Council approves conditional rezoning of former ACT campus to Mixed Use for adaptive-reuse potential

The Iowa City Council voted to conditionally rezone about 48.5 acres of the former ACT campus—north of North Scott Boulevard and east of North Dodge Street—from Office Research Park and Interim Development Research Park to the Mixed Use (MU) district to allow adaptive reuse and potential future development.

Daniel Sisman of Neighborhood Development Services told the council the rezoning would cover the existing circle drive, the buildings inside it and land south of the circle. The applicant, identified in the meeting as Jim Bergman of Iceberg Development, seeks flexibility to reuse existing office buildings for housing (the developer has expressed interest in senior housing) while retaining space for some ACT-related office use; no specific site plan was proposed at the rezoning stage.

Staff reviewed comprehensive-plan consistency, neighborhood compatibility, sensitive-area protections and transportation impacts. Sisman said the property contains regulated sensitive features and private drives; any future redevelopment will require study and compliance with the city’s sensitive-areas ordinance. Staff recommended approval with four conditions tied primarily to timing and to ensuring future street-network interconnection and that private drives be addressed if and when redevelopment occurs. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 4–0.

Developer representatives explained they plan an initial adaptive reuse of existing buildings and anticipate working with the city as the larger comprehensive plan for the district evolves. Steve Long, representing the development group, and other project team members introduced themselves and said reuse work could begin soon.

Council discussion was supportive of allowing residential reuse within the MU district; questions focused on why staff recommended MU rather than a Planned Overlay (OPD) and on when road improvements would become public and funded. Daniel Sisman said an MU zoning was consistent with the applicant’s current intention—primarily reusing buildings—and that triggers for public-street upgrades and required traffic studies would be tied to future development approvals.

The council’s motion for first consideration was moved by Josh Maung and seconded by Shawn Harmsen. Council members recorded affirmative votes during roll call; the signed conditional zoning agreement (CZA) was on file and staff indicated four conditions would govern future development.