Iowa City council advances rezoning for North Governor Street site despite neighborhood safety and slope concerns

The Iowa City City Council gave first consideration May 6 to an ordinance that would rezone about 5.49 acres between North Dodge and North Governor streets to permit higher-density multifamily housing, advancing the measure 6–1.

The rezoning would convert multiple single- and multi-family zones to high-density single-family residential (for 0.17 acres) and medium-density multifamily residential with a planned development overlay (about 5.32 acres). Council members, planning staff and nearby residents spent more than an hour debating amenities and constraints including a steep southern boundary, a proposed retaining wall, sidewalks and whether the city or a future developer should pay to connect a sidewalk to Happy Hollow Park.

Councilors said the location fits the city’s infill and growth plans and could deliver housing near…