Council approves first reading to rezone 405 and 575 Cedar Cross Road to R4 after debate over traffic and sewer capacity

The Dubuque City Council voted 4-3 on March 17 to give first-reading approval to an ordinance to rezone 405 and 575 Cedar Cross Road from R1 (single-family residential) to R4 (multifamily residential), moving the proposal forward while leaving final passage for a later city council meeting.

The request, filed by Luke and Julie Murfeld of Murfeld Properties LLC, seeks to allow multifamily development on two lots on the city’s south side near Nightingale Lane. Planning staff, neighbors and council members debated traffic, stormwater, and sanitary sewer capacity during a public hearing that drew several residents and prompted detailed questions from council members and city staff.

Planning Services Director Wally Wernmont told the council the request would change the lots’ zoning to R4 and noted that the site is about 2.5 acres and adjoins a mixture of uses including a childcare center, the Arctic Glacier ice plant and commercial properties along Cedar Cross Road. “The request before you tonight is rezone a property on Cedar Cross Road in Nightingale Lane from R1 single family residential to a R4 multifamily residential development,” Wernmont said. He explained the city has water mains on Cedar Cross Road and Nightingale Lane but that sanitary sewer does not yet extend to the site and…