Demolition Permits Building CodCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
January 29, 2001
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Amendment to Building Code Re: Demolition Districts
Currently there are sections of the City that are covered by two separate and distinct processes to
receive a demolition permit. Chapter 25 regulates demolition in historic preservation districts,
and Chapter 11 regulates the activity in demolition districts. Planning Services Manager Laura
Carstens and Building Services Manager Rich Russell are recommending where that overlap
exists the ordinance provide that the applicant must follow the more stringent requirements under
Chapter 25.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Rich Russell, Building Services Manager
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
January 24, 2001
TO:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM:
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manage~----.~
Rich Russell, Building Services Manager~'[~
SUBJECT: Amendment to Building Code re: Demolition Districts
INTRODUCTION
This memo transmits an amendment to Chapter 11, Buildings and Building Regulations,
of the City Code pertaining to demolition districts. The proposed amendment excludes
those portions of the demolition districts that are in historic districts from the regulations of
Chapter 11, since the histodc districts are regulated more stringently under Chapter 25,
Historic Preservation. Maps of the seven demolition districts and the five historic districts
are enclosed.
DISCUSSION
Section 11-4 was adopted on 1976 by the City Council to establish a waiting period for
demolition permits within the seven demolition districts.
This code section requires the Building Services Manager to notify the City Council of any
application for a demolition permit for any building in the demolition districts. The Building
Services Manager is prohibited by this code section from issuing any such demolition
permit until the City Council has reviewed the permit request. The City Council can
approve the demolition permit or withhold the permit for up to 90 days.
The intent of this discretionary waiting period is for the City Council "to have time to
investigate the historical or architectural value of the building to the community and take
such action(s) as may be appropriate to ensure or encourage its preservation."
In 1977, the City Council adopted Chapter 25, which was the initial Historic Preservation
Ordinance. At that time, the City Council also established the five historic districts and
seven landmark sites.
Portions of the demolition districts are in these historic districts, because the boundaries
and regulations were not adjusted at that time. None of the landmark sites lie within the
demolition districts. We became aware of this overlap in areas and regulations recently.
RECOMMENDATION
To eliminate this confusion of overlapping regulations, we believe that the portions of
demolition districts that are within historic districts should be exempted from the Building
Code (Chapter 11), and instead be regulated by the Historic Preservation Ordinance
(Chapter 25). The Historic Preservation Ordinance is more restrictive, and is the City Code
that we apply to buildings that are in both districts.
For clarity, we recommend that the City Council adopt the proposed amendment to
Chapter 11 pertaining to demolition districts. The amendment would allow the boundaries
of the demolition districts to remain intact, but their application would be to buildings that
lie outside of historic districts or landmark sites.
Enclosures
]carsten/~,p/mvrn/demomem.wpd
Prepared by: Laura Carstens~City Planner Address: City Hallr 50 W. 13th St., Dubuque~ Iowa Telephone: 589~-210
ORDINANCE NO. 6-01
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1 1 (BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS) OF
THE CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTION 11-4
PERTAINING TO WAITING PERIOD FOR DEMOLITION PERMITS.
Whereas, Section 11-4 of the City Code pertains to a discretionary waiting period for
demolition permits in seven demolition districts; and
Whereas, portions of these demolition districts include buildings that are within historic
districts that are regulated by Chapter 25, Historic Preservation, of the City Code; and
Whereas, the exemption of buildings that are regulated by Chapter 25 from the requirements
of Section 11-4 eliminates an overlap in regulations.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE,
IOWA:
Section 1. That Section 11-4 (a) is hereby amended as follows:
(a) App/ication of Section: The provisions of this Section shall apply to all buildings located
in whole or in part within the following described neighborhood areas, except where the
building{s) are part of a historic district or landmark site regulated by Chapter 25, Historic
Preservation, of the City Code:
Section 2. That this amendment shall take effect upon publication as required by law.
Passed, approved and adopted this 5t h day of February , 2001.
Terrance M. Duggan,, Mayor
//
Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider, City Clerk
Icarsten/wp/mvm/demodist.ord
~ re~g ula-
STATE OF IOWA
DUBUQUE COUNTY
{ SS:
CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION
I, KAT?IY HEFEL.GOETZ~NGEI"i a Billing Clerk for Woodward
Cmnmunications, Inc., an Iowa corporation, publisher of the Telegraph Herald, a
newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County of
Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify th~at the attache~d, notice was published
in said newspaper on the following dates ~/~ r'~o-,~
, 20 ~[ , and for which the charge ]s $ /og;~g~-~
Subscribed to before me, a Notary Public in and for Dubuque County,
this ,~ day of~-~_ J.._ ~ -, ~./_ 20 ~. Iowa,
Notar~ P-~c in and for ~)'~b~e
§ 11-3
DUBUQUE CODE
action has been initiated for the purpose of
securing a zoning reclassification. The period of
such prohibition ~h~ll extend from the date of
the official act of the Pl~g ~ud Zoning Com~
mission calling for a public hearing on such
zoning reclassification up to and including the
date of final action of the City Council upon
such zoning reclassification. (1976 Code, § 10-4)
Sec. 11-4~ Waiting Period For Demolition
Permits:
(a) Application Of Section: The previsions of
this Section shah apply to all buiJdin~ located
in whole or in part within the following de-
scribed neighborhood areas:
(1)
Fourth Street Neighborhood: Beginning
at the intersection of Seventh and Bluff
Streets, thence southerly along Bluff
Street to its intersection with West Fifth
Street; thence westerly along West Fifth
Street to its intersection with the north-
erly extension of Raymond Street; thence
southerly along Raymond Street and its
northerly and southerly extensions to its
intersection with West Th/rd Street;
thence easterly along West Third Street
to its intersection with St. Mary's Street;
thence southerly along St. Mary's Street
to its intersection with Emmett Street;
thence easterly along F~mmett Street to
its intersection with Bluff Street; thence
southerly along Bluff Street to its inter-
section with First Street; thence e~sterly
along First Street to its intersection with
the alley between Bluff and Locust
Streets; thence northerly along the
Supp. No. 45 660.2
BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS
§ 11-4
alley between Bluff and Locust Streets to
its intersection with West Fifth Street;
thence easterly along West Fifth Street to
its intersection with Locust Street; thence
northerly along Locust Street to its inter-
section with Seventh Street; thence west.
erly along Seventh Street to its intersec-
tion with Bluff Street which is the point of
beginning.
(2)
Fenelon Place Neighborhood: Beginning at
the intersection of West Fifth and Burch
Streets, thence southerly along Buech
Street to its intersection with West Third
Street; thence easterly along West Third
Street to its intersection with the southerly
extension of Raymond Street; thence north-
erly along Raymond Street and its south-
erly and northerly extensions to its inter-
section with West Fifth Street; thence
westerly along West Fh%h Street to its in-
tersection with Butch Street which is the
point of beginning.
(3)
Third Street Neighborhood.~ Beginning at
the intersection of West Third and Hill
Streets thence southwesterly along Hill
Street to its intersection with Langworthy
Street; thence northwesterly along Lang-
worthy Street to its intersection with Al-
pine Street; thence northeasterly along Al-
pine Street to its intersection with West
Third Street; thence northwesterly along
West Third Street to its intersection with
Nevada Street; thence northeasterly along
Nevada Street to its intersection with West
FL°ch Street; thence southeasterly along
West Fifth Street to its intersection with
Alpine Street; thence southerly along Al-
pine Street to its intersection with Melrose
Terrace; thence southeasterly along Melt
rose Terrace and its southeasterly exten-
sion to its intersection with Winona Street;
thence southwesterly along Winona Street
to its intersection with West Third Street;
thence southeasterly along West Third
Street to its intersection with Hill Street
which is the point of beginning.
(4) Washington Slreet Neighborhood: Begin-
ning at the intersection of Sixteenth and
(5)
(6)
WAshington Streets thence westerly along
Sixteenth Street to its intersection with
Jackson Street; thence northerly along
Jackso~ Street to its intersection with Eigh-
teenth S~reet; thence westerly along Eigh~
teenth Street to its intersection with Cen-
tral A~enue; thence southerly along
Centrall Avenue to its intersestion with
Fourteenth Street; thence easterly along
Fourteenth Street to its intersection with
Washington Street; thence northerly along
Washington Street to its intersection with
Sixteenth Street which is the point of be-
girming~
Jackson Park Neighborhood: Beginning at
the intersection of Fourteenth Street and
Central ~venue thence Westerly along Four-
teenth Street to its intersection with Iowa
Street; thence southerl~ along Iowa Street
to its intersection with Tenth Street; thence
westerly along Tenth Street to its intersec-
tion wish Bluff Street; thence northerly
along B~uff Street to its intersection with
Locust Street; thence northwesterly along
Leeust Street to its intersection with Ellis
Street; thence northerl~ along Ellis Strset
and its northerly extension to its intersec~
tion with Clarke Drive; thence northwest-
erly along Clarke Driv~ to its intersection
with paul Street; thence northeasterly
along Paul Street to it~ intersection with
Lowell Street; thence southeasterly along
Lowell Street to its interSection with North
Main Street; thence southerly along North
Main Street to its interSection with Clark
Drive; thence southeasterly along Clarke
Drive and its southeasterly extension to its
intersection with Central Avenue; thence
southerly along Central Avenue to its
tereectiOn with Fourteehth Street which is
the point of beginning.
est Eleventh Street Neighborhood: Begm~
ning at ~e intersection o£ Ninth and Bluff
Streets thence westerly along Ninth Street
to its intersection with University Avenue;
thence Westerly along UniverSity Avenue
to its intersection wi~h Spruce Street;
thence ~ortherly along Spruce S~reet to its
interse~ion with West Eleventh Street;
661
DUBUQUE CODE
thence westerl~v along West Eleventh Street
to its intersection with Walnut Street;
thence northerly along Walnut Street to its
intersection with Lores Boulevard; thence
westerly along Lores Boulevard to its
tersection with Cox Street; thence north-
erly along Cox Street to its intersection with
the westerly extension of West Sixteenth
Street; thence easterly along West Six-
teenth Street and its westerly extension to
its intersection with Montrese Terrace;
thence northerly along the northeasterly ex-
tension of Montrose Terrace to its intersec-
tion with West Lecu~ Street; thence south~
easterly along West I~cnst Street to its
intersection with Bluff Street; thence south-
erly along Bluff Street to its intersection
with Ninth Street which is the point of be-
g~nning.
(7)
Broadway Street Neighborhood: Beginning
at the intersection of V~est Twenty-third
Street and Central Avenue thence westerly
along V~%st Twenty-third Street to its inter-
section with Lewis Street; thence northwest-
erly along Lewis S~u~et to its intersection
with Fulton Street; thence northerly along
Fulton Street to its intersection with King
Street; thence easterly along King Street
and its easterly extension to its intersec~
tion with Central Avenue; thence south-
erly along Centxul Avenue to its intersec-
tion with West Twenty-third Street which
is the point of beginning.
Co) Discretionary waiting period Upon receiving
an application for a demolition permit for any
building located in whole or in part within the
areas described in paragraph (a) of this section,
the building commissioner shall immediately
they the city council of such application. At its
next regular meeting the council must then take
formal action to either approve or withhold the
demolition permit for a specified period not to ex-
teed ninety (90) days. If the council fails to take
aetion to appreve or withhold the demolition
permit at its next regular meeting, the building
commissioner shall issue the permit for~with. The
eeuncil may in its dis~etion withhold the demo-
litton permit whenever it determines that the
building for which the permit is sought may be of
historical or architectural significance t4) the city.
The purpose of this waiting period is to enable the
council to have time to investigate the historical
or architectural value of the building to the com-
muulty and to take ~uch action(s} as may- be ap~
propriate to ensure or encourage its preservation.
However, nothing in this section shall authorize
the withholding by the building commissioner of
a demolition permit for more than ninety (90) days
following notification of council of application for
such permit.
(c) Guidelines. The report, ~The Heritage of
Dubuque" dated March 1974 and filed of record
on January 27, 1975. shall be considered as a com-
prehensive study for the historical preservation of
the city and one of the guides to be considered at
such time as a demolition permit is applied for in
a reference neighborhood.
(Code 1976, § 10-5)
Cross reference--Demolition of structures in historic dis-
tricts prohibited, exception, § 25-12.
Secs. 11-5--11-20. Reserved.
ARTICLE H. DANGEROUS BUILDINGS*
Sec. 11-21. Purpose. and scope.
(a) It is the purpose of this article zo provide a
just, equitable and practicable method to be cu-
mulative with and in addition to any other x~emedy
provided by the bull(ting code, housing code or
otherwise available at law, whereby b~aildings or
struetures which from any cause endanger the life,
limb, health, morals, property, safety or welfare
of the general public or their occupants may be
required to be repaire~d, vacated or demolished.
Co) The provisions of this article shall apply to
all dangerous buildings, as herein defi~ed, which
are now ~n existence or which may hereafter be-
come dangerous in the City of Dubuque
*Cross reference~_Buil~ng construction, d~molitlon and
moving, § 11~56 et seq.; pr ~c~dure for abatemegt of sub~an-
dard buildings, dwelling units and tots v~uder hqusKng code, §
662
DEMOLITION DISTRICTS
1-Fourth Street Neighborhood
2-Fenelon Place Neighborhood
3-Third Street Neighborhood
5-Jackson Park Neighborhood
6-West Eleventh Street
7-Broadway Street Neighborhood
800 1600 Feet
CUST
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
DISTRICTS
3
2
JACKSON PARK
W. llth STREET
LANGWORTHY 5 OLD MAIN
CATHEDRAL
Lo~tion of Historic Distri~$ 'i
and Demolition Districts
Demolition Districts
I~stodc Districts
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