The City Council may designate buildings, areas, and structures within the City that are subject to design review. The Council may also designate Design Review Districts that contain contiguous parcels of real property, the built portions of which are expressive of the defining architectural and other physical and aesthetic properties that give evidence to the physical traditions of Iowa City and the unique features of the area; or are areas that lack any defining physical or aesthetic qualities but are places where the City wishes to establish such qualities.
A. Designated Areas, Buildings, And Structures: Projects located in the following areas are subject to the design review process:
1. Urban Renewal Project, Iowa R-14: Exterior alterations or new construction occurring on all parcels that were acquired and/or disposed of by the City as part of the urban renewal project known as Iowa R-14 are subject to design review. Design review is also required for public right-of-way improvements occurring within and adjacent to the urban renewal area designated as Urban Renewal Project R-14.
2. City Plaza: Design review is required for all projects designated as requiring such review by title 10, chapter 5, "City Plaza", of this Code. Any public improvements to City Plaza are also subject to design review.
3. Other Public-Private Partnership Agreements: Projects specifically designated as requiring design review pursuant to a development agreement between a private property owner and the City, such as for urban renewal parcels and other properties receiving public tax abatements or subsidies.
4. Central Planning District: Any exterior alterations to, additions to, or new construction of two-family uses, multi- family uses, group living uses, and institutional/civic uses located on a property in the Central Planning District, are subject to design review according to the rules of applicability and standards contained in section 14-2B-6, "Multi-Family Site Development Standards", of this title. (See Central Planning District map located in section 14-2B-6 of this title.)
5. PRM Zone: All exterior alterations to, additions to, or new construction on properties located within the PRM Zone are subject to design review according to the rules of applicability and standards contained in section 14-2B-6, "Multi-Family Site Development Standards", of this title.
6. Towncrest Design Review District: Any exterior alterations to, additions to, or new construction of buildings and structures, or alterations or additions to site development, such as parking areas, landscaping, screening, lighting, and access on property within the boundaries of the Towncrest Design Review District, as illustrated on the map below, are subject to design review. However, on property zoned Single-Family Residential, new construction, alterations, or additions to single-family uses, including alterations or additions to site development associated with said uses, are exempt from design review.
a. Towncrest Design Review District Map:
7. Design Review For Riverfront Crossings Districts: Any exterior alterations to, additions to, or new construction of buildings and structures, or alterations or additions to site development, including, but not limited to, parking areas, landscaping, screening, lighting, and access on property zoned to a Riverfront Crossings Code designation shall be subject to design review as specified in subsection 14-2G-1D, "Design Review", of this title.
8. Rooftop Service Areas: Rooftop service areas as set forth in chapter 4, article C, "Accessory Uses And Buildings", of this title.
B. Requests For Advice:
1. The City Council may request advice and recommendations from the Design Review Committee on projects located outside of designated areas.
2. Property owners in the CB-10 and CB-5 Zones may request advice from the Design Review Committee for projects located outside of designated areas, but such advice will be purely advisory.
C. Exemptions: Ordinary maintenance or repairs that do not involve changes in architecture and general design, arrangements, texture, material, or color are exempted. (Ord. 05-4186, 12-15-2005; Ord. 11-4421, 2-1-2011; Ord. 15-4641, 9-15-2015; Ord. 16-4675, 9-20-2016; Ord. 16-4685, 11-15-2016; Ord. 19-4779, 2-19-2019; Ord. 22-4882, 6-21-2022)