HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.02.2001 (2)COUNCIL WORK SESSION
April 2, 2001
4:45 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Jordan, Krizek, Murphy, Gronen, Getty, Berry.
Members absent: Anders.
Moved by Jordan, seconded by Berry that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six.
Absent: Anders. Motion carried.
Rick Young, Chairperson of the Strategic Housing Task Force, presented the Strategic Housing
Development Challenges for the Future. Mr. Young stated that a year ago, an area industrial
company approached city officials that the following items were important to keeping businesses
and drawing employees: the airport, schools, housing and quality of life, with housing being the
biggest problem. The Strategic Housing Development Enterprise was formed in September 2000
as a direct result of the Cedar Valley Economic Development Corporation bringing attention to
the inadequate housing development issue as a critical component of area business concerns. The
committee consists of representatives from INRCOG, Board of Realtors, Waterloo and Cedar
Falls Chambers of Commerce, banks, etc. The committee hired Bill Kuhlow, a real estate and
economic development consultant specializing in Integrated Strategic Planning.
The Waterloo -Cedar Falls area population peaked in about 1980 at approximately 138,000.
Triggered by the national economic recession of the early 1980s, the population fell to
approximately 120,000, but this number has increased with the new census. The negative growth
has had a devastating effect on the land development and home building industry. It is believed
that since civilian sector employment has remained at near record levels, around 66,000 from
1993 to today, it is conceivable that the lack of adequate new single-family and multi -family
hosing development since 1993 has substantially contributed to the negative population growth
trend. Area employers are anticipating that an abnormally high percentage of workers will
consider retirement in the next several years.
The Waterloo -Cedar Falls area ranked 351 in population among the 45 most populous
communities in eight upper Midwestern states, and ranked 45th in housing construction. Mr.
Young stated to be average for Iowa, we should be building about 800 new units per year, and we
only built 220 last year. Mr. Young stated that the market is here, and the banks and contractors
are behind this plan. In 1980, 786 houses and apartments were built. Mr. Young stated that there
currently is not enough contractors and tradespeople to build that many dwellings especially in the
$125,000 to $200,000 price range. Mr. Young reported there are several areas in the county
currently served by water and sewer that would provide enough room for large tract residential
development. Those areas include: portions of Waterloo south of Highway 20 and on the north
side of the city in the Highway 63 corridor. There are also areas in southern and western Cedar
Falls and a small area in Evansdale. Mr. Young stated there are about 3,000 acres of land that
could be developed.
Mr. Young reviewed the new homes price point distribution needs for 2001-2005 and the current
new home starts in the $ 1 00,000 to $240,000 price range.
Mr. Young stated we need to start getting out of the shell and start doing things like we did in the
60s and 70s. Mr. Young suggested the following innovative solutions: narrower streets and
rolled curbs in new developments, more flexible and consistent building codes and continuing the
effort to keep property taxes and utility costs down.
Councilperson Berry stated she agreed with building communities and not sections.
Councilperson Berry stated that we don't always want the north side to be low to moderate, and
that there are people who would buy a $200,000 home on the north side.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Beny that the
meeting be adjourned at 5:23 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Anders. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk