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Land Use Planning
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Land Use and Comprehensive Plans
In order for a local government to enact zoning control, a land use or comprehensive plan must first be adopted. This type of plan examines the land use for existing infrastructure, population trends and projections, physical features, current uses, and goals of the community to provide a guide for future development. A future land use map is prepared showing desired locations of residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial land uses.
View the Johnson County Land Use Plan, completed by ECICOG in 2008
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Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances
Zoning and subdivision ordinances are used as tools to implement a comprehensive or land use plan. ECICOG helps local governments prepare new zoning and subdivision ordinances tailored to the community's needs. When the local government revises their ordinance, we will assist the local planning and zoning commission in reviewing their existing ordinances to determine what type of provisions should be revised, updated, or repealed.
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City Codes
The State Code requires cities to update their code of ordinances every five years. ECICOG Community Development staff uses a model code that is provided by the Iowa Association of Regional Councils (IARC). Ordinances passed by the city since it last recodified are incorporated into the model as are those ordinances in the city's existing code that do not appear in the model. The process is similar to that of revising a zoning ordinance.
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Development Review
The addition of the ECICOG staff to the development review process helps the community consider the long range planning implications of development proposals, and ensures that zoning and subdivision ordinance implementation is consistent with the city's comprehensive plan. The ECICOG staff will attend meetings and work sessions of the planning and zoning commission or city council, make necessary site visits, and prepare requested reports and opinions for the zoning commission or council regarding the subdivision requests, zoning changes, and annexations.
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Technical Assistance
ECICOG Community Development staff can provide technical assistance on local government finances, historic preservation, recreation planning, and downtown revitalization. In addition, our staff collects current information on federal and state assistance programs which are available to the region's cities and counties. ECICOG also serves as a liaison to state and federal agencies and can help local governments understand and comply with new regulations and mandates.
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Urban Revitalization Plans
Urban revitalization plans are available for the use of tax abatement under Chapter 404 of the Iowa Code. Tax abatement is the partial exemption of taxes on the value added by improvements or new construction to all qualified real estate in an urban revitalization district. The local government must have an urban revitalization plan in order to have tax abatement.
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For more information on Land Use Planning, please contact Chad Sands
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