University of Iowa Hospitals wants to build clinic south of Highway 1

IOWA CITY - Officials with University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics are looking to add another facility in west Iowa City.

The Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission today will discuss a request to rezone almost eight acres of property east of Mormon Trek Boulevard and south of Highway 1, across the street from Billion Honda.

Tom Moore, UIHC spokesman, said the hope is to create a mixed-use building on the site, to continue to expand UIHC offerings throughout the community, and to decompress traffic at the main UIHC buildings off Melrose Avenue.

'The idea is to make our services more accessible and convenient to our patients,” Moore said.

A city staff report on the rezoning request states the building likely will host a medical clinic, pharmacy, mother's milk bank and warehousing and distribution.

Moore said UIHC likely would lease the building from developer Built to Suit.

The request, submitted by Built to Suit, seeks to rezone the plot from Community Office to Intensive Commercial.

City staff recommend approval of the rezoning, with conditions the building not have outdoor storage or exterior lights that exceed 25 feet in height.

Those conditions were added to reduce nuisances to nearby residences, according to staff.

Moore said the project still is in the preliminary stages and work on a final design would not start until rezoning is approved. Assuming that happens, construction could begin next spring or summer. A project cost estimate was not available Wednesday, Moore said.