Dubuque Recognized for Development Code
Dubuque, Iowa panorama looking NE toward the Mississippi River featuring the Dubuque County Courthouse, 10/23/07. (MARK TADE/GAZETTE COMMUNICATIONS)
By
Adam Carros
Story Created:
Sep 26, 2011 at 12:02 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Sep 26, 2011 at 12:14 PM CDT
DUBUQUE, Iowa The Iowa League of Cities recognized the City of Dubuque as a 2011 All-Star Community at its Annual Conference & Exhibit, which was held in Des Moines, September 21-23.
City Manager Michael Van Milligen accepted the award on behalf of Mayor Roy D. Buol and the City Council.
This is the second consecutive year the Iowa League of Cities has offered an All-Star City Award with special recognition for sustainability. Dubuque received the award this year for its Unified Development Code (UDC) and last year for the Sustainable Dubuque initiative.
“The UDC guides the physical, economic and social development, redevelopment and conservation of the community,” said Dubuque Mayor Roy D. Buol. “It protects and enhances the historic, cultural and aesthetic resources that make Dubuque a unique, identifiable and vital community. We hope it will serve as a model for other sustainable land development codes in Iowa.”
The City of Dubuque’s Unified Development Code (UDC) updated and consolidated the City’s zoning, subdivision, site development, historic preservation, and sign regulations into a single city code. It incorporates sustainable design while meeting smart growth objectives. Subdivision and site development regulations were extensively revised to promote sustainable design, such as conservation design, solar access, and low-impact development measures. Access for pedestrians, bicycles, and public transit, as well as guidelines for historic districts, the downtown, and older neighborhoods, are also now part of the UDC. For details, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/UDC.
Dubuque’s UDC went into effect in 2009. Its development was a four-year process involving three citizen advisory committees and an interdisciplinary task force of City staff working with JEO Consulting. The final 12 months of the process were devoted to seeking and responding to input on the draft UDC from developers, engineers, architects, neighborhood and business associations, contractors, City boards and commissions, and the general public prior to City Council work sessions and public hearings.
The All-Star Community Award is one of the most prestigious honors presented to cities by the Iowa League. Entries are judged by a panel of former city officials and others familiar with municipal government. Judges determine winners based on innovative efforts in areas such as urban renewal, development, preservation, sustainability, service sharing, or quality of life improvements.
