Iowa City moves forward on ordinance going after large student apartments

The days of large student apartments may be over in Iowa City – at least when it comes to new construction.

The City Council Tuesday night voted 5-1 on the first consideration of an ordinance limiting to three the number of unrelated people who can live together in neighborhoods near the University of Iowa campus. Two more votes are required.

That rule is already applied in the rest of the city. Existing residential units would be grandfathered in and can continue to be rented to  the number of people currently allowed on the rental permit.

The vote comes after two months of debate on what is a longstanding issue in this college town: the number of four- and five-bedroom apartments aimed at students in the neighborhoods near downtown that also are home to long-term residents.

Council members who voted in support of the ordnance said they were trying to strike a balance between protecting the stability of those neighborhoods versus the market for student housing.

Susan Mims said the proliferation of large apartments in recent years have caused a “tipping point” in which some full-time residents no longer want to live in the neighborhoods.

“This is certainly not in any way, shape or manner an anti-student vote. … It is more about balance,” she said.

Terry Dickens cast the lone vote against the measure. He said he was more in disagreement with the city skipping its usual process of sending items to the Planning and Zoning Commission first.

“I just didn't like the way it was done,” he said.

The City Council had the same 5-1 votes to set public hearings on two related matters.

One would prevent the construction of multifamily dwellings with more than three bedrooms per unit and limit the number of three-bedroom units allowed. Another would require more parking spaces for larger apartments.

Developers have argued that capping at three the number of unrelated people who can live together will effectively stop the construction of apartments with more than three bedrooms.