Hunter
12/01/21
The Iowa City City Council unanimously approved the first consideration of a development near Hickory Hill Park.
The Gazette reports that the fourth proposal is scaled back from the previous three, and cedes nearly three times more land to the park. It includes a senior living facility featuring 120 continuing care retirement community units.
The latest development proposal was also unanimously approved by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, and has support from the Friends of Hickory Hill.
Previous proposals were opposed by area residents, and the third iteration was approved twice by the City Council before ultimately being rejected. The new proposal does not include the single-family homes that were in earlier versions.
Council member Susan Mims expressed her disappointment that the single-family construction was removed from the proposal during her appearance on KCJJ Tuesday morning, saying the best way to make progress on affordable housing is to build more housing. She and councilor Laura Bergus supported the earlier versions.