DUBUQUE, Iowa  The Zoning Advisory Commission on Aug. 6 voted not to recommend rezoning a vacant parcel at West 30 Second Street (parcel ID 2627007) from R-1 single-family to OR, an office-residential district, after neighbors raised objections about possible uses, parking and traffic and staff said the council would require a supermajority to change the zoning.

The commission's decision followed a public hearing in which neighbors said they bought homes expecting a single-family neighborhood and expressed concern that OR zoning allows a wide range of principal uses. "Office is one of the things listed under the principal permitted uses, but there's also another very varied wide range," resident Joni Heitzman said, citing uses such as child care, medical offices and mortuaries listed under the OR district.

The zoning classification matters because OR permits uses not allowed in R-1 and can serve as a transitional zone between residential and commercial areas, city staff said. "That would require a supermajority vote, which is three-quarters of the city council," Sheena Moon, associate planner for the City of Dubuque, said, referring to the level of public opposition (about 42.6% of notified land area) that would trigger a higher vote threshold at council.

Tom Larson of Biesing and Associates, representing the applicant, described the proposal as a small realty office with on-site parking and said he expected "low volume" traffic. He said the applicant planned parking to the rear of the site and that any future development would require a site plan review by city staff.

Residents opposed the rezoning at the hearing. "We bought our home with intent of living in a neighborhood of single family dwellings, not a business outlet," Genevieve Vollis said. Neighbors also raised concerns about limited street parking, the safety of the site's driveway because the lot sits on a curve, and the possibility that OR zoning could enable uses they did not expect when they purchased property.

Staff presented a comparison of permitted principal uses in R-1 and OR zoning and noted differences in intensity. Moon also said the lot is approximately 21,000 square feet and that engineering staff had begun examining sight distance and access; she advised that parking would have to be provided on-site and that 30 Second Street contains sections where on-street parking is not allowed.

Commissioners who spoke in opposition cited the long-established residential character of the block and recommended keeping the R-1 boundary at the Northwest Arterial. A motion to recommend approval of the rezoning failed on a roll call vote; the item will be forwarded to the City Council with the commission's recommendation and is scheduled for the Aug. 18 council meeting.

The council makes the final decision on rezoning; the public may provide comment at that meeting, city staff said.