Communication could’ve eased dispute

It's a scenario that plays out all too often in Iowa communities.

City leaders gather and formulate strategic plans intended to shape progress in future years. Items like road construction, rezoning requirements and future needs are assessed. The public is invited to look at a rough draft, make notes in the margin and advocate for changes. Ultimately, the document sets the tone for future discussions regarding growth.

Strong emotions are rarely a part of the strategic planning process but often come into play once city, property owners, developers and advocacy groups dig into the details.

Such has been the case in Iowa City when a property owner applied for a rezoning and subsequent demolition permit for three small cottages in the 600 block of Dubuque Street that are roughly 150 years old and currently hold mostly commercial businesses.

The buildings lie within the Riverfront Crossings District, an area earmarked for mixed-use development, which is expected under current development plans to displace 10 existing businesses.

The local historic preservation group had been crafting a study on historically significant properties in the district. Save the rezoning and demolition requests, the research would have been released next year, allowing for more discussion on what, if anything, should be preserved for future generations.

With timing now an issue, advocates for possibly preserving the cottages pushed forward, delivering information to the Historic Preservation Commission. The study was rushed, opponents said. City Council members declined to schedule a public hearing that would have postponed demolition plans. One member chastised preservationists for waiting until the '11th-and-a-half” hour to voice concerns.

But objective review shows no one waited until the last minute. Based on strategic planning from the city, the landowner investigated future options for his property. Historic preservationists began gathering information on existing properties - a task also aligned with city planning, which offered possible development incentives related to the cottages.

Everyone moved forward, but no one spoke about it.

City leaders, landowners, advocacy groups and a concerned public should be reminded that a completed strategic planning document isn't a final dissertation.

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