[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6393116,"mediaKeyId","2108191-e05b257d7054147d34798267d880e8ac","parentId",2108191,"title","Commission backs rezoning and RP master‑plan amendment for Meadow Ridge despite neighbor objections","audioSeconds",5231,"startMs",1093000,"endMs",6324000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2108191-e05b257d7054147d34798267d880e8ac&start=1093&end=6324","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2108191-e05b257d7054147d34798267d880e8ac/thumbnail_1093000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6393116/Cedar-Falls/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Commission-backs-rezoning-and-RP-masterplan-amendment-for-Meadow-Ridge-despite-neighbor-objections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393116-aa43ef9b5c593fb59ca47731d5510bde/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183836&Signature=Xf3ntzMNyNckOR36~XMGcpDNOk5eTAY2tj2zl0zgLijakGPLSD~YHWVgO3FXeV0TLRl64DYQt6zVNNGAGI~H80-piRawuonG8UHRdEZnQmCbV-jRKyMgHXhYezysKBkiWUNn89tjtmVDUjcpwzV4u0B~V08LC8NSmr6W6o7hT8erGlngehdukGG8g8touVYtU1FgxHxhRYII~TuyLD5aeECMC0mKHKM9PUYbeF35V40AqsOBTzIJcpbBM666VmWNgrpHhZtDdRWz14HDYqUsyJjyCp8eDXUUOKpuRGgau-5ccAFM2Aqmip6S0vzQyQ6cPeZ3bE39gqSwOYGO6Zdwpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cedar Falls, IA","date","2025-01-08T00:00:00Z","article","The City of Cedar Falls Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 8 recommended approval of two connected items for the Meadow Ridge development: rezoning 2.68 acres from A‑1 Agriculture to RP Planned Residence (RZ24‑3) and an amendment to the RP master plan (MP24‑004X). The votes sent both recommendations to City Council for final action; the master‑plan amendment was approved by a divided vote.

Planning staff said the applicant revised the RP master plan after earlier hearings, reducing the project from 207 units to 186 units (a 10 percent reduction) and removing a 21‑unit building and associated parking to reduce impervious surface and wetland impacts. Tom, the presenting planner, said the change reduces the wetland area impacted from about 1.87 acres to about 1.05 acres and will return roughly 71 percent of that acreage (about 7.5 acres) to open space for stormwater quality and green space.

Developer representative Packer Morley said the firm has owned the site for about 20 years and worked with staff to respond to concerns about density, wetlands, impervious surfaces and screening. \"We tried to kill two birds with one stone there and removing density where it was sitting on wetlands, which would allow us to remove parking,\" Morley said.

Neighbors and attorneys for residents repeatedly objected to the remaining concentration of multi‑family buildings along the development’s west edge bordering Winding Ridge Estates. Attorney Corey Lorenzen, representing homeowners, said the revised plan did not deliver the transition the city’s comprehensive plan envisions and urged the commission to reject the plan. \"I am asking again for the commission to reject the plans and ask for plans to come back that have more of a transition,\" Lorenzen said, citing a comprehensive plan table that lists typical medium‑density maximums of 4 to 12 units per acre and calls for transitions between single‑family and medium‑density uses.

Other public commenters cited traffic and pedestrian safety on West First Street, potential loss of wetlands and the perceived lack of direct neighborhood outreach. Several residents asked for larger physical buffers, taller/denser screening plantings, or different housing types (twin homes or townhouses) on the parcels nearest the single‑family lots.

Staff and the developer said several conditions must be met before City Council will consider final rezoning: a subdivision plat to combine the RP‑zoned areas, an access easement and agreement for the extension of Lake Ridge Drive, and a development procedures agreement that will include terms for constructing Lake Ridge Drive and any special development area (SDA) provisions. The developer and staff said they propose an SDA to reduce parking requirements (to about 1.25 spaces per one‑bedroom unit and no reduction for two‑ and three‑bedrooms) in exchange for preserved open space and fewer paved areas; staff’s proposal estimated eliminating about 68 parking spaces under the SDA.

Commissioners debated tradeoffs between preserving wetlands and the perceived intensity of units facing Winding Ridge. The rezoning motion passed on a roll call vote with Commissioners Alberhasky, Grubovich, Hartley, Henderson, Johnson, Moser, Sorensen, Stahlmaker and Watkins voting aye. The master plan amendment with an SDA was approved on a divided roll call (Alberhasky, Hartley, Johnson, Moser, Sorensen, Stahlmaker voted aye; Grubovich, Henderson and Watkins voted nay) and will go to City Council with staff‑recommended technical conditions and the SDA recommendation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cedar Falls Planning & Zoning Commission: January 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval Jan. 8 of a rezoning and an RP master‑plan amendment for the Meadow Ridge apartment development, after the developer reduced unit counts and altered the site plan but amid sustained neighborhood opposition over density, wetlands and traffic.","taxTitle","Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, Iowa","taxId",51799,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393118,"Commission OKs rezoning to extend Urban General 2 frontage on Olive and Walnut Streets",758,312000,1070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2108191-e05b257d7054147d34798267d880e8ac&start=312&end=1070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2108191-e05b257d7054147d34798267d880e8ac/thumbnail_312000.jpg","/articles/6393118/Cedar-Falls/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Commission-OKs-rezoning-to-extend-Urban-General-2-frontage-on-Olive-and-Walnut-Streets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393118-0afd86c1d67edf1d6f4e073c2cadc402/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183836&Signature=UiR~MDKmiaiuYkBa1oTJN~AGVlHepn-CeOyTBVwfMuoaR4m~4kYg1Xl-tC~BWv1A5AL5gB~hOgTD11EqBha807d6Z~nbmL-DAirs9z8rDRjrONiSvrx93ZUK7duVGXAtZbmgnjPp65Kv3yNA2w-iQabpqwgMjekiWQgvEREJaTeNwf2mnmyY52Dn8X46yrhq0yUjpWyGaBWEL1C2cKmZgazI48Of6ENvXuhdKf-jzqpsgOEdpHnCt3h5FGjG9ZlV5rYGf0MgF3YAWeQoc0DqQAJWIzHY-D2FOlTfT4VgzXpLgJLRsR0SL3-bi8kF7sGftUQqdXaVQKF1OBIDiE-URQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Cedar Falls Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Jan. 8 to recommend amending the downtown character district regulating plan to extend the Urban General 2 frontage designation to two narrow parcels on Olive and Walnut streets.

The change would replace the current Neighborhood Small frontage on those lots with Urban General 2, a designation that allows street‑oriented, multi‑story commercial, residential, institutional or mixed‑use buildings. Planning staff said the amendment is meant to align a small remnant west of the downtown core with the larger Urban General 2 area to the east and remove regulatory obstacles that make redevelopment of the 50–52‑foot‑deep lots impractical.

\"If allowed or approved, this rezoning will allow more flexibility for development on these lots and will also allow street‑oriented residential and mixed‑use buildings as per the intent of the vision plan,\" said JD, the staff planner presenting the case. He explained that existing neighborhood‑setback standards and required walls/landscaping effectively leave only about 20 feet of buildable depth on the lots, which prevents redevelopment.

Applicant Mark Ludwig, who said he owns one of the lots, declined to make a formal presentation but answered questions from commissioners. A nearby resident, Christine Fisher, asked whether the city still owns an adjacent parcel and suggested the city consider using the small city‑owned lot for a bus stop and shelter; staff said the city had no immediate plans for that lot.

Commissioners discussed alleys and access; staff confirmed buildings cannot be built over the alley and that the alley must remain if present. After discussion a commissioner moved to recommend approval and the commission took a roll call vote; Commissioners Alberhasky, Grubovich, Hartley, Henderson, Johnson, Mosier, Sorensen, Stahlneker and Watkins cast aye votes and the motion passed.

The commission forwarded the rezoning recommendation to the City Council for final action. Staff noted that existing residences would remain residential until redeveloped and that the rezoning only amends the frontage designation in the regulating plan.","The City of Cedar Falls Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval to amend the downtown character district regulating plan, changing two small lots from Neighborhood Small to Urban General 2 frontage to allow street‑oriented mixed‑use redevelopment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393110,"Commission recommends PC‑2 rezoning for Highway 20 corner; Creekside Business Park preliminary plat moves forward for Jan. 22 review",547,6389000,6936000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2108191-e05b257d7054147d34798267d880e8ac&start=6389&end=6936","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2108191-e05b257d7054147d34798267d880e8ac/thumbnail_6389000.jpg","/articles/6393110/Cedar-Falls/Black-Hawk-County/Iowa/Commission-recommends-PC2-rezoning-for-Highway-20-corner-Creekside-Business-Park-preliminary-plat-moves-forward-for-Jan-22-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393110-d2ccf5e67d934503872e970d53fa64ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183836&Signature=PWy5HyZoXzjA7fetZ1LvXjgqcJnvEV~I~a5rSQRXTgry9c9vDskgbFpenQ5Qb1LELwBPCo77Iywcux1djfBLYv5yBgu5FBmlSFnyHLvrdn9Dhbzo-Y8cN2gkt~v1O-Lqz9~IjCPO9qNBmsFY48PBC2MX6t5zUR48HsRCGh82E2sv9Yk-lohXxrVPiv1P~~TKcztt5nSkMuQFkOQgjrGTGXIV6TTyhjeB0B9i3-bLgcEouwEsCiayj9p6U7Q-lQ-8BZniyC8LnBSPtbJoDh9fkMBMmY5-0Kh4wCJdnl3XEaSEqkOjTdwJBy0HhOoI8Avl6GNJJmUEbSXWoBG6JFeGNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning & Zoning Commission on Jan. 8 recommended rezoning a city‑owned property at the northeast corner of Highway 20 and Hudson Road from A‑1 Agriculture to PC‑2 Planned Commercial and reviewed a preliminary plat for the proposed Creekside Business Park.

Planner Michelle presented the PC‑2 rezoning and said the parcel’s master plan (adopted in 2019) supports commercial development at the Highway 20 gateway. Staff reported the City will develop the property as a single phase rather than two phases and intends to incorporate two roundabouts as part of the subdivision entry design.

The proposed preliminary plat for the Creekside Business Park shows about 10 lots ranging from roughly 2.5 acres to 25 acres, with one lot reserved for stormwater and a public park and trail. Staff said stormwater design will be addressed at the site‑plan and construction stages and that the city will provide stub connections and two roundabout connections to the north; Hudson Road forms the west boundary and no immediate western connections are planned.

A motion to approve the PC‑2 rezoning carried on a roll call vote with all commissioners voting aye. The commission recommended gathering public comments on the preliminary plat and scheduled follow‑up review for Jan. 22. Staff said the plat meets the master‑plan guidance for lot sizes and the Highway 20 Commercial Corridor overlay district.","The commission voted to rezone a city‑owned parcel at Highway 20 and Hudson Road to PC‑2 Planned Commercial and accepted a preliminary plat for the Creekside Business Park for further review (preliminary plat follow‑up scheduled Jan. 22).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission backs rezoning and RP master‑plan amendment for Meadow Ridge despite neighbor objections

Commission OKs rezoning to extend Urban General 2 frontage on Olive and Walnut Streets

Commission recommends PC‑2 rezoning for Highway 20 corner; Creekside Business Park preliminary plat moves forward for Jan. 22 review