Council approves land‑use change to allow mixed‑use redevelopment on South Main Street

The Cedar Falls City Council approved an amendment to the future land‑use map and a rezoning to allow a mixed‑use redevelopment at 2309 and 2323 South Main Street.

Planner Tom Montrau told the council the proposal would replace existing low‑impact commercial uses with a mixed‑use building featuring two commercial units at street level and residential units above. He said the request is consistent with the College Hill vision plan, which identifies the corner near Sealy Boulevard as a gateway location and encourages pedestrian‑ and bicycle‑oriented, street‑facing buildings.

Montrau noted the properties are currently designated high‑density residential on the city’s future land‑use map and that the requested change to neighborhood commercial/mixed use better aligns with existing C‑2 zoning and recent Main Street improvements. He said parking requirements under C‑2 are based on use and that the site plan included a calculation of spaces; under the current C‑2 standard shown to council, parking for residential units is one space per bedroom.

A resident, Craig Fairbanks, spoke in favor of the proposal, calling it “a vast improvement” to the intersection and praising the flexibility shown in the proposed design. With no further public opposition, the council voted to approve the land‑use map amendment and, on a separate motion, approved the rezoning from R‑4 to C‑2 on first consideration.

The council noted that a site plan would return for review if rezoning proceeds to subsequent steps.