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Council approves land-use change for 202 2nd Street SE over resident objections
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Summary
The Altoona City Council approved changing the comprehensive-plan designation for 202 2nd Street SE from Medium-Density Residential to Mixed-Use 1 to allow an office use while the petitioner pledged to preserve the historic Haines House; petitions opposing the rezoning exceeded 30%, triggering a supermajority requirement, and the measure passed 4-1.
The Altoona City Council voted 4-1 Oct. 21 to amend the city’s Comprehensive Plan land-use map for the property at 202 2nd Street SE, changing the designation from Medium-Density Residential to Mixed-Use 1 (Neighborhood Center) to permit an office use.
Dan Manning Jr., representing property owner Kyle Clarkson, told the council his clients intend to use the property as an office and “appreciate the historical value of the Haines House. My clients want to make it clear it is their intention to maintain the historical look and feel of the Haines House.” Manning asked the council to approve the map amendment to allow the proposed office use.
City Administrator Randy Pierce reminded the council that Iowa law requires the city to notify property owners within 200 feet of a rezoning application and that, if more than 20% of notified property owners file a petition opposing rezoning, council approval requires a supermajority. He said the petitions received equaled “a little over 30%” opposing the rezoning.
During deliberations, Mayor O’Connor and Councilmembers Dunwoody, Stewart, Boka and Duer expressed support for the amendment; Councilmember Evans opposed the change. The council approved the land-use amendment by roll call vote, 4-1.
Immediately afterward, Community Development Director John Shaw presented the related conditional rezoning proposal to change the zoning from R-3 (Multi-Family Residential) to conditional C-4 (Village Commercial) and listed the proposed restrictions tied to the conditional zoning. The public hearing on the conditional rezoning opened and closed at 7:33 p.m. with no speakers.
The council later adopted the ordinance amending the official zoning map to effect the rezoning; readings and the vote to publish were recorded 4-1. City staff filed petitions received as part of the official record.
The land-use change and rezoning allow the owner to pursue an office use subject to the conditional restrictions approved by the council. The record shows a substantial neighborhood opposition petition and a 4-1 council vote; no final building permit or use was recorded at the meeting.