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Commission approves parking variances for two Cedar Rapids high‑school expansion sites; neighbors seek traffic data
Summary
The commission approved design exceptions to allow existing parking counts to remain at two Cedar Rapids high‑school expansion projects: 610 spaces at Jefferson (799 required under current code) and 504 spaces at Washington (859 required). Staff included a condition allowing the city to revisit approvals if parking problems arise; neighbors asked for traffic projections.
The Cedar Rapids City Planning Commission voted to approve design exceptions that allow two high‑school expansion projects to retain existing parking levels rather than meet current parking standards.
At 1243 Twentieth Street SW (Jefferson), staff said current code would require 799 parking spaces but the campus has 610; staff recommended allowing the existing 610 spaces to remain and included a condition that approval may be returned for review if parking becomes a problem in the future. Brent Jackman of Hall and Hall Engineers, representing the Cedar Rapids Community School District, said the additions do not increase enrollment, will not reduce existing parking, and are intended to proceed without immediate parking changes.
Several neighbors attended and expressed concern about traffic and future parking impacts. Lori Morini asked whether houses would be removed to create parking; staff and the applicant clarified no new parking is proposed and no houses would be removed. Lorraine Hennings asked for projected traffic numbers and whether the district has studied future demand; staff and the applicant said projections were not provided and that current daily use shows available spaces.
For the 2205 Forest Drive SE site (Washington), staff reported 504 spaces provided versus 859 required, a difference of 355 spaces. Staff again recommended the design exception with the same conditional review if parking becomes problematic. Commissioners discussed historical differences between the two schools’ original layouts; Chris Gates, the district’s buildings and grounds manager, said the district does not anticipate growth that would increase parking demand and believes existing daily parking is adequate.
Motions to approve each design exception were made, seconded, and approved during the meeting. Both cases will be heard by the Board of Adjustment on July 17.
