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Council approves two special-use permits for mixed-use projects after ordinance clarification
Summary
Council approved special-use permits to allow multifamily residences above commercial space at 201 West Mill and for first-floor multifamily at 201 Westville Street after members questioned whether the council must rely solely on the zoning board record and the city attorney clarified voting options.
The Waterloo City Council approved two special-use permits that allow multifamily residences in B-3 zoned commercial buildings, following a procedural clarification about reliance on the zoning record.
For the 201 West Mill proposal, council members debated whether, under ordinance 40-7-5, their decision must be based only on the zoning board of appeals’ record. A council member asked whether outside information the member had gathered could be used in the city council’s decision; the Chair and the attorney explained that while the council’s vote is based on the record, members may use outside information to inform their individual votes, though imposing new stipulations that differ from planning and zoning would restart the process. The council then voted and approved the special-use permit.
A separate but related item to allow first-floor multifamily at 201 Westville Street was presented and approved; members said they originally expected little discussion but proceeded after questions were raised. Both motions were seconded and passed by roll call.
The meeting record shows procedural caution: the attorney emphasized that changes beyond what planning and zoning recommended could require restarting the process, and a council member confirmed the project would be constructed in phases.
