Waverly City Council approves rezoning at former Willow Lawn Mall; passes street, urban renewal and wildlife resolutions

The City of Waverly City Council on Oct. 20 approved a package of zoning and administrative measures, including a third‑and‑final reading that rezoned properties at the former Willow Lawn Mall from S‑1 (Shopping Center District) to C‑2 (Commercial District) and several state and local reports needed to access funding.

Why this matters: The council approved actions the city said are necessary for development, compliance with state reporting requirements and management of tax‑increment financing and local street funds. Among the items the council passed were a rezoning at the former Willow Lawn Mall, a first reading and public‑hearing set for a former school parcel, the city’s fiscal year street financial report (required to access road use tax funds), certification of indebtedness eligible for tax‑increment financing, the annual urban renewal report, and authorization of designated dates for the city’s annual Canadian goose harvesting season.

Key votes and motions

- Ordinance 1172 (third and final reading) — Rezoning of properties owned by MDM Partnership at the former Willow Lawn Mall from S‑1 (Shopping Center District) to C‑2 (Commercial District), and amendment of the Waverly zoning map. Motion to approve was made on the third reading; a roll call vote recorded Bergen, Drayton, Jones, Kangas, Myers and Wolfe voting yes. The ordinance passed unanimously.

- Ordinance 1173 (first reading) — Amending the zoning ordinance to rezone parcel ID 0903283003 (owned by the City of Waverly, formerly Washington Irving Elementary School) from R‑2 to R‑3 residential district and amending the Waverly zoning map. The council approved the first reading and set a public hearing for 11/03/2023 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

- Resolution 25‑137 — Approving the State of Iowa fiscal year 2025 street financial report for the City of Waverly. The council approved the resolution unanimously. A staff member explained that failure to file the report would impede access to road use tax funds, which the transcript characterizes as valued “about $1,400,000.”

- Resolution 25‑138 — Accepting the finance director’s certification to the Bremer County auditor of amounts of new loans, advances and indebtedness eligible for payment from tax‑increment revenues for the Waverly Unified Urban Renewal Plan and the West Waverly Urban Renewal Plan. The resolution passed unanimously.

- Fiscal Year 2025 State Urban Renewal Report — Approved unanimously to comply with state reporting and transparency requirements.

- Resolution 25‑139 — Approving the annual harvesting of Canada geese within City limits during Iowa Department of Natural Resources‑designated dates. The council amended the motion at the meeting to correct a date and approved the resolution unanimously; staff said only one permit has been applied for in the last two years and that most hunting would be limited to edge areas more than 200 yards from residences.

Other routine actions

- The council approved the meeting agenda, the Oct. 6 regular meeting minutes and the consent calendar (five items) by voice vote earlier in the meeting.

Context and details cited in the meeting: Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval for the Willow Lawn rezoning (noted as a 7‑0 vote in the memo). The Washington Irving parcel rezoning had been discussed in prior meetings and was presented as necessary to implement redevelopment concepts the council previously approved. Staff thanked Mallory for preparing the financial report. Council members asked staff and commissions to submit minutes more promptly so the council can review them in advance.

Next steps and public input: The council set a public hearing for the Washington Irving parcel on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. No council action to reverse or change the Bremer Avenue configuration was taken during the meeting; a resident raised that topic separately during public comments.