Mayor and developer back Parkside Hills housing plan as council flags water, safety and staffing concerns

Mayor Roger Laughlin and the developer of the Parkside Hills project defended the plan at a West Branch City Council work session on Aug. 14, 2025, while council members and city staff pressed for more detail on water capacity, emergency access and the fiscal effects of a large rental complex.

Laughlin said the developer has applied for Workforce Housing Tax Credits and intends to use those credits to reduce the TIF rebate the developer would otherwise receive, which the mayor said would return more funds to the city budget. He told council the strategy is intended to spur development behind the BP/Subway site, boost Main Street retail sales, increase Road Use Tax receipts and generate connection fees and utility revenue over time. The mayor described a phased buildout that could take 8 to 10 years, with an initial two- to three-year phase.

City Administrator Adam Kofoed told the council the city has issued just one single-family building permit this calendar year and stressed that planned sewer-plant debt requires new revenue to avoid higher utility rates for existing residents. Kofoed and several department heads said development-driven permit and connection fees are important to spreading debt service across a larger rate base.

Public Works Director Matt Goodale and others said the city's treated-water storage is currently about 1½ days on hand, short of the two days recommended by the Iowa DNR. Goodale estimated existing equipment could be extended five to six years with selective replacements but said longer-term growth may require additional underground storage or a new water plant; he cited a recent West Liberty plant that cost about $4 million as a comparable example.

Fire Chief Kevin Stoolman and Public Works staff raised concerns about street widths and the ability to position multiple fire apparatuses in the current layout. Chief Stoolman noted the plan must allow safe access for trucks and suggested the current street cross-sections could prevent trucks from maneuvering without moving parked vehicles. The developer said buildings would be fully sprinklered, include an 8-inch line for fire response, prohibit grills on 12-plex decks and that streets could be widened and engineered to permit truck movement; the project engineer agreed to meet with the fire chief to mark access and design changes.

Police Chief Greg Hall and others said a large concentration of rental units typically generates more calls for service; Hall noted the police department is not yet staffed for 24/7 coverage and that steady growth in rental housing could require additional officers over time. Council and staff described the project as planned for 100% rental units, with the developer saying units could be sold in the future but are intended initially as rentals.

Planning and Zoning asked for more green space and adherence to a two-parking-spaces-per-door standard; the council asked that such changes be shown in revised plans. The MMS engineer reported engineers are already examining a reduction in total doors from roughly 227 to about 200 to reduce density, and the developer said a playground and other amenities are being considered if that reduction proceeds.

Council members also questioned the size of the project's TIF pledge and urged transparent, ongoing communication with staff and the public. Community commenters compared the proposed building materials and layout to developments in nearby Coralville and raised concerns about parking, trash overflow and enforcement of deck-storage and grill prohibitions.

No formal action on the Parkside Hills plan was taken at the work session. The meeting closed with a procedural motion to adjourn by Council member Tom Dean, seconded by Jerry Sexton; the motion carried on a voice vote. City staff said next steps include further plan revisions, a recommended water study and follow-up coordination between the developer, engineers and department heads to address access, utilities and staffing implications.