The community is invited to a special presentation of the public review draft for the proposed new College Hill zoning rules on January 28, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the Cedar Falls City Hall (220 Clay Street) Council Chambers.
The proposed updates are a key component of the Imagine College Hill Vision Plan, adopted by the Cedar Falls City Council in 2021. This plan provides a framework for future growth and development in the College Hill Business District and areas adjacent to the University of Northern Iowa campus while identifying strategies to stabilize and preserve the character of the surrounding residential neighborhoods. To help achieve this vision, the City hired consulting firm Codametrics.
Leslie Oberholtzer, principal at Codametrics, will present the public review draft of the new zoning regulations at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on January 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers. Following the presentation, there will be an open house in the council foyer outside the chambers, where attendees are invited to view information and graphics explaining the new code. All are invited to discuss and ask questions about the draft code.
Project Goals:
- Establish standards to define the desired building forms and uses for the College Hill Business District, reinforcing the storefront character, promoting walking and biking, and encouraging upper floor residential to support a variety of businesses.
- Update zoning to encourage more student housing opportunities adjacent to the UNI campus, so students can easily walk to class and to area businesses.
- Establish new standards that will provide the flexibility necessary for redevelopment of deteriorated housing near campus.
- Draft new standards that will help stabilize and ensure that any new development fits into the scale and character of the residential neighborhoods that surround UNI.
- Streamline the development review process and create clear direction through use of illustrations, diagrams, and tables.
- Revise the parking requirements to support new development and redevelopment on the Hill and provide alternatives to on-site parking where appropriate to meet the parking needs of the district.
There will be plenty of opportunities for public input on the proposed code. This initial draft will be available for public review by end of day on January 30 on the project webpage at: https://www.cedarfalls.com/1615/Imagine-College-Hill. Please send your questions and comments on the proposal via email to planning@cedarfalls.com. The initial comment period will end on February 27, after which an updated formal review draft will be prepared for consideration at public hearings at the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. A link to the presentation will also be posted on the project webpage for those who cannot attend the January 28 meeting.