Council approves rezoning for church site at 40 First Street, asks for site plan and traffic review

The City Council on a 4-0 vote with one abstention approved an ordinance rezoning property at 40 First Street to allow use by the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, but the council required the applicant to return with a site plan so staff and members can review access and parking. The vote followed a public hearing in which neighbors and planning officials focused on traffic and curb-cut location, and the council asked that the church’s driveway be sited to anticipate possible future development on the north side. Planning staff said they measure the widest adjacent right of way and then notify property owners 200 feet beyond that boundary to meet state code; in this case staff said they used a 70-to-80-foot Outer Drive right-of-way and sent notices approximately 280 feet from the parcel. Planning and Zoning Chair Andrew Gleiser said the commission recommended approval and that engineering advised access should come from 40 First Street rather than Outer Drive because Outer is more congested. A petitioner who identified himself as representing the congregation told the council the church hopes to accommodate "maybe 200 people" on Sundays. The applicant’s architect, Stone Architectural Company, is preparing a site plan, and city staff said no construction review or curb cuts will be approved until a site plan is submitted and reviewed. Several residents said they were worried about cumulative traffic from the church plus a proposed housing development north of the site. One council member urged that the council specify driveway location now so the church’s architect can plan access consistent with any future development. The council’s approval was subject to the requirement that the applicant return with a site plan for council review and approval. Council records indicate the property owner is listed as "WKG Real Estate," described in the hearing as a holding entity of three doctors. The ordinance passed with one council member abstaining. The council and staff suggested a traffic or parking study could be requested with the site plan to evaluate impacts to 40 First Street and Outer Drive and to coordinate potential curb cuts with future development.