Minutes Downt Plan Com 4 11 03 Minutes
Downtown Planning Committee
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
Planning Retreat
Friday, April 11, 2003
12:00 Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Four Mounds Conference Center
4900 Peru Road, Dubuque, Iowa
PRESENT: Committee Members Jim Giesen, Doris Hingtgen, Bob Felderman, Jim
Gibbs, Dan LoBianco, Ann Michalski, Dave Rusk, John Walsh, Mike Ironside. Staff
Members Laura Carstens, Bill Baum, Rich Russell, David Harris, Jerelyn O'Connor and
Beth Conlon. Consultants Anne Ricker and Bill Cunningham of Letand Consulting
Group, Bob Kost~ formerly of URS/BRW and now with SEH Inc., Jim Holz of MSA
Professional Services Inc., and Kevin Eipperle of Durrant Group.
ABSENT: Committee Members Pam Jochum, Judie Fjellman and Steward Sandstrom.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 1:04 p.m. after a noon
luncheon.
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance
verifying that the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings
Law.
MINUTES: Motion by Gibbs, seconded by Felderman, to approve the minutes of the
March 10, 2003 meeting as submitted. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairperson Rusk commented on the article and photograph of Dan LoBianco in the
Tri-State Business Times publication.
ACTION ITEM:
Planninq Retreat
Jim Holz reviewed the retreat agenda with the Committee. Anne Ricker presented the
retreat objectives for the Committee:
To grow enthusiasm and ownership around the project
To focus the vision
To provide a forum for a unified Committee voice
To develop concept plans and critical elements of those plans
To discuss the implications of concepts
Kevin Eipperle discussed the Downtown school project and the possible sites for
Prescott School renovation or rebuild. He noted that of the eight sites suggested, three
have been identified initially as being the must viable.
Minutes - Downtown Planning Committee
April 11, 2003
Page 2
Mr. Eipperle said the tentative timing on the construction of the project would be the fall
of 2006. He also commented that there are 60+ partners involved in the Downtown
school project, including St. Mark's Community Center, the Boys and Girls Club, the
Carnegie Stout Public Library, the YMCA/YVVCA, the City of Dubuque, the daycare and
healthcare industries, and churches.
The Committee discussed the Downtown school project. They discussed the potential
impact of the construction of a Downtown school on historic buildings and possible
street closures. Mr. Eipperle commented that a recommendation would be made to the
School Board after studying the potential sites.
Ms. Ricker commented that she felt that the Downtown school project would be an
excellent mix with the Downtown Master Plan and Vision Downtown. Bill Cunningham
explained that a downtown school becomes a "linchpin" for housing in the downtown
area. He also commented that he felt that Dubuque was ahead of its time because the
community was planning the Downtown school project in coordination with the
Downtown Master Plan strategy.
Bob Kost discussed some of the various issues and forces which will affect downtown
planning. Mr. Kost identified possible land uses for the Port of Dubuque, the
neighborhoods in the area, transportation on the Main Street corridor, gateways, green
spaces and landmarks as issues that will become important to the Downtown Master
Plan project. Ms. Ricker commented on the importance of what the buildings downtown
say visually and whether those buildings are marked by gateways.
Mr. Cunningham distributed a Forecast Demand by Land Use Category report. He
discussed statistics for the demographic profile of Dubuque County and the seven
county region around Dubuque, the forecast demand by land use category for
Dubuque, the forecast demand by land use category regarding retail and office demand
for Dubuque County and the seven county region. The Committee asked questions
about the report and discussed how the information will influence the Downtown Master
Plan strategy.
Ms. Ricker presented Opportunity Site Selection Criteria for use with the Downtown
Master Plan. The 15 points included:
Presence of a market opportunity in the near or long-term
Opportunities to strengthen and link existing districts or activity centers
Ability to leverage existing or planned public investment
Physical environment - public improvements, historic building stock, etc.
Potential for creating key entryways or gateways
Ownership patterns including public vs private and multiple vs assembled
Presence of unified, energetic stakeholders
Upward trend in local investment
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April11,2003
Page 3
Compatibility with the Comprehensive Plan
Availability of public programs, incentives, and tools for revitalization
Ability to create mixed-use activity centers
Opportunities for multi-modal access
Presence of support organizations - service groups, churches, schools
Demonstrated community need (CDBG designated area)
Consistent in character and building on prevailing strengths
After discussing the Opportunity Site Selection Criteria, the Committee participated in a
tabletop land use planning exercise for the downtown area. The Committee divided
into groups of five to develop and collaborate on the potential project elements.
Following the exercise, there was a short break for Committee members while the
consultants reviewed the results of the tabletop exercise. The consulting partners
called the Committee members back into the meeting and presented the results of the
tabletop plans. There was a Committee consensus on three points:
1. A secondary Town Square on the north end of the downtown study area
2. A need for more green spaces in the downtown area
3. Renovation of the Warehouse District adjacent to 'downtown
Other common elements that were found on the tabletop plans were:
Housing in the warehouse district
An urban school
Urban and linear parks
Moderate emphasis on office
Dispersed neighborhood retail
Support for Main Street/Downtown retail
· Large retail (urban modified format)
· Gateways
Ms. Ricker, Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Kost commented that there was a need for more
emphasis on:
Commerce in the downtown area
Cultural events
Historic features
Access to federal or state dollars to use for retail projects
Ms. Ricker said that she would help the community locate grant programs to
accommodate the need for federal and state funding. Ms. Ricker explained that transit
needs, public space and open space are important, and that housing should be tied to
urban neighborhoods. Ms. Michalski suggested that we keep the needs of handicapped
people in mind when we pursue downtown planning. The Committee discussed the
findings of the tabletop planning exercise.
Minutes - Downtown Planning Committee
April 11,2003
Page 4
Ms. Ricker reviewed the suggested format, publicity, dates, locations and questions for
the Downtown Dubuque traveling exhibit. She asked Committee members to provide
their input on the questions by April 18, and noted that the schedule would be shifted
back two weeks to allow time for their input.
Ms. Ricker commented that she plans to invite about 50 stakeholders to the focus
group meetings to be held on May 6th at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. at Five
Flags Civic Center. Her goal for the focus group meetings is to establish project
concepts and barriers and t~) strategize for the downtown area. Ms. Ricker will also
bring the results of the tabletop planning exercise to the focus groups for discussion.
Ms. Ricker then discussed plans for the presentation at the City Council work session
on May 5th at the Carnegie Stout Public Library. There was discussion on how to ~nake
the presentation and what information needs to be presented. Consensus was that the
Committee would give the City Council pertinent information to consider at the work
session.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: Monday, May 5, 2003, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon, City Hall Annex.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Conton, Assistant Planner
Adopted