Minutes Long Range 2 20 02 MINUTES
LONG RANGE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION~?
FEBRUARY 20, 2002
7:00 p.m.
Majestic Room, Five Flags Civic Center
4th & Main Streets, Dubuque, Iowa
PRESENT:
Chairperson Mary Lynn Neumeister; Commissioners Dave Rusk, Charles
Winterwood, Rick Stein, Floyd Schneider, and Mike Portzen; Staff
Members: Laura Carstens and Lisa Sesterhenn. Also present: Gus
Psihoyos and Deron Muehring, City Engineering.
ABSENT: Commissioner Roy Buol.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m
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 Rusk, seconded by Stein to approve the meeting minutes of
January 16, 2002 as submitted passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Amendment to the Riverfront Plan: Port of Dubuque Master Plan
Carstens summarized the previously adopted Riverfront Plan, and the key points of the
proposed amendment to the Riverfront Plan to incorporate the Port of Dubuque Master
Plan. Commissioners reviewed and discussed the proposed amendment.
Brian Kane of Kane, Norby & Reddick, spoke before the Commission representing the
Diamond Jo Casino. He stated that the Diamond Jo supports the planned and
organized development and that the Diamond Jo will use good faith to support the Plan.
He then distributed a letter regarding the Port of Dubuque Master Plan and a list of the
Diamond Jo's concerns with the Port of Dubuque Master Plan Kane stated that
approximately % of the issues listed ara resolved.
Donna Bauerly, 305 River Ridge, questioned if the Diamond Jo would accrue a lot of
customers and/or benefits from the Port of Dubuque Master Plan. She also questioned
if the Diamond Jo had plans to expand.
Chairperson Neumeister stated that she was happy to hear that the City staff and
Diamond Jo representatives are working together to resolve the issues.
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February 20, 2002
Page 2
Motion by Rusk. seconded by Stein to encourage ongoing dialogue between all existing
property owners and to recommend to the City Council that they adopt the Port of
Dubuque Master Plan as an amendment to the Riverfront Plan passed unanimously.
Amendment to Ice Harbor Urban Renewal Plan
Pam Myhre City of Dubuque Economic Development Planner, reviewed the proposed
amended and restated Ice Harbor Urban Renewal Plan and associated attachments.
She reviewed the 'design standards for the built form and public realm that are part of
the Port of Dubuque master Plan and are proposed for incorporation into the Ice Harbor
Urban Renewal Plan.
Dan Shireman, 382 E. 21st Street, questioned if the area covered by the Port of
Dubuque Master Plan ever flooded since the floodwall was built. Staff responded that to
the best of their knowledge, it had not flooded. Shireman asked if the trail along the
Peosta Channel was part of the Heritage Trail. Staff responded that it was part of the
Heritage Trail Extension.
Wayne Buchholtz, 2023 Grant Street, questioned what the City is doing to ensure that
runoff from the Port of Dubuque doesn't impact the Ice Harbor and the stormwater
system. Staff responded that City Engineering is looking at storm water management
as part of the planning process for the Port of Dubuque.
The Commission noted that the Diamond Jo Casino had submitted comments about
the design standards at the previous public hearing.
Motion by Stein, seconded by Portzen to recommend to the City Council that the
proposed amended and restated Urban Renewal Plan for the Ice Harbor Urban
Renewal District conforms with the City's adopted Comprehensive Plan passed
unanimously.
Proposed Land Use Map
Carstens summarized the changes made to the land use map that were made at the
request of the Commission.
Wayne Buchholtz, 2023 Grant Street, asked what the percentage of green space to
developed areas in the City is. He stated a concern regarding the size of the detention
pond at Harvest View Estates and that the City should consider absorbent green
spaces (i.e., prairies, native vegetationl for the beautification of the City. In addition, he
stated that ponds mowed to the base of the pond attract Canadian geese, and that this
can be a problem. He also stated that detention for existing businesses/homes needs to
be looked at.
Walt McFadden, 5585 Radford Road, stated that there is no need for additional
industrial land for the 160 acres of farmland that his family owns at the southwest
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
February 20, 2002
Page 3
comer of Radford Road and Pennsylvania Avenue. He suggested either residential or
agricultural uses for the property.
Hugh McFadden, 10608 Cedar Point Coud. discussed the failure of the detention pond
at the Dubuque Technology Park during construction. In response to a question from
the Commission, he noted that it has not failed since. Mr. McFadden then stated during
construction of the Dubuque Industrial Center West, the creek on the McFadden Farm
turned into a sewer during the Spring of 1999. He stated [hat options of green space
around detention ponds should be made mandatory and that the detention ponds
should be bigger.
Dan Shireman 382 E. 21st Street, asked what happens to recommendations and
discussion from this public hearing. He stated that the proposal to remove 70 - 80
houses on the north end for storm water management should be withdrawn as an
option, and that the City should reconsider the Grandview Avenue/Kaufm an Avenue
detention basin option. Chairperson Neumeister explained that the public hearing was
on the Proposed Land Use map, and that the Commission would send their
recommendations to the City Council for approval.
Sesterhen noted that no public comments had been received at the map display at the
Public Library earlier this month. Carstens reviewed the verbal and written comments
received from the public dudng the open house preceding the Commission's meeting
included: the commercial designation for the three houses on Cousins Road south of
Seippel Road should be changed to residential, the map should show the Northwest
Artedal extension, the McFadden Farm on Radford Road and Pennsylvania Avenue
should not be shown as heavy industrial, missing flood plain designations should be
added, major street names should be added, and the future four-lane Highway 20
bridge should be added on the map.
Commissioner Podzen asked that staff verify the amount of commercial and included
in the Siegert rezoning along Highway 20 west. Neumeister req ~ested that staff
research the.percentage of green space in the City limits and provide corn ;~ansons to
other communities if possible.
Chairperson Neumeister recommended that the Commission review an ~pdated map at
the next meeting, to include the comments received from the public, staff and
Commissioners to date.
ACTION ITEMS:
Stormwater Mana.clement: Community PlanninR Processes
Carstens introduced Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer and Deron Muehring, Civil
Engineer, Muehring presented the Stormwater Management Plan to the Commissioners
and responded to questions from Commissioners and the public.
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February 20, 2002
Page 4
Carstens then reviewed the proposed community planning processes for the Bee
Branch Corridor Study and the stormwater utility. Commissioners and staff discussed
the timeframe and estimated time commitment for the Chairpersons of the Bee Branch
Corridor Study citizen input group and the stormwater utility citizen input group.
Motion by Rusk, seconded by Portzen to appoint Commissioner Charles Winterwood as
the Chairperson for the stormwater utility citizen input group passed unanimously.
Commissioner Winterwood then decided that he would rather serve as the Chairperson
of the Bee Branch Corridor Study citizen group. Commissioner Portzen said he would
be willing to serve as the Chairperson of the stormwater utility citizen group if he no
longer had his current commitment to the Joint City/County Planning Committee.
Motion by Rusk, seconded by Portzen reconsider the previous motion passed
unanimously.
Motion by Rusk seconded by Stein to amend the motion to recommend that [he City
Council appoint Commissioner Charles Winterwood as the Chairperson for the Bee
Branch Corridor Study citizen input group and Commissioner Mike Portzen as the
Chairperson for the stormwater utility citizen input group passed unanimously.
Downtown Planning Committee Membership
Sesterhenn reviewed the survey that was completed regarding membership on the
Downtown Planning Committee. She also reported that the Committee's
recommendation is to maintain the current makeup of the Committee with the exception
of asking a representative from the Fischer Properties to join the Committee. Motion by
Stein, seconded by Winterwood to follow the membership recommendation of the
Downtown Planning Committee passed unanimously.
Review of FY 03-07 Capital Improvement Program
After a brief discussion, motion by Rusk, seconded by Winterwood to recommend to
the City Council that the FY 03-07 Capital Improvement Program budget is consistent
with the adopted Comprehensive Plan passed unanimously.
LIAISON/COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Joint City/County Planning Committee
Neumeister and staff reported that the working group has developed a revised draft
fdnge area agreement which will first be presented to the City Manager and City Council
Member Ann Michalski and then to the full Committee in March.
Downtown Planning Committee
Rusk reported that the Downtown Planning Committee is reviewing the process for the
development of a master plan for downtown and that Call Beals Iowa Economic
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February 20, 2002
Page 5
Development Department (IDED), has been asked to attend the next meeting to review
the IDED community development grant process.
Enterprise Zone Commission - No formal report at this time.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION
Comm [ssloners discussed the FY 03 Operating Budget for the Planning Services
Department, and the budget hearing on February 21 2002. Rusk reported that the City
Manager has recommended approval of the budget request for the development of a
downtown master plan. After additional discussion motion by Portzen seconded by
Winterwood to show support at the City Council budget hearing for future funding of the
Zoning Ordinance Update and staffing levels in the next budget cycle passed
unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Sesterhenn Assistant Planner Adopted