HomeMy WebLinkAboutSouth Central District Plan 03-20-2007SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT PLANDEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, CITY OF IOWA CITY410 E. WASHINGTON STREET • IOWA CITY • IOWA 52240ADOPTED FEBRUARY 10, 2000REVISED MAY 20, 2003REVISED MAY 17, 2005 REVISED MARCH 20, 2007
SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT PLAN
City of Iowa City, Iowa
IOWA CITY CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Ernest W. Lehman
Mayor Pro Tem Mike O'Donnell
Connie Champion
Steven Kanner
Irvin Pfab
Dee Vanderhoef
Ross Wilburn
IOWA CITY PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
Lea Supple, Chairperson
Ann Bovberg, Vice-Chairperson
Dean Shannon, Secretary
Benjamin Chait
Richard Gibson
Marilyn Schintler
Pam Ehrhardt
CITY MANAGER
Stephen J. Atkins
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Karin Franklin, Director
Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director
Robert Miklo, Senior Planner
Melody Rockwell, Associate Planner
Scott Kugler, Associate Planner
John Yapp, Associate Planner
Kay Irelan, Graphic Artist
SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT PLAN
Contents
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................1
Exhibit A, South Central District Property Owners Map .................................................2
Exhibit B, Iowa City Planning Districts ...........................................................................3
HISTORIC CONTEXT ............................................................................................................4
Early History, Archaeological Sites, Indians/Early Settlers, Agriculture ...........................4
Highways, Airport ...........................................................................................................5
Fairgrounds .....................................................................................................................6
CURRENT CHARACTERISTICS .............................................................................................6
Sensitive Areas, Major Streets .........................................................................................6
Exhibit D, South Central District Sensitive Areas Map ....................................................7
Exhibit E, South Central District Flood Plain Map ...........................................................8
Exhibit F, South Central District Streets Map ............................................................... 10
Trails, Public Utilities & Services.................................................................................11
Exhibit G, South Central District Potential Trail System Map ......................................12
Exhibit H, South Central District Utilities/Fire Service Map .........................................13
Fringe Area Policy ........................................................................................................14
DISTRICT SUBAREAS.........................................................................................................14
Exhibit I, South Central District Subareas Map ............................................................15
AIRPORT CENTRAL: SUBAREA A ......................................................................................16
Exhibit J, Phase I Airport Improvements Map ..............................................................17
HIGHWAY 1/AIRPORT NORTH: SUBAREA B ...................................................................18
Current Land Uses .......................................................................................................18
Exhibit K, South Central District Current Land Use Map .............................................19
Exhibit L, South Central District Future Land Use Scenario .........................................20
Environmental Features, Future Development .............................................................21
RIVER CORRIDOR: SUBAREA C ........................................................................................23
Current Land Uses .......................................................................................................23
Environmental Features ................................................................................................24
Future Land Uses .........................................................................................................25
RURAL/AIRPORT SOUTH: SUBAREA D ............................................................................27
Current Land Uses, Environmental Features ................................................................27
Future Land Uses ......................................................................................................... 28
IMPLEMENTATION ...........................................................................................................30
Land Uses .....................................................................................................................30
Streets, Trails/Sidewalks, Entranceways, Infrastructure, Buffers ..................................31
South Central District Plan
The South Central District Plan describes the history, current land uses, existing environ-
mental features and potential, future land uses for the area of the community located south
of Highways 1 and 6 and west of the Iowa River. Guidelines for future residential, commer-
cial and industrial land uses and supporting public facilities, including streets, sewers, stormwater
drainage and open space, are set forth for the district. The plan also addresses the changes that
are anticipated in this area as a result of the Willow Creek Interceptor Sewer construction and the
implementation of the Iowa City Airport Master Plan in the late 1990s. Major entranceway and
transportation issues associated with Highways 1, 6 and 218, and Riverside Drive are addressed as
well.
The district encompasses an area approximately 1,811 acres or 2.8 square miles, and extends
south of Highways 1 and 6 and west of the Iowa River to the growth area limits, which mark the
boundaries of the land that Iowa City can provide sanitary sewer service to in the future. [See
Exhibit A: Iowa City South Central District Map] On the west, Highway 218 serves as the primary
boundary, although the district includes a triangular-shaped area that is located immediately west
of Highway 218 and south of Highway 1. Ryerson’s Woods Park and Izaak Walton Road are
located at the south end of the district. Nearly half (48%) of the district is located within the cor-
porate boundaries of Iowa City, and the remaining 52% is unincorporated property located south
and west of the Iowa City Airport.
The South Central District Plan is the third in a series of district plans to be included in Iowa City’s
new Comprehensive Plan, Iowa City: Beyond 2000. [See Exhibit B: Iowa City Planning Districts
Map] This district plan was developed in consultation with citizens, who own property, run busi-
nesses, and/or live in this area of the community. People from both the city and the county par-
ticipated in interviews, completed surveys and attended meetings in 1997 and 1998, and worked
with city staff to identify positive features, address areas needing improvement, provide historical
details and envision future plans for this district. Upon completion of an arterial street study for the
district, public review of the plan continued in 1999.
Historic ContextEarly History. The people of the Woodland prehistoric period (500 BC - AD 1000) con-structed earthen mounds in which they buried one or more individuals. According to the State Archaeologist’s records there are no known prehistoric or early settlement burial mounds in the South Central District. However, area property owners were able to deter the Iowa Department of Transportation from routing Highway 218 through Ryerson’s Woods by presenting evidence in court that Indian burial mounds exist in that part of the district.Ryerson's Woods, approximately 40 acres of wooded, steep hills, contain a wide variety of ferns and wildflowers. The woods were preserved by the Ryerson family, who fenced off the woods and did not allow cattle to graze or crops to be planted in that area over the decades they owned the land. Now the timber preserve, which has been protected for over 100 years, continues as a conservation area; a natural open space city park with an interpretive trail system.Archaeological Sites. Sites of known early prehistoric and historic habitations are clustered on the high ridge in the west part of the South Central District. The State Archaeologist’s map of the South Central District [Exhibit C] shows three sites of early prehistoric and historic habitations west of Highway 218 on the Maxwell prop-erty, and east of Highway 218 on the Davis property and the Knorr property. Ryerson’s Woods Park contains a prehistoric habitation site, and Sturgis Ferry Park is noted on the map as the site of a historic period landfill.Indians/Early Settlers. Mesquakie Indian encampments and early Euro-American settlements in Johnson County occurred primarily on the east side of the Iowa River, across from the South Cen-tral District. Records show, however, that the Mesquakie people were active on the west side of the river as well, along a high ridge on the west edge of the Johnson County Fairgrounds. In 1838, Benjamin Miller began operating the first ferry in Johnson County, which provided access to the district from the town of Napoleon. Some of the first Euro-American settlers in Johnson County homesteaded this area, including Joseph Stover and his family, who settled on the Benjamin Miller claim west of the Iowa River and established their home where an airport hanger is now located.Agriculture. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the district developed agriculturally with well-established dairy farms and truck farms, including Will Goodwin’s truck farm and Jack Estelle’s fruit market on the Wardway (now Gateway One) corner. South of where PB Feed is now located, Rinard Triptoe had a farm and dairy on poor, easily flooded ground. The Benjamin dairy, located where the airport is now, had good corn ground (sandy loam) and large herds of Holstein cattle. Ryerson's Woods Park contains a network of hiking trails.4
The Miller Dairy was located south of the current Handimart property. In 1928, Harold Dane started his dairy farm in the west part of the district. He and his son John built up and then main-tained a herd of 100 Holstein milking cows until the late 1980s.Highways. Riverside Drive was the major north-south route for this district, and in the early 1900s was called the Red Ball Route, because every half mile the telephone poles were painted red, white and blue and marked with large red circles mounted on the telephone poles along the route. In 1951, Highway 1, a gravel road and the major east-west route for this district, was straightened and paved, and over the next few years, commercial development and airport expan-sions began to supplant the agricultural uses south of Highway 1. In the mid-1960s, Wardway Plaza, the city's first suburban strip shopping center, opened at the southwest corner of the inter-section of Highway 1 and Riverside Drive. Other commercial developments, such as the automo-bile dealerships and discount stores, followed and have given the highway corridor the appear-ance of a commercial strip.Airport. The Iowa City Municipal Airport was initiated in 1918 when the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce rented a portion of a farm field on the Benjamin farm to use as an airstrip, and Iowa City was designated as a stop in the first air mail route west of Chicago. In 1920, the first air mail plane flew between Chicago and Omaha, landing on the Iowa City airstrip to refuel. The Iowa City airfield was also a stopover location for the first transcontinental flight in 1924.The City of Iowa City took over the leasing of airfield facilities in 1922, negotiated an agreement with Boeing for the use of the airfield by 1927, and purchased the 192-acre Benjamin farm in 1928. Boeing constructed two 100 by 2,000-foot runways in 1930; the first “surfaced” runways in Iowa. Boeing and National Air Transport merged in the early 1930s to become United Air Lines, which provided commercial air service in Iowa City until 1959, when Ozark Air Lines began commercial air service. Commercial air service in Iowa City ended in 1972 when the airlines quit using turboprop airplanes for air passen-ger service.The airplane-shaped terminal building with its “central fuselage and two wings” was constructed in 1951. Its light metal canopy, the Moderne-style metal letters on the front of the terminal building and the top to bottom glass wedge which protrudes onto the concrete taxiway add elements of interest to this building. The airport site itself with such potential key structures as the terminal building and the 1930 transport hanger, is considered by the State Historic Preservation Office to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The 1999 renovation of the airport terminal was implemented in a manner that maintains the in-tegrity of this historic structure. Mail plane at the Iowa City Airport, May 1925. 5
The Johnson County Fairgrounds contains several exhi-bition halls and community meeting facilities.Fairgrounds. In 1949, the Farm Bureau/Extension Service hired Harold Montgomery to come from Story County to build a new fairgrounds for Johnson County. In 1951, the Johnson County Fair-grounds was established on 10 acres of land purchased from Joe Miller, and the first fairgrounds building – a barn – was erected by volunteers. The fairgrounds now has 51 acres, and in addition to the county fair held at the end of July each year, the fairground facilities have become a com-munity center with 4-H activities, theater productions and over 400 meetings held there annually.Current CharacteristicsSensitive Areas. Because the district is bounded on the east by the Iowa River, encom-passed to a large extent by a floodplain and bisected by Willow Creek and other lesser drainageways, stormwater man-agement is a critical issue in the South Central District. [See Exhibit D: South Central District Sensitive Areas Map, and Exhibit E: South Central District Floodplain Map.] The high water table and relatively flat terrain in the north and east parts of the district, as well as the safety issues related to having stormwater ponds that attract waterfowl in the vicinity of airport runway zones, present challenges to resolving drain-age concerns for both developed and developing properties in the district. Areas encompassed by the 100-year floodplain require extensive fill, if they are to develop. Development of wood-ed wetlands in the southeast part of the district near the river may be precluded or severely limited. A high, wooded ridge is located in the southwest part of the district and culmi-nates in Ryerson’s Woods Park at the south boundary of the district. Potential archeological sites located along this ridge, natural drainageways and steep wooded slopes should be considered when planning for the southwest area of the district.Major Streets. The major through streets in the South Central District are the highways that form the boundaries of the district (Highways 1, 6 and 218) and one north-south street (Highway 921/Riverside Drive). Other arterial streets planned for the district include the relocation of the north part of Dane Road to intersect with Highway 1 opposite Mormon Trek Boulevard, an east-west arterial street along the south boundary of the airport to connect Dane Road to Riverside Drive, and a collector street from Highway 1 via Ruppert Road to Riverside Drive through the proposed North Airport Commercial Park. A service road at the rear of the commercial properties along Highway 1 from Ruppert Road to the south drive of the Gateway One property may be considered to facilitate commercial traffic in this area. [See Exhibit F: Proposed South Central District Arterial and Collector Streets Map]6
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In 1998-1999, an arterial street study was undertaken to evaluate what the preferred alignment would be for a connecting arterial street between Mormon Trek Boulevard on the west and the Sycamore "L" on the west. This study took into consideration what river crossing route would be best given the traffic, environmental, land ownership/use and drainage issues that need to be ad-dressed along this section of the Iowa River. Long-range arterial street plans for this area include a river crossing that extends east from the Highway 218 interchange across the river to the Syca-more "L". Locating a major arterial street through the extensive wooded wetlands adjacent to the river will need to take into account the construction costs and environmental degradation associ-ated with this route.Traffic congestion on Highways 1 and 6 and anticipated development in this district provide strong indicators that a river crossing will be needed to facilitate traffic flows in this south area of the community within the next five to ten years. The arterial street study has recommended a pre-ferred alignment for this river crossing that generally follows the Willow Creek Interceptor Sewer route across the river, connecting Riverside Drive and the future arterial street along the south boundary of the Airport through the north part of Mesquakie Park and across the river south of Napoleon Park to Gilbert Street/Sand Road. The study indicates that this route will alleviate traffic congestion on Highway 1 and 6 in a less environmentally negative and costly way, while improv-ing traffic circulation with the South and South Central Districts. In the long term, e.g. twenty years or more, a second river crossing may need to be considered further to the south. This deci-sion will depend on whether future development patterns and vehicular traffic pressures in the area warrant such a substantial investment.Aerial view of the north part of the South Central District, 1963.9
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Long range plans should also include connections for north-south collector streets from the de-
veloping commercial and industrial airport properties to provide for future interior access and
development if the airport should ever be relocated or closed. In the south and east portions of the
district, natural and man-made barriers will limit the development of grid pattern streets and cross
district connections.
Trails. The installation of the Willow Creek Interceptor Sewer provides an opportunity to extend
the Willow Creek Trail from Kiwanis Park (located north of the district), south and east to the Iowa
River, and then across the river east to connect with the Iowa River Corridor Trail in Napoleon
Park. This trail will provide pedestrian and off-street bicycling access north from Napoleon Park to
the Iowa City downtown and University campus, and eventually south and east of Napoleon Park
to other South District parks, including the City soccer fields. Trail connections from the south and
west portions of the district should be considered along stream corridors and within the Highway
218 buffer area to tie into the City trail system and parks in this area of the community. [See Ex-
hibit G: South Central District Trails Map]
The Willow Creek Trail connection to the Iowa River Corridor Trail will add an important link in
the regional trail system. As additional property south of Mesquakie Park becomes part of Iowa
City, the potential for extending a trail along the west bank of the river, connecting to Ryerson’s
Woods Park, and looping north past the fairgrounds to the airport segment of the Willow Creek
Trail should be explored. Wherever possible, Indian trails along the Iowa River should be desig-
nated and incorporated into the City trail system in a way that preserves them as historic elements
of this district. As development progresses in the South Central District, consideration should be
given to constructing trails or sidewalks along existing streets, such as Riverside Drive and High-
way 1, and along new streets as they are constructed to provide safe pedestrian routes in the
district.
Public Utilities & Services. The extension of public utilities, such as sanitary sewer and water
lines, should occur before development at urban densities is considered in the south and west
portions of the district. [See Exhibit H: South Central District City Utilities/Fire Service Map] The
completion of the Willow Creek Interceptor Sewer in 1999 will open up development potential
and increase capacity for existing uses throughout much of the district. Because of topography,
the area south of the fairgrounds and Mesquakie Park cannot be served by gravity flow and would
require a lift station. Areas such as this, which cannot be served by gravity flow sanitary sewers,
may be considered for removal from the growth area. Septic systems are not appropriate for flood
prone areas in the southeast part of the district, so urban development is likely to be limited in that
area. Sewer capacity in the area west of Highway 218 is restricted at this time due to the limited
size of the sewer lines serving the commercial development in that area. Water is available down
Riverside Drive as far as Protein Blenders, and can be extended south as development occurs.
The water system in this area needs to be looped (connected with water lines to the northwest, or
across the river to the east) to maintain water pressure.
Police protection is provided in the South Central District by the Iowa City police in the city and
the Johnson County sheriff’s office in the rural area. Fire protection is provided in the district with
first responders in the city being Iowa City Fire Station No. 2, located off Melrose Avenue, and the
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downtown fire station (#1) as the second responder. Currently, the response time is six minutes or more for most city properties in the South Central District. As this district develops, there will likely be a need for a fire station to be located in this area. Arterial street continuity is needed to ensure adequate fire and emergency protection. In the county, the Hills Fire Department is the first responder. In the event of a large fire or emergency situation, all fire departments in Johnson County and the north part of Washington County are on call through a mutual aid agreement to provide service. Fringe Area Policy. The City and Johnson County have entered into a Fringe Area Agreement that deals with how annexations, rezonings, subdivisions and conditional use permits in the extrater-ritorial area (the two-mile area immediately outside the city limits) will be handled by the two governmental jurisdictions. Unincorporated land that is within Iowa City’s growth area in the South Central District is in Fringe Area C. Properties in Fringe Area C that are presently zoned for residential development and within Iowa City’s growth area, may develop for residential uses, but must meet City standards for streets, sanitary sewers, stormwater management facilities and water lines so these facilities can be connected to the municipal systems upon annexation. Subdivisions in this area are required to have a cluster design with 50 percent of the development designated as an outlot for open space, agriculture or future development upon annexation. According to the Fringe Area Agreement, commercial and industrial developments are not encouraged in the unin-corporated area of Fringe Area C prior to annexation.District SubareasThe South Central District Plan focuses on four major subareas in the district; each with dis-tinct characteristics in terms of existing land uses and environmental features. [See Exhibit I: Iowa City South Central District Subarea Map] The Iowa City Airport is central to the district in terms of its location and size (365 acres or 20% of the South Central District), and is labeled in the plan as Subarea A, Airport Central. [See Exhibit J: Airport Expansion Plan Map] The proposed airport expansion, which involves the eventual closure of the north-south runways (17/35) and the extension of Runway 6 to the southwest, will affect future land use in the district. Existing land uses will be altered and development options may be changed due to the expansion of flyway areas, the realignment of Dane Road, the possible relocation of a portion of Willow Creek, and the opening up of parcels of land for develop-ment. Commercial, industrial and public facili-ties may be located in the north, east and south areas of the airport property that will no longer be required for aviation purposes.The Iowa City Municipal Airport.14
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The north part of the district along Highway 1 is a commercial corridor with a mix of retail,
office and other businesses, and is known in the plan as Subarea B, Highway 1/Airport North.
This subarea includes the north part of the Iowa City Airport, which is being redeveloped by
the City and the Airport Commission as the North Airport Commercial Park.
The east part of the district located between Riverside Drive and the Iowa River is designated
in the plan as Subarea C, River Corridor. Subarea C contains City properties, including the
public works and transit facilities and Sturgis Ferry Park, at the north end of the subarea; inten-
sive commercial and industrial properties, manufactured housing parks and a former landfill,
and Mesquakie Park (not open to the public) in the center; and a few residences, the Izaak
Walton League property and wooded wetlands in the south.
Subarea D, Rural/Airport South, includes the area south and west of the airport as well as
a south portion of the airport that is being considered for future industrial development. Al-
though a sizable manufactured housing park has been established immediately south of the
airport property in Subarea D, this area is largely rural, containing farms, a few rural residenc-
es, the Johnson County Fairgrounds, and Ryerson's Woods Park.
Airport Central: Subarea A
The Iowa City Municipal Airport controls the largest landholding in the South Central Dis-
trict. It owns or has authority over 400 acres, and the proportion of airport land is expected
to increase with the proposed airport acquisition of properties to create barrier-free clear
zones at the end of runways. For purposes of district planning, however, the Airport Central Sub-
area is defined as that portion of the airport property (about 300 acres) that is to be used for airport
purposes only, e.g. the runways, hangars, terminal, maintenance and administrative buildings, and
the land that encompasses those facilities. Areas controlled by the airport that are not used strictly
for aviation purposes and are proposed to be leased for commercial, industrial or public facilities
use, are addressed as part of other district subareas.
Following an airport relocation study in the early 1990s, the Iowa City Council determined that
the airport should remain in its existing location. The existing streets and highways, the river and
expanding urban development create constraints to the operation of the airport at its current loca-
tion, but through certain improvements, its use can be extended for at least another 15 years. An
adopted master plan for the improvements is being implemented. The proposed airport redevelop-
ment, including the extension and closure of airport runways, will have a major effect on a num-
ber of neighboring properties in the Highway 1/Airport North Subarea, because it will 1) involve
land acquisition and the relocation of some businesses and residences, 2) change building height
limitations on certain properties, 3) result in the realignment of Dane Road and possibly Willow
Creek, and 4) create the opportunity for the development and leasing of airport land for commer-
cial/industrial use and the construction of additional collector street connections between High-
way 1 and Riverside Drive.
The Airport Master Plan focuses on the removal of obstructions, which involves property acquisi-
tion and the creation of obstacle free zones at the end of each runway. The master plan also intro-
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duced a policy to lease airport properties not needed for aviation purposes so that the airport can become self-supporting. Fifty-four acres in the north part of the airport are being considered for commercial development. The Airport Master Plan projects that Runway 17/35 (north/south) will close between the years 2005 and 2010. Even with the elimination of one of the three runways, the number of annual aircraft operations is expected to increase from an estimated 26,730 in 1996 to 39,538 in 2015. Although most of the aircraft using the airport will be small, having fewer than ten (10) passenger seats and weighing under 12,500 pounds, an increase in turboprop and jet traf-fic is expected. Highway 1/Airport North: Subarea BThe 321-acre Highway 1/Airport North Subarea is located on the south side of Highway 1 and extends from west of Highway 218 to Riverside Drive. [See Exhibit I]Current Land Uses (Subarea B) . The most visible land uses of this subarea are the eclectic mix of retail and intensive commercial businesses adjacent to Highway 1. But, this sub-area also includes approximately 70 acres of farmland outside the city limits and east of Highway 218 as well as 54 acres of the north part of the airport property that is proposed for intensive com-mercial development. [See Exhibit K: South Central District Current Land Use Map]Commercial. The properties along Highway 1 have developed into a significant commercial corridor during the past ten years. More than one-third of the subarea is currently zoned for com-mercial use. The properties zoned Community Commercial (CC-2) contain businesses such as discount stores, restaurants, and offices, and those zoned Intensive Commercial (CI-1) contain businesses requiring outdoor storage (home improvement store, car dealerships, contractors’ yards and manufactured housing sales). Residential apartments are located on a number of commercial properties along Highway 1. The properties zoned CC-2 and CI-1 in this subarea are generally one to two acres in size, although there are a few larger properties, including Cub Foods (11.4 acres) and Wal-Mart (13.8 acres) in the CC-2 zone, and Me-nard’s (12.77 acres) in the CI-1 zone.Agricultural, Residential and Industrial. Over one-third of the sub-area is located outside the city limits in the western and southwestern parts of this subarea and is zoned Suburban Residential (RS). This rural area is primar-ily farmland with a few farm residences and a small cluster of housing located in the vicinity of Dane Road. Two small manufactured housing parks (one along Highway 1 and one adjacent to The Highway 1 strip commercial appearance can be improved with landscaping and better signs118
Riverside Drive) are being acquired and vacated as part of the airport expansion plan. There are
only two properties in the subarea that are zoned industrial; the larger one (14.39 acres) located at
the end of Runway 12 is scheduled to be acquired by the Airport Commission for an airport clear
zone.
Distribution of Land Uses in Acres, Subarea B
General
Industrial
1.5 (<1%)Public/
Intensive Commercial
52 (16%)
Public
19 (6%)
Intensive
Commercial
75 (23%)
Community Commercial
50 (16%)
County Agricultural/
Farm Residential
123 (39%)
Environmental Fea-
tures (Subarea B)
Fully Hydric Soils. Nearly one-
third of the property in the High-
way 1/Airport North Subarea
contains fully hydric soils. A wide
band of these water-saturated soils
runs south of and parallel to High-
way 1, then spreads widely on
both sides of Willow Creek, where
it runs along the west and south
boundaries of the Iowa City Mu-
nicipal Airport and the corporate
limits of Iowa City. The presence
of fully hydric soils indicates the
probability of a high water table
and the potential for wetlands in
the areas where these soils are located. Properties containing fully hydric soils often require spe-
cial construction practices for streets, structures and stormwater management facilities.
100-Year Floodplain. The current floodplain map shows most of the property in the Highway
1/Airport North Subarea located east of Highway 218 in the 100-year floodplain. Development is
not prohibited in floodplain-designated areas, but in such low-lying, flood-prone areas, substantial
fill is required to minimize flooding. Stormwater management is difficult to achieve on this type
of flat, water-saturated terrain. In response to the floods of 1993, the floodplain map was recently
revised. The revised floodplain map removes the floodplain designation for some of the properties
along Highway 1. Upon Federal Emergency Management Agency approval, the revised map is
likely to be adopted to replace the current floodplain map.
Wooded Slopes. A high ridge with the characteristics of a savannah prairie is located in the rural
area west of the airport. Mature, oak trees are widely spaced apart on the hillsides. West of High-
way 218, a wooded ravine is located on the Maxwell property and has been designated as an
open space area for stormwater management.
Future Development (Subarea B)
Although most of the properties along Highway 1 have been developed for commercial uses, new
development is anticipated on vacant and/or rural parcels in the west portion of the subarea and
within the North Airport Commercial Park, and redevelopment has occurred in the Gateway One
(Wardway Plaza) area. (See Exhibit L: South Central District Future Land Use Scenario) Continued
commercial development is anticipated within the City’s growth area west of Highway 218.
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Highway Commercial/Office. In the southeast quadrant of the Highway 218/Highway 1 intersec-
tion, a highway commercial and office area with a hotel would be appropriate as development oc-
curs in this part of the subarea. The highway commercial businesses would be well situated in this
area to serve motorists on the highways. The Iowa City Airport has purchased much of the land
on the south side of Highway 1, east of Mormon Trek Bouelvard, which limits the opportunity for
commercial development with frontage on Highway 1. Intensive commerical or office commercial
uses on the east side of Mormon Trek Boulevard would be most compatible with the Iowa City
Airport, and the planned industrial area to the east. Residential uses should be minimized at this
intersection of two major highways and in the vicinity of a primary airport runway. Natural water
features, such as drainageways, can be used to separate and buffer the residential uses to the south
from the proposed commercial area. Suitable street access will need to be designed to serve the
residential uses south of the commercial area.
Commercial. Land available in the western reaches of this subarea with fairly direct access to
Highway 1 and near Highway 218 provides opportunities for large lot development. These large
properties would be suitable for intensive commercial uses with extensive outdoor storage needs.
Entranceway aesthetics need to be considered as these intensive commercial properties develop
and redevelop.The City has developed Aviation Commerce Park North on land that is no longer
needed for the Municipal Airport. The property has street access from Ruppert Road with High-
way 1 to the north and Riverside Drive to the east. Much of Aviation Commerce Park North is not
visible from Highway 1 and therefore commercial land uses that do not require high visibility are
appropriate. The western part of Aviation Commerce Park North is adjacent to Westport Plaza, an
existing retail center. There may be the possibility of improving street access and visibility of the
western part of Ruppert Road to allow commercial uses, such as retail, that rely on street visibility.
In absence of improved visibility and access, commercial uses that do not require high visibility
would be an appropriate alternative.
As the east retail area of this subarea is upgraded, encouraging intensive commercial businesses
located on or east of the Westport Plaza property to relocate to CI-1 zones to the south or west
could result in a more compatible mix of traffic and commercial shops, offices, restaurants and
residential uses in the area. To address the appearance of the built-up commercial area along
Highway 1, entranceway improvements, including upgrading landscaping, creating pedestrian
access, introducing a consistent, attractive lighting design and minimizing signs and utility poles
within the streetscape, should be considered. Ideally, a joint public/private project could be initi -
ated by the City to address both sides of the Highway 1 commercial corridor.
Due to increasing traffic congestion on Highway 1 and the discontinuities in the frontage road for
this commercial area, vehicular travel between businesses along Highway 1 is impeded. Pedestri-
an walkways are virtually nonexistent in this subarea. Opportunities for private drive connections
between businesses should be encouraged and a connecting service lane along the north edge
of the airport commercial property should be considered to facilitate travel between commercial
properties and provide an alternative to entering/exiting Highway 1. The collector street proposed
off Ruppert Road through the Airport North Commercial Park to Riverside Drive, the realignment
of Dane Road and an extension of a collector street south and east from the intersection of Mor-
mon Trek Boulevard and Highway 1 to Riverside Drive should help alleviate traffic congestion on
Highway 1. [See Exhibit F: Streets Map]
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Industrial. There is only a nominal amount of land in the Highway 1/Airport North Subarea that is zoned for industrial use, and most of that is located at the end of Runway 12 and is scheduled to be acquired by the Iowa City Airport. Because the vacant land in the runway clear zone cannot be developed, this property could be considered for prairie restoration; a low-maintenance, attractive entranceway feature that could provide a natural separation between intensive commercial uses on the west and retail/office commercial on the east. No industrial development is proposed for this subarea.River Corridor: Subarea CThe 465-acre River Corridor Subarea is located south of Highway 6, between the Iowa River and Riverside Drive, and north of Izaak Walton Road. [See Exhibit I] About one-third of this subarea is located outside the city limits.Current Land Uses (Subarea C) The River Corridor Subarea contains a mix of land uses with industrial and intensive commercial uses in close proximity to residential uses in the midsection of the subarea, large open space areas throughout the subarea, and expanses of vacant, wooded wetlands with scattered residential de-velopment to the south. [See Exhibit K]Industrial. Ten properties comprising about one-fourth of the subarea have industrial land uses. These include the Iowa City Public Works and Transit facilities in the north part of the subarea, and a ready mix plant, business forms printing firm, two feed and grain milling companies, three salvage and vehicle recycling firms, the University of Iowa printing and physical plant facilities, and a transfer and storage trucking firm located south of Sturgis Ferry Park. These industrial uses are located on properties that have direct access or are in close proximity to Riverside Drive/High-way 921. Many of these industrial proper-ties have access as well to the CRANDIC railway, which runs generally parallel to Riverside Drive/Highway 921. Most of the industrial firms rely primarily on truck traffic, and make limited use of the rail-road.Intensive Commercial. Several intensive commercial uses are centered within the subarea along two commercial cul-de-sac streets (Imperial Drive and Commercial Drive). These businesses include contrac-tor’s yards, plumbing and heating con-tractors, auto repair shops, a roofing and sheet metal company and cabinet com-pany. A few storage/warehouse buildings are located in this midsection of the subarea.The Iowa River defi nes the eastern border of the South Central District.23
Residential. Industrial/intensive commercial land uses wrap around the north and west sides of the
Baculis Mobile Home Park with approximately 137 dwelling units and the Thatcher Mobile Home
Park with about 60 dwelling units. In the course of operating their businesses, the heavy industrial
and intensive commercial uses in this subarea create a certain level of negative effects, including
noise, dust and heavy truck traffic, for their residential neighbors. The mobile home residences, as
well as a few other single-family homes in this subarea, are located in a flood-prone area along the
Iowa River.
Open Space. Over half of the River Cor-
ridor subarea consists of open space ar-
eas (139 acres/30%) and vacant proper-
ties (114 acres/25%). Because the north
portion of Sturgis Ferry Park is occupied
by the City Public Works and Transit
facilities, only the south ten acres of the
28 acre park are actually usable as pub-
lic parkland. Sturgis Ferry Park provides
the only public access to the Iowa River
for the South Central District. The air-
port clear zone over this park limits the
height of structures or trees on the site,
and because it is a former landfill, there
continue to be problems with gas emis-
sions, which cause plantings in the park
to die, and problems with sinkholes that
result in uneven paving and tilting park
shelters. Mesquakie Park, a former city landfill, is located south of the Thatcher Mobile Home
Park. The eight-acre Izaak Walton League property and a 51-acre forest preserve are located out-
side the city limits on the north side of Izaak Walton Road at the south edge of the subarea.
A few vacant parcels (two with vacant buildings) are located within the commercial/industrial por-
tion of the subarea, but the vast majority of the 113.5 acres of vacant land in the subarea is located
on three properties. These properties are located in the south part of the River Corridor subarea
and are shown on the Sensitive Areas Inventory Map as areas containing potential wetlands and
wooded wetlands.
Environmental Features (Subarea C)
The Iowa River forms the east boundary of the River Corridor Subarea, and Willow Creek inter-
sects the University of Iowa property (formerly owned by Thomas-Betts), and flows south along
the west edge of Mesquakie Park and then east along the south border of the park into the Iowa
River. The eastern edge of the subarea along the Iowa River from Highway 6 south to the mobile
home courts and the corridor of land and pond areas along Willow Creek are located within the
100-year floodplain. All of the properties located outside the corporate limits in the River Corridor
subarea are covered by a 100-year flood plain designation. Flood protection and stormwater man-
agement are critical issues in this subarea. Recently, the City assisted in providing federal funding
to floodproof mobile homes that were damaged during flooding in 1993, and have entered into a
Distribution of Land Uses in Acres, Subarea C
Public
99 (21%)
County Agricultural/
Farm Residential
156 (33%)
Manufactured Housing
45 (10%)
Intensive
Commercial
13 (3%)
General Industrial
155 (33%)
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public-private partnership to enlarge stormwater pipes under Riverside Drive and across the sub-
area toward the river to prevent stormwater from backing up onto properties in the area.
The majority (88%) of the wetlands in the South Central District are located in the River Corridor
Subarea. Most of the 138 acres of wooded wetlands and 55 acres of unwooded wetlands in the
River Corridor Subarea are located in the south, unincorporated portion of the subarea. Much of
this wetland area has been excavated, used as landfill or had construction rubble dumped on it. It
would take a major cleanup effort to create a conservation area, or to institute compensatory mea-
sures or enhancement of the wetland areas in order for even limited private development to occur.
Only three percent of the subarea contains upland woods, and four percent has hydric soils.
Future Land Uses (Subarea C)
Public Facilities/Parks. [See Exhibit L] When the Public Works facility is relocated from the north
part of the River Corridor Subarea, approximately seven acres of land at the intersection of High-
way 6 and Riverside Drive will become available for private or public redevelopment. Because of
its location at a high traffic intersection, its visibility with frontage along two highways and good
access onto a paved arterial road, this site would appear to be ideal for office or retail commercial
development. However, because the site was formerly a landfill, there are building limitations
due to continued methane gas leaks and problems with sinkholes. The prospects for commercial
development of the site are limited due to the underlying landfill, and the type of business that
would have outdoor storage of materials and minimal on-site buildings, such as a mobile home
sales lot, would not be the most attractive way to redevelop this highly visible corner lot.
Unless methane mitigation occurs, the property may be best kept in the public domain to provide
public access to the Iowa River, and to serve as a well-landscaped public recreational space, such
as a park. Or the site might be redeveloped as a private outdoor recreational facility, such as a
miniature golf course, or a small amusement park or water park; that is, the type of use that does
not require the construction of large buildings with substantial foundations. Whether public or
private, the site should be appropriately designed and landscaped so that it serves as an attractive,
green anchor for the active entranceway intersection on which it is located.
The recycling facility that is located southwest of the transit building at the north edge of Stur-
gis Ferry Park will be moved in the future to a location where effective monitoring and frequent
cleanups can be instituted to keep the site attractive and nuisance-free. In the meantime, to en-
hance the entranceway along Riverside Drive and to provide a buffer between the recycling bins
and the public view, the City intends to install a landscaped berm south of the recycling facility.
Within the airport clear zones, low profile landscaping, such as colorful shrubbery, perennial
flowering plants and prairie grasses, are planned along the right-of-way abutting Riverside Drive,
and may serve as a model for entranceway enhancement. The City plans to upgrade Sturgis Ferry
Park with plantings of trees at the north end of the park, and shrubbery, turf grass and prairie
plantings throughout the park. Sink holes will be filled and a river corridor trail installed. Airport
tower lights will be installed in a fenced-in area approximately in the center of the park.
Mesquakie Park, a 70 acre open space, is currently fenced off from public use. It is a former land-
fill site, that has been used as an outdoor storage facility for debris from public works projects.
Reuse of this site for either public or private redevelopment is limited due to problems associated
25
with the underlying landfill, including methane gas emissions, hazardous materials working up
to the surface and cave-in or sinkhole areas. Adapting this site for uses that do not require large
buildings or substructures may be considered in the future. The area of the park adjacent to the
river could be reserved for passive use as a floodwater reservoir and potential development of a
public linear park with a trail. A river crossing route has been recommended along the north edge
of Mesquakie Park, as part of the arterial street network.
Land Use Conflicts. Because of the conflicts that exist between the residential uses and the in-
dustrial/intensive commercial businesses in this subarea, the long-term land use goal for the River
Corridor subarea should be to phase out residential uses, particularly those located in the 100-year
floodplain. It is intended that this transition in land use will occur gradually over time. This con-
cept is in line with the observation made at a property owners meeting for this subarea that there
is little residential land use except for the manufactured housing parks, and in the long-term, it is
not in the public interest to maintain residential uses located in a flood-prone area in the midst of
industrial uses.
Industrial and commercial businesses should be allowed to operate in a reasonable manner within
areas zoned for those uses without the friction that occurs when industrial/intensive commercial
uses and residential uses are located too closely together. Industrial zoning is most suitable for
those properties in this subarea that have direct access to the railway and Riverside Drive. Street,
storm sewer, sanitary sewer and water mains will need to be upgraded and extended to allow for
additional industrial development south of Commercial Drive. Construction of the interceptor
sewer will make such development feasible.
Entranceway Aesthetics. Entranceway landscaping and attractive site designs will be encouraged
and instituted as the commercial and industrially-zoned land is redeveloped over time. Ideally, a
landscaped corridor design for Riverside Drive will be developed, and implemented in a coherent
manner through private-public efforts. Special efforts should be made to provide effective screen-
ing along Riverside Drive where salvage yards are visible from the public right-of-way. Expansion
of existing salvage operations, such as construction of new buildings for office, shop or storage
uses, may be considered if effective screening of the salvage yard is provided.
River Corridor Buffer & Trail. Creating a natural buffer along the Iowa River and protected wet-
lands in the area would aid flood control, allow for groundwater recharging and impede soil ero-
sion and pollutant runoff into the river. If the south portion of the River Corridor Subarea is to be
used as a public recreation area in the future, consideration should be given to the renovation of
at least part of Mesquakie Park, the reclamation of the Russell pond and the construction of a trail
connection between Mesquakie Park and Ryerson’s Woods Park. The trail planned along Willow
Creek within the sanitary sewer easement could create pedestrian and bicycle access between this
west riverfront area and the west part of Iowa City situated north of Highway 1.
26
Distribution of Land Uses in Acres, Subarea B
27
Rural/Airport South: Subarea D
The Rural/Airport South Subarea is located between Riverside Drive and Highway 218. It is gener-
ally south of the airport, but contains approximately 80 acres of the south part of the airport prop-
erty that is intended to be leased for private commercial or industrial use. It also contains a three-
acre Army Reserve property.
Current Land Uses. Only 15 percent of this subarea, including the south portion of the
airport, the Army Reserve property and a four acre commercial parcel [Colonial Lanes], is located
within the city limits. Fifty-percent of the property located outside the corporate limits is agricul-
tural land with farm residences, 23% is a manufactured housing park, and 18% is public property
[Ryerson’s Woods Park and the Johnson County Fairgrounds]. The remaining 9% includes a resi-
dential development and a church along Dane Road and residences and contractors’ yards south
of the airport along Riverside Drive. [See Exhibit K]
County Fairgrounds. Accord-
ing to the Airport Master Plan,
there is potential for establish-
ing a prairie reserve on airport
property in hydric soils south
of Runway 12/30 and west of
Runway 17/35. The prairie
reserve could be designed
to reduce stormwater runoff,
enhance the Willow Creek
watershed area and serve as
a buffer between the runways
and proposed industrial devel-
opment in the south portion
of the airport and lands to the
west. Airport redevelopment
will affect the area south and
west of the airport. The even-
tual closure of Runway 35 to
the south, the extension of
Environmental Features. This subarea contains hydric soils, wetlands, upland woods and
steep slopes. Some of the environmental features to be preserved include areas that may contain
Indian burial mounds, the Willow Creek stream corridor, Ryerson’s Woods Park and the Johnson
County Agricultural/
Farm Residential
237 (41%)
County Residential
30 (5%)County Commercial
30 (3%)
County Manufactured
Housing
115 (20%)
Intensive
Commercial
4 (1%)
Public
170 (30%)
connecting roads across the airport property and the construction of the Willow Creek Interceptor
Sewer will make development in this area more likely. The concern is to preserve natural features
while allowing reasonable development to occur.
Subarea indicates a mix of residential, public, commercial, office, institutional and industrial land uses with buffer areas proposed to mitigate potential conflicts between uses of different intensities and to preserve sensitive features. [See Exhibit L]Industrial. The 21-acre P/I-1 zoned airport property along Riverside Drive is expected to be de-veloped for industrial types of uses. This low-lying property will require four feet of fill prior to development. The fill will likely come from digging a stormwater management pond to serve this site. An arterial street between Dane Road and Riverside Drive is proposed along the south edge of the airport property, and is proposed to eventually be extended across the Iowa River. The construction of the connecting road across airport property to future industrial and commercial of-fice development of the property to the west can only occur after the north-south runway (17/35) is closed. Until that closure occurs, the street could be extended at least part way to the east from Dane Road and a short way west from Riverside Drive.Nearly 100 acres could be developed for industrial uses in the south portion of the airport prop-erty and on the properties to the west. This area has the potential to become a key employment center in the long-range development of the community. Because of its proximity to residential development, care should be taken to ensure that clean industrial uses are established and main-tained, and appropriate design guidelines are implemented to reduce negative effects on nearby residential properties.Enhancement of the greenway corridor along Willow Creek and another drainageway that extends straight west will provide a natural buffer between the proposed industrial uses and the Lake Ridge manufactured housing development. The construction of a trail within an enhanced green-way will provide alternative pedestrian/bicycle access from this subarea along Willow Creek to the west side of Iowa City and the commercial district along Highway 1; via the Iowa River Cor-ridor Trail to the commercial district along Highway 6, or further north to downtown; or across the river to the east to connect with Napoleon Park and other South District recreational facilities, including parks, trails and soccer fields.Dane Road, the rural edge of the South Central District.Future Land Uses (Subarea D) The long-range land use plan for the rural/Airport South 28
Commercial Office. The property north of the proposed east/west extension of Mormon Trek
Boulevard may be appropriate for commercial office development. It will have excellent access to
Highways 1 and 218 when Mormon Trek Boulevard is extended to Dane Road, and the topogra-
phy is suited for offices in a campus setting. Design guidelines should be implemented to ensure
preservation of the topography and the trees and compatibility between the office uses and resi-
dential development to the south. The ridge itself will provide a natural, protective buffer between
the property designated for office uses and the area to the east proposed for manufacturing uses.
Clustered multi-family development designed to preserve environmental features may be consid-
ered as an appropriate alternative use in this area.
Commercial/Institutional. The closure of Runway 35 will also remove limitations for develop-
ment of property immediately south of the runway, because the building height and use restric-
tions of the airport runway protection zone for that area will no longer be in effect. The frontage
portion of the property located along Riverside Drive and south of the Airport and Colonial Lanes
is suitable for redevelopment to a mixed use commercial area. This property with good access
on a hard-surfaced road is well-situated to serve the manufactured housing residents, other area
residents, employees of industrial and intensive commercial developments, and people using the
recreational facilities in the district.
A park connecting to a greenway trail around the pond and then to the trail system along Willow
Creek will enhance the livability of the residential development in this area. Because the desig-
nated commercial area is quite large and is adjacent to residential development and along a major
entranceway to the city, it should be designed so that it does not become a commercial strip.
Mixed uses such as townhouses and apartments should be considered as part of a planned com-
mercial development for the area. The mixed use commercial node may also offer good locations
for institutional uses, such as a church, a daycare center, a fire station, and an extension of the
fairgrounds. This would provide a suitable buffer between the industrial uses to the east and the
single-family residential uses that are projected to occur on the west part of the property.
Public Lands. Ryerson's Woods Park and the Johnson County Fairgrounds should be protected
and enhanced. No expansion of the 5-acre fairgrounds is planned, but there is a need for more
parking area during special events held there each year. Through arrangements with the private
property owner to the north, shared parking facilities could be installed immediately north of
and adjacent to the fairgrounds property. Or with jurisdictional cooperation, the south part of the
County fairgrounds property could be used for parking with access through the City's Ryerson's
Woods parking area. A campground and Native American museum have been suggested as ad-
ditional enhancements for the fairgrounds. The lower area of Ryerson's Woods Park or an edge of
the fairground property may be a suitable, alternative location for the proposed Science Center,
which is currently proposed to be situated at the end of Airport Runway 17 in the midst of an
intensive commercial zone.
Residential. In planning for residential development in the south portion of this subarea, second-
ary access to the interior of the area is a paramount concern. Highway 218 serves as a barrier
to through roads as do natural features, such as wooded ridges and drainageways, and existing
land uses, including the manufactured housing park, the fairgrounds and Ryerson’s Woods Park.
29
Low density conservation subdivision design with residential development situated on cul-de-
sac streets should be considered in this subarea. Given the high ridge that dissects this subarea,
through roads may not be feasible, although roads may be extended in from Dane Road and Riv-
erside Drive, but not connected, to allow for limited residential development.
Agricultural uses are encouraged to continue. When residential development begins occurring in
the interior and western reaches of this subarea, clustered, low density residential development
should be designed to preserve the pastoral beauty of the land while acknowledging access con-
straints. Residential development in the vicinity of Highway 218 should be buffered from the high-
speed traffic noise through sufficient setbacks and dense tree plantings.
Implementation
Land Uses
Promote the compatibility and aesthetics of the retail commercial businesses along Highway 1
from Westport Plaza to Riverside Drive.
Encourage intensive uses along Highway 1 to relocate out of the retail commercial corridor.
Plan for commercial uses to be established in the Airport North Commercial Park, and indus-
trial uses in the south portion of the airport property.
Preserve significant archaeological sites, Ryerson’s Woods Park, the Johnson County Fair-
grounds and the wooded wetlands in the district.
Continue farming or consider prairie plantings in runway clear zones that cannot be devel-
oped.
Plan for a well-landscaped public or private recreational use on the seven acre site being va-
cated by the Public Works Department at the southeast corner of the intersection of Highway 6
and Riverside Drive, unless methane mitigation allows for commercial usage of the property.
Plan for a mixed use commercial zone west of Riverside Drive and south of Colonial Lanes
that considers incorporation of appropriate institutional uses, a park adjacent to the pond and a
trail that connects to the Willow Creek Trail.
In Subarea D, encourage agricultural uses to continue, but where residential development oc-
curs, use a conservation subdivision design.
Gradually reduce residential uses east of Riverside Drive over time, and encourage industrial/
intensive commercial development with a suitable green buffer along the Iowa River.
Streets
Provide connecting streets between Highway 1 and Riverside Drive, including an extension of
Mormon Trek Boulevard along the south edge of the airport and an extension of Ruppert Road
through the Airport North Commercial Park.
30
ppdadmin\page\scdplan2.indd
Design commercial and industrial development sites on or adjacent to the Airport to provide
for future through-street connections and water/sewer corridors to the interior of the airport.
Plan for a service road at the rear of the commercial properties along Highway 1 from Ruppert
Road to the Gateway One south drive.
Plan for a river crossing in the Mesquakie Park vicinity.
Trails, Sidewalks
Design a trail system that connects into other city trails, such as the Willow Creek Trail and the
Iowa River Corridor Trail, and provides a looped trail system within the district.
Install sidewalks along existing streets, such as Riverside Drive and Highway 1, and along new
streets as they are constructed.
Entranceways
Through a public/private project, improve entranceway aesthetics by upgrading landscaping,
creating pedestrian access, introducing a consistent, attractive lighting design, and minimizing
signs and utility poles in the streetscape along Highways 1 and 6, and Riverside Drive.
Use the landscaping and berms planned for Sturgis Ferry Park as a model for entranceway en-
hancement.
Infrastructure
Upgrade and extend streets, storm sewers, sanitary sewers and water mains to improve infra-
structure for existing and future development in the district.
Consider removing properties that cannot be served by gravity sewer from the city growth
area.
Create a looped water system to maintain adequate water pressure.
Address drainage, stormwater detention and floodplain issues through district capital improve-
ment projects, such as a regional stormwater basin, and as part of individual new development
and redevelopment projects.
Buffers
Use natural water features, such as drainageways and wetlands, to create buffering separations
between industrial/commercial uses and residential uses.
Adapt the east edge of Mesquakie Park for passive use as a floodplain reservoir and potential
development of a public linear park with a trail.
Provide green buffers between residential areas and major highway rights-of-way, particularly
along Highway 218.
31