Council approves urban revitalization plan and rezoning for proposed 195-unit development after neighborhood objections

The Cedar Falls City Council voted Jan. 21 to adopt a multi-residential urban revitalization plan, approve an ordinance designating the revitalization area and approve a rezoning that would allow a proposed 195-unit development at the southeast corner of Green Hill Road and Cedar Heights Drive.

The revitalization plan, intended to encourage multifamily development in a designated area, passed on first consideration by a 5-2 vote; the ordinance designating the revitalization area passed on first consideration by a 6-1 vote. Later in the meeting the council passed a rezoning ordinance (first consideration) moving roughly 13.28 acres from R-2 residential to MU mixed-use residential; planning staff said the rezoning is tied to a master plan and an associated site-plan review for the proposed development.

Why it matters: the urban revitalization plan offers tax incentives to encourage multifamily housing — a tool the city says is intended to increase housing supply — but residents in adjacent single-family neighborhoods objected to the size of the incentive area and potential impacts to traffic, schools…