Final Northwest Neighborhood Action Plan meeting is Wednesday

CEDAR RAPIDS - The third and final open house for the Cedar Rapids Northwest Neighborhood Action Plan is scheduled for Wednesday.

The plan will outline specific goals and action items to achieve the vision residents helped shape for look, feel and function of the 135-block residential area with commercial nodes just north and west of downtown. The plan considers overarching themes such as flood protection, greenways and recreation, infrastructure improvements, street aesthetics, and building style, among other aspects.

Residents can review a draft of the action plan at the meeting, which is scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at St. James United Methodist Church, 1430 Ellis Blvd. NW, Cedar Rapids.

The draft compiles input provided during the first and second open houses, as well as online. A sampling of goals includes: gateways and other distinguishing neighborhood signage, promoting infill and the construction of affordable housing, and maintaining the single-family residential character of the neighborhood west of Ellis Boulevard NW.

The effort, which kicked off last spring, is to be presented to the Cedar Rapids City Council for adoption later this spring.

The Northwest Neighborhood is the first of a series of action plan efforts slated for Cedar Rapids. Such planning was identified as a need in EnvisionCR - the City's Comprehensive Plan - which was adopted in January 2015 following public feedback.

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