Commission backs Edgewood Industrial Park urban renewal area review

The Cedar Rapids City Planning Commission reviewed and recommended approval of the proposed Edgewood Industrial Park urban renewal area plan, a staff presentation said.

Scott Mather of the city manager's office told the commission City Council on Jan. 14 authorized city incentives for a master-plan redevelopment at the corner of 60 Fourth Avenue Southwest and 20 Sixth Street Southwest and that on Jan. 28 the council initiated proceedings to establish the urban renewal area based on economic development. Mather said council action included support for incentives for a phase of redevelopment that envisions nine commercial buildings.

Mather said the planning commission's role is to review the URA plan for conformance with Envision CR. He showed maps placing the proposed URA next to the Google URA and identified the future land use for the area as employment reserve. He said the process includes consultation with affected taxing agencies on Feb. 10, a City Council public hearing Feb. 25 and potential ordinance readings on March 11.

No members of the public spoke at the commission meeting. A commissioner moved to recommend approval and another commissioner seconded; the motion was approved by voice vote. The transcript does not contain a roll-call tally.

Key details cited in the staff presentation: sites referenced at 20 Sixth Street SW and 60 Fourth Avenue SW, the proposal is intended to support a nine-building commercial redevelopment, and the URA is being advanced under the city's Envision CR goals to grow a sustainable, diverse economy.

Next steps identified by staff are consultation with taxing jurisdictions and City Council consideration at the listed hearings.