Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Master Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Urbandale staff outline downtown master plan recommendations, estimate $33 million in phased infrastructure investment
Summary
Curtis, a city staff member, presented the Urbandale Now downtown master plan update at the May work session, summarizing eight recommendations and an estimated $33 million in total infrastructure investment for phased build-out.
Curtis (city staff) briefed the Urbandale City Council during the May work session on the Urbandale Now master plan update for the downtown area, outlining eight recommendations, anticipated public costs, and next steps toward formal adoption.
Curtis said the plan’s eight recommendations include reconfiguring Douglas Avenue to a three-lane cross section, concentrating development at two strategic nodes near 60th/70th and Douglas, establishing a distinct district identity, creating a downtown parking-management plan, pursuing sub-regional stormwater strategies, supporting gentle housing density in adjacent neighborhoods, encouraging bicycle use downtown and pursuing a phased redevelopment strategy over several decades.
Curtis told councilmembers that companion studies informed feasibility, including an AECOM economic analysis that found several underutilized downtown parcels with land values that make them attractive redevelopment candidates. The consultant team provided a preliminary estimate of about $33,000,000 in total infrastructure investment for full build-out; Curtis and the consultants emphasized that early public investment and incentives will likely be needed to catalyze private development and that public dollars are expected to be offset over time by new property tax revenue.
Councilmembers asked about the “big node” pedestrian/trail treatment and examples from other towns. Curtis showed a Batavia, Illinois, example of a low-traffic, pedestrian-priority street that can be used for deliveries and mobility access while prioritizing pedestrians and bicyclists. Curtis said the plan will be on the council’s agenda for adoption at the next regular meeting and that staff aims to post final documents and public comments on the city’s Downtown Urbandale webpage at urbandale.org/downtown.
Curtis requested council feedback and said staff will collect any questions before next Tuesday’s adoption hearing. No final vote on the plan was taken during the work session.
