City to develop master plan for I-80 exit 168 corridor

The City of Newton is taking steps to create a plan for the I-80 exit 168 corridor for future development. City council approved RDG Planning & Design on Monday to develop a master plan concept for $16,900 for the commercial land in southeast Newton.

“This site presents exciting opportunities for capitalizing on the potential presented by the Iowa Speedway and surrounding development, and we are excited to have the chance to work with you and property owners on its ultimate use,” said Martin Shukert, principal at RDG.

The proposal consists of five steps including the scope of services, interviews with property owners, alternative site development program with city staff, development of illustrative site design concept for the selected program and preparation of concept plan report.

Scope of services

A complete base map that includes site features, existing development, the area context, existing infrastructure, environmental characteristics and topography and site opportunities and limitations will be created for the area.

The design firm plans to use information currently available through the city and county along with taking a tour of the site with city officials.

Interview with property owners

Each property owner in the area addressed with be interviewed to assess their individual goals and ideas for their property. An additional interview with public officials may be included, if the city chooses.

“There are at least two major land owners that are very, very enthused about this and have indicated that they would also financially participate in a master plan study,” development specialist Craig Armstrong said.

Alternative site development program with staff

This step will use information and input gathered from property owners interviews and will include general discussions of potential market and regional dynamics, potential land use mixes, relationships among land uses and the image and design language of the entire unified project Shukert said.

“We will use the discussion to define options for review, each of which may include different types and/or mixes of land use and design concepts. These alternatives will be expressed both verbally and as generalized master plan diagrams,” Shukert said. “This step will conclude with the selection of a preferred land use program.”

Develop illustrative site design concepts for the selected site program

During the concept stage key systems including land use, transportation, parks and open spaces, trails and stormwater management will be addressed. It will also look if required by the programs preparing alternative site development plans that relate land use, circulation, amenities, and infrastructure, calculating and comparing the yields and benefits of alternative solutions and evaluating concept quality, feasibility, market fit and development potential.

It will also address selecting the best combination of features for more refined design, presenting preliminary concepts to property owners and other stakeholders, including public officials and refine the selected concept with a digital, rendered land plan. The refined plan expand the level of detail to conceptual building footprints and relationships, parking and access, landscape, and specific site amenities, Shukert said.

Preparation of Concept Plan Report

For the final step, RDG will prepare a concept plan report. The step does not, however, include engineering costs and anticipates using city staff and information to address infrastructure issues.

The work will be paid for using Speedway-Prairie Fire TIF district funds along with some benefitted private parties also contributing. The work is proposed to be completed starting in May and concluding in July.

“I know on several of the board and committees that I have sat on since coming to Newton I have heard about exit 168 and that we need to focus on this area so I am really excited to have this plan so we can continue to drive development in this area and have more of a plan in order to attract future businesses and other organizations,” councilwoman Miranda Kulis said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com