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Home My WebLink AboutSupplemental Attachments - 3/26/2018 CO O 0 O ti 0 ti (D 14t ti 00 M O LCJ N 00 M 00 00 ti 00 O N M 0' LO O N � 00 N C O M CO 00 N M N ti CO to N COLO M I` C7 r r (0 6 O lqM 00 U')I..r L Q � x O a ct x PC O u9x a4-1 V E , b10 V 4-j O O O _ . Q cn c 4 cz *J a W Dr.Jane Lindaman •� Superintendent of Schools G L Thinking 1516 Washington Street Limitless Choices Waterloo,IA 50702 Phone: 319-433-1874 Waterloo SCHOOLS Fax: 319-433-1886 lindamanj@waterlooschools.org March 26,2018 Ms.Kelley Felchle City Hall 715 Mulberry Street Waterloo,IA 50703 Dear Kelley and City Council Members, On behalf of Waterloo Schools,we would like to take a moment to comment on the proposed land development known as"Paradise Estates." When Orange Elementary was originally being planned,the Superintendent and Board of Education at that time heard conversations about potential future developments. Housing trends were already showing growth on the south side of Waterloo,and with potential future developments in mind,the elementary building was built to support an enrollment of 650 students. Currently there are just under 500 students in grades K-5. Over the past 6 months,we have been in conversation with representatives of various groups,including those involved with the proposed housing development,city officials and members of the neighborhood association. We are aware of concerns and questions that have surfaced as a result of the proposed housing development.District staff and the Waterloo Schools Board of Education remain committed to working with the city to continue conversations about current and future traffic flow between the proposed neighborhood and school property. Please be aware that the District has considered multiple options and stands ready to determine the best option as the housing development is approved and planning continues.Clearly,the safety of students is a top priority. We are confident we can work together to arrive at a good solution. As the City of Waterloo proceeds,we would urge City officials to communicate directly with district administration. We look forward to ongoing conversations. Sincerely, Dr.Jane Lindaman,Superintendent Shanlee McNally,Board President Waterloo Schools Waterloo Schools Certificate of City Acknowledgement and Support Date: , v 1Ja 6 19 U 2Dl Dispensary Applicant: Iowa Cannabis Company, Inc City Authority Completing Form: Ma�(by Iowa Cannabis Company, Inc. is currently in the process of applying for a dispensary license in Iowa, for which the Iowa Department of Public Health has been granted the authority to issue licenses for five (5) locations within Iowa. In the Request for Proposal, the Department of Public Health is requiring the applicants to identify the locations in which they will be applying and provide indication that the city would be open/supportive of having a dispensary in their community. A license will not be issued to a community that does not want it. Iowa Cannabis Company, Inc. is requesting a statement from the City to support its application for a license to open a dispensary in the City. Statement of Support I, (rt , acknowledge that Iowa Cannabis Company, Inc.will be applying for a medical cannabidiol dispensary license, for which a dispensary would be located in the City. This City of lkakk o hereby supports the use of a medical cannabidiol dispensary, provided state and local licensing requirements are met. City Authority Printed: U-P— t k V1 CLf City Authority Signed: Comments on Rezoning of Mr. Anderson's Agricultural Land around Orange Elementary School March 26, 2018 Mike Henning 138 Sidehill Drive Waterloo Iowa 50701 • Thank you, City Council and Mayor, for allowing me to speak. • Thank you to many other community officials for their time and expertise educating Neighborhood members and myself. • And last but not lease - I thank the Residents of the New Orange Neighborhood Association for their time and contributions. Please Stand. • Also - as I stated last week - our Association ALREADY includes Paradise Estates property and we look forward to welcoming new Neighborhood Residents! "Together is Better" as Covey says. However, with the additional information, I'm even more concerned and can NOT support rezoning Mr. Anderson's ground from Agriculture to R1 at this time! The City and all parties involved need an adequate delay in rezoning until current SAFET V and other issues are resolved! I'm going to speak to just FOUR of the TOP CURRENT SAFETY issues. We already have 36 Exits Vor Entrances on 2 miles of Kimball Avenue from the Highway 20 overpass down to Orange Road! 1) Intersection of Kimball Avenue and Schaulis This intersection started with Standard Stop signs on Shaulis. After the first fatality, blinking lights and other additions were made. However, it is still a RISKY intersection especially when on Kimball. There has been NOTHING done to improve visibility between Southbound Kimball and Westbound Shaulis traffic. As a daily user of Kimball, Shaulis, and Ansborough, I believe there is significantly more traffic at Kimball and Shaulis than at Shaulis and Ansborough - Where 4 way stop signs were recently implemented after a fatality. Ot Course, the required Trattic Study and subsequent review and modeling by Sandie Greco and Mohammad Elahi will help determine what needs done. The Traffic Study Needs Completed BEFORE REZONING and not _lust before FINAL Plat. What if the Traffic Department cannot afford needed changes? 2) Intersection of Kimball Avenue and Orange Roe4 This intersection already has stop signs on Orange Road and an overhead 4 way flashing light due to past accidents including fatalities. We have been seeing increased traffic there going and coming from HCC, VGM, and other locations. Again, the required Traffic Study and subsequent review and modeling by Sandie Greco and Mohammad Elahi will help determine what needs done. The Traffic Study needs Completed BEFORE REZONING and NOT _just before FINAL Plat. What if the Traffic Department cannot afford needed changes? 3) the "Hill" on KimballAvenueJust North of tine School Vehicle tacit There is NO indication for Southbound Kimball traffic that: • An elementary school is just over the crest of hill • About 8 school buses and other vehicles turn Left just over the crest of hill • The city flashing yellow 25mph school sign just over the crest of hill • There are already 7 Entrances/Exits centered on the crest of the hill • Traffic turning South from the School Exit have Poor visibility over crest of the hill Steve Bonny (home just over the crest) no longer puts a mail box post in the ground because it WILL NOT LAST. Just two weeks ago his mail and paper boxes were wiped out again during after school traffic. Police came and sorted out another preventable accident. (case number available.) Why is this CURRENT Safety Issue IMPORTANT NOW? Per the Preliminary Plat, Paradise Estates only Kimball Avenue entrance/exit is at essentially the relative location North of the Hill Crest. Thus the same Hazards for Northbound Kimball Traffic and for people entering/exiting Paradise Estates! Does the city have the resources to Pro-Actively resolve these issues? 41 Handicap Accessibility to Orange Elementary from L,ic,hly Blvd The problem Heather Schneider (PWD), children, or any other person has getting across of Kimball Avenue from Lichty Boulevard to Orange Elementary and back is REAL and NOW! As of today, we usually have Five Orange Elementary School Students crossing Kimball Avenue every Morning and Afternoon. Orange Neighborhood expected, and merits more than this answer received March 6: "Planning and Engineering have spoken with INRCOG to ensure that planning for any trails in the future would include connection to orange School area. There is no set timeline as of yet to make the connection, design it, or fund construction." BEFORE considering a zoning change from Agricultural Ground to Residential ground East of Kimball. I do want to Thank Dr. Lindaman for taking personal action to begin keeping traffic flowing on Kimball Avenue during critical drop-off & pick-up times. This is like rerouting traffic to make road improvements. Orange Neighborhood looks forward to seeing the final changes. In the mean time her efforts HAVE helpped Heather and the Neighborhood be safer. Now we need to solve the speeding problem. Summary - The City and all parties involved need an adequate delay in rezoning until current SAFETY and other issues are resolved! We fully understand there are City budget and staffing issues. However - IT IS OK for the City to also say:"An adequate delay in rezoning is needed to resolve these issues." This would be like the City Parks department already saying NO to anything in the development at this time that requires their expense or helps meet the "Waterloo Complete Streets Policy". Bottom Line: Please DO NOT rezone Mr. Anderson's ground from Agriculture to R1 at this time! Thank You for your time and thoughtful consideration. Michael Henning 319-404-5396