March 28, 2024

Council to decide height restrictions near exit 168

Landfill comp plan, site testing, grant changes on docket

City council members will host a public hearing during their meeting Monday evening to determine whether to substantially increase height restrictions for future developments built near exit 168 of Interstate 80 in Newton.

Staff recommends the council amend the maximum building height in the C-T: Tourism Oriented Commercial District by increasing the number from 35 feet to 80 feet, more than doubling what was set in place prior to the public hearing.

The maximum height restrictions currently in place may be hindering the interest in economic development prospects along the particular area, most notably hotels.

Once the public hearing has concluded, the Newton City Council will vote on a resolution amending the ordinance and thereby increasing the maximum building height for that particular zone in town.

Landfill comp plan

Two other public hearings will be held at the upcoming city council meeting. One of which will require council members to review the Newton Sanitary Landfill’s comprehensive plan.

According to staff, every five years the landfill is required by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to update its comprehensive plan, which “generally addresses progress and goals associated with reducing the amount of waste deposited in the landfill.”

The plan, if approved by council, is to be presented to the IDNR for review by Jan. 1, 2020.

After city council members close the public hearing, they will vote whether to approve the document or not.

Restaurant improvements included for grant

City staff has requested to amend the eligibility boundary to the Newton Downtown Historic District to include restaurant improvements for the Newton Downtown Micro-Grant Program.

According to the council agenda, the “amendment ties the Downtown Micro-Grant Program eligibility boundary to the Newton Downtown Historic District in lieu of the Main Street District.”

The restaurant improvements area has a one-to-one match requirement for the grant with a maximum amount of $25,000 that can be awarded.

Site testing near gas plant

In line with the council’s approval of a remediation project of the city’s former manufactured gas plant, staff has prepared a proposal for a limited site investigation of the land adjacent to that particular area.

Staff received recent private development inquiries “for some city-owned properties immediately south of the former gas plant site footprint.”

Because of the land’s proximity to the defunct gas plant, the IDNR Land Recycling Program requires the city to schedule environmental testing in order for the property to be sold for future redevelopment.

Upon a successful vote, the city will enter into an agreement with Terracon Consultants, Inc. to investigate the site near the 200 block of North Fifth Avenue West. The testing will cost $18,410.

Read more about this recent agenda at www.newtongov.org.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com