Iowa City Board of Adjustment approves Harvest Preserve meeting space with conditions amid neighbor concerns

The Iowa City Board of Adjustment voted 4–1 to approve EXC 26-0001, permitting a private group assembly meeting building for the Harvest Preserve at 1645 North Scott Boulevard, subject to conditions including a 12-month approval period, closure between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., a ban on amplified outdoor sound, and future lighting to meet the city’s single-family standards (14-5G-3).

Lisa Schroer, a planner in Neighborhood and Development Services, told the board staff recommended approval, noting the proposed one-story building would be about 3,144 square feet with a walkout basement and an occupant load of 147 people, which yields a minimum parking requirement of 25 spaces. "Staff recommends approval of EXC26-001 to allow a private group assembly use in an interior development single-family residential zone for the property located at 1645 N Scott Blvd, subject to the following conditions," Schroer said.

Brock Heller of MMS Consultants, representing the applicant Harvest Preserve, said the preserve would accept staff’s recommended 10 p.m.–6 a.m. closure and described plans to extend city water and sanitary service to the site, including a pump to lift sanitary flow to an existing gravity sewer and about 900 feet of water main extension for hydrant spacing. "It will be placed on the city sewer," Heller said, describing the planned utilities work.

Neighbors at the public hearing pressed the board on issues they said were not resolved by the site plan review: overflow parking on a private chip-sealed drive behind nearby homes, the potential for more overnight camping if restroom facilities improve, effects on property values, and a lack of clarity about prior approvals. "It'd be nice to get assurance that they're not going to use that road any more than they do right now because of this," said Ken Strair, who identified himself as an HOA president. Marsha Hammond, a nearby resident, said the project "is going to impact the sale of our homes without a doubt."

Staff told the board transportation staff found Scott Boulevard currently carries about 5,100 vehicles per day and has capacity exceeding 15,000, and that the site contains two paved areas that could be striped to meet the 25-space requirement. Staff also recommended, and the board adopted, a 12-month approval window (rather than the usual six) to allow time for site-plan review and permit processing.

Board members debated whether to defer the matter to allow more outreach; one motion to defer failed. On the final roll-call vote to adopt the staff findings and approve the special exception, the board voted in favor, 4–1 (Swygard: yes; Talman: yes; Russo: no; Vandergast: yes; Baker: yes). The board noted that questions about accessory sheds, private drive use and broader long-term plans for the preserve fall to other review processes and enforcement mechanisms outside this special-exception review.

The board’s approval includes the staff-recommended conditions: compliance with the site plan dated April 8, 2026; building hours restricted to 10:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m.; prohibition on outdoor amplified sound; and lighting subject to the standards of section 14-5G-3. Anyone wishing to appeal the decision may do so within 30 days after the decision is filed with the city clerk.

The Board then approved last month’s minutes and adjourned.