by Gary Taylor
SF 2265, the Smart Planning bill, passed out of the House Local Government Committee by a vote of 11-10, with all Republicans and one Democrat voting “no.” It now moves on to consideration by the full House.
The Governor signed the severance/annexation bill (HF 2376) into law yesterday.
by Gary Taylor
HF 2318 that eliminates the term limits for City Development Board members, but changes the length of each term from six to four years, passed the Senate 30-19. Since it already passed the House 88-7 on February 23 it will be sent on to the Governor for his signature.
SF 2316 relating to floodplain management (discussed here) has been referred to the House Rebuild Iowa standing committee. The subcommittee assigned to the bill is Schueller (D-Maquoketa), Berry (D-Waterloo), Pettengill (R-Mt. Auburn), Running-Marquardt (D-Cedar Rapids), and Sands (R-Wapello).
SF 2265, the Smart Planning bill, has been the subject of significant activity in the House. It was assigned to the Local Government standing committee. The subcommittee assigned to the bill was D. Olson, (D-Boone), Schueller (D-Maquoketa), Huser (D-Altoona), Grassley (R-New Hartford), and Wagner (R-Marion). Kressig (D-Cedar Falls) was recently substituted for Huser. A subcommittee meeting was held last Thursday, and the full Local Government committee has met yesterday and today to discuss this bill. Several changes have been floating around, but so far the main three sections of the bill (Smart Planning goals, comprehensive planning elements, Smart Planning Task Force) remain in place. Proposed changes have included changes to the makeup of the task force, the drop-dead date of the task force, changing “shall consider” to “may consider” in reference to the role of the Smart Planning goals in developing local comprehensive plans and development regulations.
All bills must pass out of their respective committees prior to March 10 to be considered by the full body this session.
SF 2265 (formerly SSB 3096) – the Smart Planning bill – has passed the Senate 39-7 largely unchanged from its original version, and has been sent over to the House. You will recall that the House Rebuild Iowa subcommittee gutted much of the companion bill that originated in the house before it was voted out of committee. Stay tuned!
by Gary Taylor
I blogged about this bill on January 28 (go to that post for links to bills). The Senate Rebuild Iowa subcommittee approved SSB 3096 with minor amendments only.
This morning the House Rebuild Iowa subcommittee gutted HSB 592 by removing the section describing the contents of a comprehensive plan, and the section providing for an Iowa Smart Planning Taskforce. Thus the only section left in the version that was approved by the House committee (on an 11-5 vote) was the provision of Smart Planning Principles.
The house version (or the senate version) may still be amended. We will try to keep up with the activities.
by Gary Taylor
It looks to be a busy year at the Iowa capitol. A bill has been introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives (HSB 592) in the Rebuild Iowa standing committee by Rep. Tom Schuller (D – Maquoketa) (the companion bill in the Senate is SSB 3096, sponsored by Senator Rob Hogg, D – Cedar Rapids). Labeled “Iowa Smart Planning,” the bill is an outcome of the Green Paper developed last fall by the Rebuild Iowa Office. Officials from RIO circulated the Green Paper to a number of groups and individuals involved in planning and local government to solicit feedback. In addition, Rep. Schuller and Sen. Hogg hosted meetings to discuss issues related to planning and disaster recovery.
The legislation sets forth ten Smart Planning Principles to guide “state agencies, local governments, and other public entities” during “deliberation of all appropriate planning, zoning, development and resource management decisions.” The ten principles address (1) collaboration in development decisions; (2) predictability and fairness in making development decisions; (3) the promotion of clean energy production; (4) increasing job and business opportunities; (5) the revitalization of existing town centers and neighborhoods; (6) encouraging a diversity of housing options; (7) promoting community character; (8) promoting agricultural and natural resource conservation; (9) promoting sustainable design in building and infrastructure; and (10) expanding transportation options for residents.
The legislation states that local governments “shall consider” the smart planning principles when developing and amending comprehensive plans, zoning and other development regulations.
The legislation sets forth guidance as to the contents of comprehensive plans. Broadly speaking, the legislation states that a comprehensive plan may contain
The current draft of the bill (as of 1/28) does not require comprehensive planning, nor does it require consistency between the comprehensive plan and local zoning regulations. Again, however, it does say that local governments “shall consider” the smart planning principles when developing and amending comprehensive plans, zoning and other development regulations.
Finally, the legislation would create the “Iowa Smart Planning Taskforce.” The taskforce, with 27 voting members and 4 non-voting members, would be responsible for a number of objectives related to planning at the state and local levels, including developing recommendations for integrating the smart planning principles into government decision-making, and evaluating and developing “methods to incentivize comprehensive planning, develop a model for regional comprehensive planning within the state, and develop recommendations for administration of a state comprehensive planning program that operates consistently with the Iowa smart planning principles.”
After you’ve read the bill please share your thoughts by posting your comments above. Several previous attempts at revising (or more precisely, creating) comprehensive planning legislation in Iowa have failed. Are there provisions in this proposal that you like/do not like? What changes would you recommend? Share your ideas with the tens of readers of this blog!
