Council Bluffs council allows taverns in planned-residential overlay, approves multiple ordinances and bids

The Council Bluffs City Council on March 12 approved an amendment to the city—ode that will allow taverns in planned residential (PR) overlay districts, and passed a series of ordinances and resolutions, including a construction bid for the Mid America Center parking lot and a consortium agreement for the Home Investment Partnership Program.

Under ordinance 66-30, an amendment to chapter 15.28 governing the planned residential overlay, taverns would be permitted within PR overlays but would still be required to meet the city—ode istance requirement from adjacent residential uses. A city planning staff member told the council the change "would allow taverns in planned residential overlays but would not remove the existing 200-foot separation requirement." The council voted to approve the ordinance and waived the third reading.

The change drew one public speaker. Bob Stratton of Broadmoor, who identified his address as 809 N. 90th Street in Omaha, said the amendment fit the River—dge development and described the proposed tavern planned for that area. "It's 1,700 square feet, 48 seats inside, 16 outside on a patio," Stratton told the council, and said the manager, Paul Weidner, would operate the location.

Why it matters: allowing taverns in a PR overlay creates a narrower local exception to current zoning restrictions, potentially enabling alcohol-serving businesses in mixed-use developments such as River—dge while keeping the city—ode—uffer intended to protect adjacent residential areas.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 66-30 (planned residential overlay amendment allowing taverns within PR overlays): approved; third reading waived. (Public hearing held; one speaker.) - Resolution 25-63 (plan/specifications for Avenue B reconstruction, public works project 25-13): approved. - Ordinance 66-32 (new chapter 3.2, massage therapy): approved on first consideration. - Ordinance 66-33 (amendments to chapter 17.01 housing definitions and penalties): approved on first consideration. - Ordinances 66-34, 66-35, 66-36, 66-37, 66-38, 66-39 and 66-40 (amending Title 13 to enact a new insurance chapter and remove redundant insurance requirements): approved on first consideration. - Ordinance 66-41 (amendments and repeals to chapter 13.17, licensing of the electrical trade): approved; council members voiced concern about state preemption of local trade regulation during discussion. - Ordinance 66-31 (amend truck routes, chapter 9.68): approved on second consideration; third reading waived. - Resolution 25-64 (accept bid of Carley Construction LLC for Mid America Center parking lot rehab, phase 5): approved; council noted the winning bid arrived significantly under the engineer's estimate. - Resolution 25-65 (2024through2027 Home Investment Partnership Program Consortium Agreement between the cities of Council Bluffs and Omaha): approved. - Liquor license applications (agenda item 9A, licenses 1 through 7): approved; council acknowledged the new owners of the property formerly known as Maloney's were present. - Reopen city attorney recruitment/application period: council voted to reopen the process and extend the application deadline to April 2.

Discussion and context Council discussion on the PR-overlay amendment focused on what the change does and does not do. A city planning staff member explained the text change is not merely a wording fix but an allowance that currently is not permitted: "what we're trying to do is allow that if you are within that planned residential overlay, you can have a tavern," the staff member said, while stressing compliance with the existing adjacent-neighborhood (200-foot) requirement would remain.

Bob Stratton, representing Broadmoor interests and the property owner group promoting a River—dge business, urged approval and provided details about the proposed establishment and its manager, Paul Weidner. No written protests were reported on the ordinance; no opposing public commenters addressed the council during the hearing.

On other items, the council approved a range of first-reading ordinances updating business, housing and building-code chapters. During discussion of electrical licensing changes, a council member criticized state-level proposals that would limit local control and said some state bills would cap permit and inspection fees, expressing concern about local capacity to regulate building safety under such caps.

The council also accepted a notably lower-than-estimate bid for the final phase of the Mid America Center parking lot rehab and approved the HOME consortium agreement with Omaha for the 2024through2027 period; details on program funding sources and implementation steps were not specified during the meeting.

What the council directed or decided - The ordinance change to permit taverns in planned residential overlays was approved and will proceed after the waived third reading. - The city attorney recruitment was reopened and the application deadline extended to April 2; the council said the current interim arrangement will continue through June 30. - Multiple ordinances and resolutions moving code updates and public-works projects were approved on first consideration or by resolution as listed above.

Ending Council members closed the meeting with brief congratulatory remarks unrelated to the agenda. The council adjourned after approving the consent agenda and the slate of items listed above. Specific effective dates for the approved ordinances and resolutions were not specified in the meeting record and will appear in the official minutes or subsequent ordinance publications if provided.