Hunter
11/02/21
Developers have scaled back plans for their project near Hickory Hill Park and hope to get approval this week when it’s presented to the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission.
Three previous versions that included construction of single-family homes were eventually rejected, after pushback from residents near the park. City Council members ultimately rejected the third version although Planning and Zoning endorsed it.
The fourth version does not include the housing, but keeps the senior living facility that was to be the main focus of the development. The Gazette reports that Hickory Trail Estates would be built on 8.85 acres at the southeast corner of a 48.5 acre plot northeast of Hickory Hill Park, and would devote nearly three times more land to the city park than previous versions. The proposed facility would have 120 continuing care retirement community units and a total of 134 beds.
The developers hope to have the project completed and fully occupied by 2025.
If Planning and Zoning approves the updated proposal, which city staff recommends, it would go before the City Council during its meeting on November 30th.