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Smart Growth Technical Assistance in Iowa
Background
EPA’s Development, Community, and Environment Division will be bringing smart growth technical assistance to five communities in Iowa that were affected by floods and tornadoes in 2008. This implementation assistance will be done in partnership with EPA Region 7, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), Rebuild Iowa Office, and the Iowa Department of Economic Development.
Project Descriptions
New Hartford: New Hartford has requested help with stormwater management and prevention of future flooding. During moderate and heavy rain events, much of the community is covered with pooling water. Green infrastructure techniques can be part of the solution for managing stormwater during rain events. EPA assistance will be used to organize a workshop outlining green infrastructure strategies New Hartford could adopt to address its stormwater and flooding challenges.
Iowa City: Iowa City asked for assistance in redeveloping the South Gilbert Street Commercial Corridor. The corridor is an ideal location for higher intensity development in combination with usable public open space, taking advantage of its central location and transit access. Flooding occurred in and around this corridor, and Iowa City is committed to helping relocate some of the current development to areas less flood prone and using those sites as part of a flood mitigation strategy. EPA will help identify strategies for accommodating future growth in this corridor and for increasing green infrastructure and open space areas that could help mitigate future flood events.
Cedar Rapids: Cedar Rapids wants assistance in identifying existing or potential barriers to more sustainable development in current development policies and codes. The implementation assistance will be used to conduct an analysis of the city’s policies and codes to examine how they match up to model practices as well as to the community’s desired outcomes from future development. The analysis will also provide a set of options Cedar Rapids could adopt to overcome barriers to achieving development practices the city and its residents want. The city believes more sustainable development policies will help rebuild high-quality workforce housing, restore vitality for businesses, and complement their flood mitigation efforts.
Cedar Falls: Cedar Falls requested assistance in expanding home ownership and rental choices in portions of the city deemed most appropriate for new growth and infill development. The city also seeks to identify strategies for implementing green infrastructure approaches in flood-prone areas. As a result of the 2008 floods, a large number of homes in the floodplain are in the process of being bought out and kept as green space. It is important to the city that these residents have the choice of staying in Cedar Falls through the expansion of housing choices in other parts of the city. Within the floodplain, Cedar Falls wants to expand recreational opportunities and adopt site-specific practices for managing stormwater.
Coralville: Coralville requested assistance with creating a vision and ensuring that codes and ordinances can help accommodate future growth through infill redevelopment and dedication of well-designed open space in flood-prone areas. The area identified for redevelopment is a 30-block area is adjacent to transit lines that access Iowa City and the University of Iowa. In addition, the city would like assistance in identifying green infrastructure practices that can help manage stormwater runoff during rain events.