Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting

Cedar Falls Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting September 23, 2020 Via Videoconference Cedar Falls, Iowa MINUTES The Cedar Falls Planning and Zoning Commission met in regular session on September 23 at 5:30 p.m. via videoconference due to precautions necessary to prevent the spread of the COVID- 19 virus. The following Commission members were present: Adkins, Hartley, Holst, Larson, Leeper, Lynch, Prideaux, Saul and Schrad. Karen Howard, Community Services Manager and Jaydevsinh Atodaria, Planner I, were also present. 1.) Chair Holst noted the Minutes from the September 9, 2020 regular meeting are presented. Mr. Hartley made a motion to approve the Minutes as presented. Mr. Larson seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously with 9 ayes (Adkins, Hartley, Holst, Larson, Leeper, Lynch, Prideaux, Saul and Schrad), and 0 nays. 2.) The first item of business was a site plan review for the new Cedar Falls High School. Chair Holst introduced the item and Mr. Atodaria provided brief background information, noting that the site plan had been described in more detail at the Commission’s last meeting. He noted the location of the proposed high school north of West 27th Street and west of PE Center Drive. He displayed the site plan of the property and discussed the layout and traffic circulation. He discussed the updates made since the last meeting, which included reconfiguration of parking lots by segregating visitor and student parking and continuation of work of project architect with CFU on the placement of solar panels. He also mentioned that the project architect will be working on possible enlargement of the drop off loops to accommodate a recent request by Cedar Falls Community School District. Staff recommends approval of the site plan. Brian Sanderman, project architect, and Dr. Andy Pattee, superintendent for Cedar Falls schools, were present for any questions. Brad Leeper stated that he will be abstaining from the discussion and vote. Mr. Schrad made a motion to approve the item. Ms. Lynch seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously with 8 ayes (Adkins, Hartley, Holst, Larson, Lynch, Prideaux, Saul and Schrad), 1 abstention (Leeper) and 0 nays. 3.) The next item for consideration by the Commission was a College Hill Neighborhood Overlay Design Review for wheatpasting murals. Chair Holst introduced the item and Ms. Howard provided background information. She explained that the proposal was submitted by UNI professor, Bettina Fabos, and several of her students to install wheatpasted photo images on several building facades in the College Hill Business District. Images will be of daily life activities in Iowa from the Fortepan Iowa photo archive. In addition, to encourage healthy practices during the pandemic, several of the photos will be modified to show several people wearing face masks. Staff recommends approval of the project. Bettina Fabos, presented her student, Sierra, to give background on the proposed project, noting that the updates would not only promote mask wearing and safe habits, but it would promote the relaunch of Fortepan Iowa. Kathryn Sogard of the College Hill Partnership stated that they are fully in support of the 1  wheatpastings and welcome any opportunity to work with the University. Ms. Prideaux made a motion to approve the item. Mr. Leeper seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously with 9 ayes (Adkins, Hartley, Holst, Larson, Leeper, Lynch, Prideaux, Saul and Schrad), and 0 nays. 4.) Ms. Howard provided updates to the Commission with regard to Imagine College Hill! Virtual Community Design Charrette and online workshops regarding the Cedar Falls Resilience Plan. Mr. Larson asked if meetings will continue to be held via Zoom. Ms. Howard stated that at this time, they will continue to be until further notice. 10.) As there were no further comments, Mr. Larson made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Lynch seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously with 9 ayes (Adkins, Hartley, Holst, Larson, Leeper, Lynch, Prideaux, Saul and Schrad), and 0 nays. The meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Karen Howard Joanne Goodrich Community Services Manager Administrative Assistant 2