Give Cedar Rapids your opinion on urban design principles

By Nancy Evans

After the flood of 2008, the Cedar Rapids City Council held a series of open houses in the Neighborhood Planning Process, asking residents to provide feedback on what they hope for in both the rebuilding and future growth of our community.

Also during this time, the City Planning Commission had been discussing Urban Design Principles as a way to explore our community's vision for future development and revitalization and how to use modern planning tools to facilitate that vision. This process also has included community open houses.

During the last open house, Feb. 22, three unique city models that incorporated different development standards were presented.

Open house participants shared what they liked and disliked about the three options, including issues of quality of life, density, sustainable growth, revitalization, infill development, compatibility, neighborhoods, commercial development, public transportation, traffic, parking, walkability and green initiatives among many others.

Based on these comments, a hybrid concept was developed.

The city again is asking for community input. A third Urban Design Principles Open House will be held Thursday. Choose from two sessions: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 4 to 7 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, 350 First Ave. NE.

The goal of this open house is to present this hybrid concept and suggest methods and tools for implementing it. Residents will be able to view how proposed design guidelines would affect the neighborhoods, commercial centers, the downtown and city outskirts.

It is your opportunity to be part of a process that values and incorporates resident input.

If you would like to read the more than 700 comments made in previous open houses, go to www.cedar-rapids.

org/development Click on “Hot Topics” and the “Urban Design Principles” links. If you have questions about the Urban Design Principles process, please contact the Community Development Department at (319) 286-5076.

Your opinion is important. Please attend. Your children and grandchildren will thank you.

Nancy Evans is a member of the Cedar Rapids City Planning Commission.