preliminary (Minor) $700
Preliminary (Major) $700 + $15 per lot
Final $700
Combination: Preliminary/Final $770 + $15 per lot
Planned Area Development (OPD)
Preliminary $700 + $15 per lot
Final administrative review $265
(To be submitted to Housing & Inspection Services)
Combination: OPD and Subdivision
Preliminary $700 + $15 per lot
Final $695
Combination: Preliminary/Final $770 + $15 per lot
Rezoning $490
Comprehensive Plan Amendment $490
Voluntary Annexation $490
Street or Alley Vacation $200
Variance $405
Special Exception $405
Other BOA actions $405
Combination BOA actions $480
*These fees will be updated in February 2015 to reflect changes in the rate of inflation.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor
Consumer Price Index Data for 2014
www.bls.gov
CITY OF IOWA CITY
Planning and Zoning Commission
2015 Application Deadline
* Due to holiday.
Submit Application by Noon to:
City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City
Meeting time and location
Planning and Zoning formal meetings are scheduled for the first and third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in
Emma Harvat Hall, City Hall, 410 East Washington Street. (If needed, Planning and Zoning informal meetings are
held at 5:15 p.m. on the Monday preceding each formal meeting.) Attendees are advised to check the meeting
agenda at www.icgov.org/apps/boards or contact the Department of Development Services at 319-356-5230 for
any possible changes.
For more information contact Bob Miklo at 319-356-5240 or bob-miklo@iowa-city.org.
APPLICATION DEADLINE FORMAL MEETING
December 24 * January 15
January 15 February 5
January 29 February 19
February 12 March 5
February 26 March 19
March 12 April 2
March 26 April 16
April 16 May 7
April 30 May 21
May 14 June 4
May 28 June 18
June 11 July 2
June 25 July 16
July 16 August 6
July 30 August 20
August 13 September 3
August 27 September 17
September 10 October 1
September 24 October 15
October 15 November 5
October 29 November 19
November 12 December 3
November 25 * December 17
December 17 January 7
December 31 January 21
City of Iowa City
Planning and Community
Development Department
The Office of Neighborhood Services is
available to assist with the Good
Neighbor Program by arranging meeting
rooms, providing sample meeting
notices, notifying neighborhood
association contacts, and other
information and advice.
Contact Marcia Bollinger, Neighborhood
Services Coordinator
Phone: 319-356-5237
E-mail: Marcia-Bollinger@iowa-city.org
Good Neighbor meetings are NOT required as
part of the review process in Iowa City but they
are strongly encouraged in most instances. If
you choose to be documented as participating
in the program, the following steps need to be
followed by the applicant:
⃝Meeting facilities located as close to the
subject property and neighbors as
possible. The Neighborhood Services
Coordinator can make suggestions and
final arrangements in most cases.
⃝Good Neighbor meeting notice reviewed
by City staff prior to distribution. The
Neighborhood Service Coordinator will
ensure that it is reviewed/approved and be
responsible for sending it on to
representatives of impacted neighborhood
associations for their distribution.
⃝Meeting notice sent by applicant to all
property owners within 300’ of the
subject property by applicant and sent out
not less than 7 days prior to Good
Neighbor meeting date.
⃝Good Neighbor Meeting occurs no less
than 7 days prior to the scheduled
board/commission meeting to enable
adequate time to provide input.
⃝Good Neighbor meeting attended by a
City staff representative. Staff will be
available as a resource person to respond
to process, schedule, and zoning, etc.
questions . This will be arranged by the
Neighborhood Services Coordinator.
⃝Meeting summary submitted by applicant
prior to board/commission review.
Applicant will develop a summary of the
input provided at the meeting which will
be available for distribution at
board/commission meeting. See
www.icgov.org/goodneighbor for a guide
or through the Neighborhood Services
Coordinator.
Planning & Community
Development
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: 319-356-5230
Fax: 319-356-5217
Good
Neighbor
Program
www.icgov.org/goodneighbor
History and Background Iowa City’s Good Neighbor Program is part of an effort to make the development process run more smoothly between property owners and developers who seek zoning and related changes, and the neighborhoods that may be affected by those changes. The Good Neighbor Program is not a requirement, but rather a recommended approach that encourages proactive dialogue between property owners, developers, and neighbors that may help identify and resolve issues before the project is reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission or the Board of Adjustment. For minor projects, such as a yard setback reduction, the approach may be as simple as knocking on neighbors’ doors to discuss the proposed project with them. For a rezoning or subdivision, it may be appropriate to hold a neighborhood meeting or open house to present the project and invite questions and comments from your neighbors. While the Good Neighbor Program does not guarantee specific outcomes, answering neighbors’ questions and hearing their concerns or suggestions may provide the opportunity to developers/applicants to address concerns or objections before the project is reviewed in a public forum. This can minimize controversy and delays when a project is reviewed by the Board of Adjustment, Planning and Zoning Commission, or the City Council.
Helpful Tips for a
Good Neighbor Meeting
What information can you provide
that the neighbor will find useful?
• Background information including
a description of your project and
the public process it must go
through.
• Site plans, elevations, models,
aerial photos, drawings, etc. This
will help them visualize the
changes you wish to make.
• Information or other resources
that discuss the zoning or land
development process. The
Planning Department can provide
you with this information or is
available at
www.icgov.org/goodneighbor
View it from their perspective: How
will neighbors see your project?
• Put yourself in the place of the
people who surround your
property. Will they view your
project as an enhancement or
unexpected change?
• How might your project impact
traffic or pedestrian safety in the
area?
• Does your project enhance or
complement existing
neighborhood character or does it
contrast with what surrounds it?
• Will your project alter the natural
landscape, impact views, etc.?
• Might your project reduce the
sense of privacy for a neighboring
property owner?
Ways to respond to concerns
• Listen and be respectful—give people
the chance to be heard.
• Focus on identifying problems. This
meeting is a chance for you to gather
input that may be useful to you in
getting your project through the
review process. The issues that your
neighbors raise are often the same
issues that may be raised by the
Planning and Zoning Commission or
the Board of Adjustment.
• Be open to options that could be
reasonable or affordable ways to
alleviate or address problems.
• Resolving problems at the meeting is
not necessary, but it may be helpful
to identify areas where there is some
flexibility in your plans.
• Know that you won’t necessarily be
able to please everyone, but that you
are providing an opportunity for
dialogue. The neighbors will
appreciate your effort and the
opportunity to share their views.