The Coalition Against the Shadow Met to Discuss Zoning for Proposed New Moen Building, the Chauncey (Blog)

In its fierce opposition to Marc Moen's proposed 20-story building, the Chauncey, the Iowa Coalition Against the Shadow knows it must focus on strategy to win. Obviously, Marc Moen is the Iowa City Council's favorite developer. Why else would the city council sell Moen public land at below-market price and give him the largest Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in 25 years of Iowa City TIFs? Why else would the city council allow him to build a 35% energy-efficient monstrosity on the edge of a downtown neighborhood?

Coalition Against the Shadow organizers think that the TIF given to wealthy developer Marc Moen will come out of city funding that would otherwise be available for the Riverfront Crossings project. 

What are we now, Coralville? Coralville provides so many TIFs to businesses that they're not providing their fair share of property tax monies to the Iowa City Community School District, of which Coralville schools are a part. Coralville is also heavily in debt.

Seven of eight finalists for the public property development at the corner of College and Gilbert Streets had far more energy-efficient building projects. They also included anchor stores like the New Pioneer Coop, which employs about 90 people. The Chauncey plans to subsidize its proposed bowling alley and cinemaplex with revenue from residential properties above.

As Rockne Cole, John Fogarty, and Mark McCallum announced at the coalition meeting March 26, 2013, the coalition's best option is to challenge the city's zoning request from public to CB-10, which would allow a 20-22 story building. The coalition wants the less ostentatious and more appropriate neighborhood zoning of CB-5, which would only allow a building no taller than 75 feet.

According to the city's long-term comprehensive plan, the city's goal is to build south, not east. East of downtown is a transitional area more properly zoned CB-2 and CB-5. Moen's desired CB-10 zoning east of downtown is in violation of the city's own long-range zoning plan. The overwhelming direction of all city planning documents favors the coalition's request for CB-5 zoning.

The Coalition Against the Shadow will deal with the zoning issue first and discourage bringing up other issues for now. TIFs, energy sustainability and environmental factors will be discussed later, one issue at a time.

What's the purpose of the city's height restrictions in zoning? Allegedly, the City of Iowa City wants to promote reasonably scaled buildings, the circulation of light and air, and to discourage buildings that dominate other buildings in the neighborhood. The Chauncey would be so tall it would cast a shadow on the Trinity Episcopal Church across Gilbert Street. Sunlight would no longer stream through the church's stained glass windows. 

As an adjacent property to the proposed Moen building, Trinity Episcopal Church could take advantage of its opportunity to file a certified protest against the Moen building. The city council would then be required to approve the Moen building with a super-majority of six councilors out of seven following the protest.

At least three Trinity Episcopal Church members attended the coalition meeting. I was told that Jim Throgmorton, the only city councilor to vote against the Moen Building, is also a member.

"We're not going away," Rockne Cole, an attorney, stated. "We're in it for the long haul. We're going to be public, transparent, and fact based."

If the fight to stop the Chauncey is unsuccessful, Rock hopes to defeat every city councilor who voted for the Chauncey. I'm down with that. I was alarmed and surprised that only city councilor Jim Throgmorton had the good sense to oppose the Moen building.

Who would have thought the city council would pick the only finalist that didn't include New Pioneer Coop and isn't energy efficient or sustainable? Not me. I was flabbergasted, and so were many of the managers and employees at New Pioneer Coop.

I've talked to top city employees and Mayor Matt Hayek while they were shopping at New Pioneer Coop. How could the city bite the hand that feeds them nutritious, tasty hot food and serves them equal-exchange, fair-trade coffee? The store is right across Van Buren Street from City Hall. New Pi could stay right where it is but it's in a flood plain. All of New Pi's property in Iowa City is in a flood plain. Ralston Creek is right next door.