Cedar Rapids Residents Invited to Help Design City

Three Concepts for Feedback: “Automobile”, “Traditional” or “Green”

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – February 17, 2010– The City of Cedar Rapids invites all residents to weigh in on the future design of our community as it rebuilds from the Flood of 2008. The City is providing three concepts for public review, the “Automobile City”, the “Traditional City” and the “Green City,” at two open houses about Urban Design Principles next week. Residents are invited to stop by any time during the scheduled times:

•  Tuesday, February 23, 2010
•  CORRECTED TIMES: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
•  Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel Ballroom, 350 First Avenue NE

Residents will be asked to examine several display boards and provide feedback on printed forms. Free parking validation will be provided for attendees who park in the Five Seasons parking ramp and bring their date-stamped card into the ballroom.

These events are based on feedback received during the Neighborhood Planning Process in 2009, where residents asked the City to review the guidelines it uses for community development.

“Urban Design Principles are used by cities to ensure quality design of new community development,” said Lana Baldus, a member of the City Planning Commission. “Good Urban Design Principles encourage quality development, promote sustainability and ensure a transparent, consistent project review process.”

These open houses are part of a five-month process to provide information and gather input on developing citywide principles. For more information, visit   http://www.cedar-rapids.org/development/hot_topics_design%20principles.asp.

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