Opponents have had their say

Gazette Editorial Board

--

Objectors have had a fair opportunity to weigh in on a proposed high-rise Iowa City development project.

Not agreeing with the City Council's decision is not reason enough for them to bring a lawsuit to try to derail the project, which has generated considerable excitement in addition to staunch opposition.

There are plenty of supporters of the proposed 20-story, $53.8 million building to be built on a city-owned parcel at the intersection of College and Gilbert streets on downtown's eastern edge. Council members selected the proposal, put forth by developer Marc Moen, from three finalists in a fair and public process.

There has been ample time to argue against the proposal, as have local attorney and City Council candidate Rockne Cole and members of the Iowa Coalition Against the Shadow.

In May opponents asked the City Council, already in the midst of negotiating a development agreement with Moen, to rezone the property to prohibit development of buildings taller than 75 feet. In keeping with the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning commission, council members denied their request. Rather than accepting the decision, opponents filed a court petition last month in an effort to stop the deal. Now Gary Sanders, known for long-delaying the construction of an Iowa City Walmart, has filed a motion to intervene in the court case.

These moves have unnecessarily complicated a democratic process that has worked exactly as intended. All along, in fact, opponents have had their say. Their objections - that the building is too tall for the location, that council should have chosen a proposal that would include the New Pioneer Coop, that Moen appears to have a corner on downtown development deals - are well known, and have been unpersuasive.

The project has much to offer: Moen has a good track record with the city and his proposal would include movie theaters and a bowling alley - two venues Iowa Citians long have clamored for in the city's center and which would expand downtown leisure opportunities - in addition to office, residential and hotel space. We're not surprised it has such solid support.

It's time for opponents to admit the same.

l Comments: editorial@thegazette.

com or (319) 398-8262