Minutes_Long Range Planning Advisory Commission 10 17 18 Copyrighted
November 5, 2018
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of 10/15; Catfish Creek
Watershed ManagementAuthorityof 10/22; Community
Development Advisory Commission of 8/28; Historic
Preservation Commission of 10/18; Housing Commission
Minutes of 8/28; Investment Oversight Advisory
Commission of 10/24; Library Board of Trustees of 9/26;
Library Board of Trustees Council Update #176 of 10/25;
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission of 10/17;
Zoning Board of Adjustment of 10/25; Proof of Publication
for City Council Proceedings of 10/1; Proof of Publication
for List of Claims and Summary of Revenues for Month
Ending 9/20.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City Council Proceedings of 10/15/18 Supporting Documentation
Caffish Creek Watershed ManagementAuthority Supporting Documentation
Minutes of 10/22/18
Community DevelopmentAdvisory Commission Minutes Supporting Documentation
of 9/26/18
Housing Commission Minutes of 8/28/18 Supporting Documentation
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes of 10/18/18 Supporting Documentation
InvestmentOversightAdvisory Commission Minutesof Supporting Documentation
10/24/18
Library Board of Trustees Minutes of 9/26/18 Supporting Documentation
Library Board of Trustees Council Update#176 of Supporting Documentation
10/25/18
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
10/17/18
Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes of 10/25/18 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
10/1/18
Proof of Publication for List of Claims/Summary of Supporting Documentation
Revenues for ME 9/30/18
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MINUTES
CITY OF DUBUQUE LONG RANGE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
City Council Chamber, Historic Federal Building
Commissioners Present: Chairperson John Pregler; Commissioners Ron Collins,
Alan Vincent, Charlie Winterwood, and Michael Wright.
Commissioners Excused: None.
Commissioners Unexcused: None.
Staff Members Present: Guy Hemenway, Charles Miller and Teresa Bassler.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Pregler at 5:30 p.m.
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying
that the meeting was being held in compliance with the lowa Open Meetings Law.
MINUTES: Motion by Vincent, seconded by Winterwood, to approve the minutes of the
November 20, 2017, Long Range Planning Advisory Commission meeting as submitted.
Motion carried by the following vote: Aye —Collins, Vincent, Winterwood, Wright and
Pregler; Nay — None.
ACTION ITEMS: Alta Vista and Radford Road Urban Revitalization Plans
Staff Member Hemenway introduced Assistant Housing Supervisor Teresa Bassler. He
said he would provide a brief overview of both urban revitalization plans in general and
then discuss each individually. He noted that the Commission, in the past, had
reviewed and approved similar urban revitalization plans for affordable residential
development. He said that the two plans meet the Land Use Goals of the
Comprehensive Plan. He said that both will occupy infill sites that limit sprawl and allow
more efficient provision of services. He said that streets, sewers, water, lighting and
fiber were in place for both projects. He said that compact and contiguous infill
development is a more efficient use of public services such as transit and trash
collection. He said the developments will be located outside of the areas of
concentrated poverty which will help the City meet the goals stated in the Voluntary
Consent Agreement with the Department of Justice. He said that IFA grants award
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Page 2
October 17, 2018
points when the projects are located in urban revitalization districts and when they are
endorsed by the jurisdiction in which they are located.
Staff Member Hemenway then reviewed the details of each proposed affordable
housing development separately.
Alta Vista Urban Revitalization Plan: Staff Member Hemenway noted that the Horizon
Development/Alta Vista Project consisted of 60 units of affordable senior housing
located along Nevada Street on the former Nativity School site on the one-half acre lot.
He said that the building would be three-stories and would be set back 20-feet from the
Nevada Street frontage. He said that the project will provide 60 underground parking
spaces He said that the proposed development meets all City standards. He said that
the project represented a good transition between commercial and multi-family
development along University Avenue, the church and school along Alta Vista, and
single and two-family residential housing along Nevada Street.
Radford Road Urban Revitalization Plan: Staff Member Hemenway noted that the
Landover Corp/Radford Road development consisted of 52 units of affordable housing
in a three-story building with 85 off-street parking spaces on an approximately two-acre
vacant parcel. He said the proposed development was compliant with the Unified
Development Code regulations.
Chairperson Pregler expressed concerns about both projects. He said that neither
developer has provided specific figures regarding the number of affordable units and
how HUD's three levels of poverty, based on annual median income, would be served.
He said neither developer had stated categorically that they would be willing to accept
housing choice vouchers. He said he felt the request represented corporate welfare.
Chairperson Pregler further stated he felt the request did not meet the spirit of Chapter
6 of the Comprehensive Plan or the source of income goals and did not affirmatively
further fair housing. He said that he felt the Commission needed much more detailed
information and a contractual commitment from the developers to ensure that low
income, and extremely low income, housing needs are being met. He said that nothing
in the submittals was spelled out.
Commissioner Wright said that he felt the Radford Road development did not meet the
spirit of the Comprehensive Plan due to its location. He said that the proposed location
was not appropriate because it was surrounded by industrial and commercial
development, that it was far from neighborhood-style retail and that there was very
limited public transportation to the Radford Road area.
Commissioner Collins questioned the availability of jobs in the Radford Road area.
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Page 3
October 17, 2018
Chairperson Pregler noted that the Horizon's Alta Vista development stated that their
apartments would be either $900 or $1 ,200 which he said was way too much for people
living in poverty, and that they did not further affordable housing.
Commissioner Winterwood said that he shared many of the same concerns expressed
by Commissioner Wright and Chairperson Pregler.
Chairperson Pregler said that he was interested in what the vacancy rates for rental
units in the city are. He noted that this information was not provided. He said that the
Radford Road development did not provide any income or rental rate information
whatsoever.
Commissioner Winterwood said that he felt Dubuque's changing demographics will
create an increased need for affordable housing.
Commissioner Collins asked if there was a demonstrable need for this style housing.
Chairperson Pregler stated that those with income below $36,900 per year would not be
able to apply or afford any of the housing options offered. He said that without
clarification on the financial issues, he feels that the urban revitalization plans do not
meet the spirit of Chapter 6 of the Comprehensive Plan.
Commissioner Winterwood said that he was prone to not endorse the Radford Road
project, but that he is in favor of the Horizon Development/Alta Vista Senior Housing
project.
Chairperson Pregler questioned whether there was a need for affordable senior
housing. He said that while there is a need for affordable housing in general, he felt
that it only met the need or partially met the need of those who are living at 80°k of the
AMI. He said that he feels that the developers should work with City staff to address
the needs of the poor in Dubuque.
Commissioner Vincent said that he feels that the Alta Vista project does help meet a
need for senior housing in the community.
Commissioner Winterwood asked if Applewood IV had been awarded urban
revitalization status. Staff Member Hemenway said that Applewood IV had been
designated an urban revitalization area.
Chairperson Pregler said he felt the City Council should go back to the developers and
negotiate harder for better terms.
Commissioners Winterwood and Chairperson Pregler said that they felt the developer
should clearly state that the housing choice vouchers would be accepted for both
projects.
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Page 4
October 17, 2018
Commissioner Wright said he did not feel that either project met the spirit of the
Comprehensive Plan.
The Commissioners stated that the developers should commit to accept Section 8
Housing Vouchers.
After further discussion, Commissioners felt that it was appropriate that they table the
request of both urban revitalization requests, and ask that more information be provided
by the developers.
Alta Vista Urban Revitalization Plan: Motion by Collins, seconded by Vincent, to table
the Alta Vista Urban Revitalization Plan request with a recommendation that the City
Council direct City staff to work with the developer to secure a contractual commitment
to provide affordable housing to all three tiers of HUD defined poverty, and to guarantee
that Housing Choice Vouchers will be accepted. Motion carried by the following vote:
Aye — Vincent, Wright, Collins and Pregler; Nay — Winterwood.
Radford Road Urban Revitalization Plan: Motion by Winterwood, seconded by Collins,
to table the Radford Road Urban Revitalization Plan request with a recommendation
that the City Council direct City staff to work with the developer to secure a contractual
commitment to provide affordable housing to all three tiers of HUD defined poverty, and
to guarantee that Housing Choice Vouchers will be accepted. Motion carried by the
following vote: Aye — Vincent, Wright, Collins, Winterwood and Pregler; Nay — None.
ACTION ITEMS: None.
ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: None.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: Chairperson Pregler said that he felt that the
Commission should be briefed by City staff regarding the implementation strategy for
the Imagine Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. He said he felt that the City should develop
a policy guide that all departments would use when crafting policies and considering
projects. He said that those goals that could be undertaken by the City should be
implemented. He asked Commissioners how best to encourage the City to implement
the Comprehensive Plan goals. He asked if the Commission could schedule a work
session with the City Council.
Commissioners discussed the request and said they felt that implementation of the
Comprehensive Plan was very important. Staff Member Hemenway noted that,
although it had been a year since the plan was adopted, the City was committed to
developing an implementation strategy that would not only involve the City, but that also
required significant leadership and participation from other key stakeholders in the
community.
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Page 5
October 17, 2018
Motion by Winterwood, seconded by Vincent, to direct City staff to request City
Manager Mike Van Milligen, Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens and the newly
hired Assistant Planner attend the next scheduled Long Range Planning Advisory
Commission meeting and update the Commission on the status of the Imagine
Dubuque Comprehensive Plan implementation strategy. Motion carried by the following
vote: Aye — Vincent, Wright, Collins, Winterwood and Pregler; Nay — None.
Election of Officers: John Pregler was elected unanimously as Commission Chair, and
Alan Vincent was elected unanimously as Vice Chairperson. Commissioners
understood that there would be another vote for election of officers in the first
Commission meeting of 2019.
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Winterwood, seconded by Collins, to adjourn the October
17, 2018 Long Range Planning Advisory Commission meeting. Motion carried by the
following vote: Aye — Vincent, Winterwood, Wright, Collins, and Pregler; Nay — None.
The meeting adjourned at 630 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Guy Hemenway, Assistant Planner Adopted