To participate in a meeting, please complete the City’s request that you fill out this Meeting Request Form to schedule a time and share a bit of information about your project. Meetings are for specific projects and closed to the general public if not invited by the development team. Learn more at the City of Iowa City’s Development Services webpage.
The City of Iowa City recently introduced a new initiative to foster better connections with developers through weekly meetings with its Development Review Committee (DRC). These meetings, held each Thursday at 10 a.m. at City Hall, mark a significant step forward in streamlining city processes, supporting economic development, and improving collaboration between public and private sectors. The initiative is also a meaningful response to the advocacy work of Greater Iowa City, Inc. (Greater IC) and other community partners, reflecting how productive relationships and targeted advocacy priorities can shape policy and action.
Iowa City Development Review Committee
Every Thursday at 10 am
MPOJC conference room at City Hall, 410 E. Washington St.
Complete this Meeting Request Form
A Thoughtful Response to Advocacy
Greater IC consistently advocates for a more transparent and efficient development process to support local businesses and advance housing goals. Recently, Greater IC launched its first Advocacy Statement to guide our work in Iowa City. The city listened, responding in part with the DRC initiative, which provides a valuable resource for developers to engage early with specialized city staff. These weekly meetings allow builders to address challenges, explore financial incentives, and ensure their projects align with city regulations and infrastructure needs—all before committing significant design and engineering costs.
The DRC meetings directly address several priorities outlined by Greater IC, including:
- Reducing Approval Delays: Developers often cite delays in the approval process as a challenge. The DRC helps resolve this by giving builders access to the right city staff early in the process, reducing unexpected bottlenecks.
- Supporting Developer Education: Navigating zoning laws, permitting, and building codes can be daunting. The DRC offers developers access to experts who help them understand these complexities, mirroring Greater IC’s call for more developer education and support.
- Encouraging Housing Growth: The DRC meetings align with Greater IC’s push for increased housing supply and affordability. Developers can learn about incentives such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF), affordable housing incentives and opportunities, and explore housing types like Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to diversify housing options and contribute to neighborhood development.
Building on Collaboration for Economic Development
The launch of the DRC meetings reflects the City’s commitment to fostering public-private partnerships that drive economic growth. Through the last year, Greater IC staff has received feedback from stakeholders seeking stronger collaboration between city departments and the business community. These meetings create an accessible, consistent space for developers to engage with the city, reducing any perceived friction and building trust.
This partnership model benefits not only developers but the entire community by promoting faster, more efficient projects that align with shared goals. By streamlining communication and problem-solving, the city is continuing to create a culture that prioritizes progress and reduces the risk of delays that can hamper large-scale projects.
A Model for Ongoing Partnership
The City of Iowa City’s DRC initiative is a testament to the impact of thoughtful advocacy and collaborative relationships. By responding to input from Greater IC and other partners, the City of Iowa City has taken meaningful steps to improve the development process, making it easier for businesses to succeed and for communities to thrive.
We encourage developers and community stakeholders to take advantage of the DRC meetings to explore how their projects can align with Iowa City’s strategic priorities. You asked, we advocated, and the city responded with this opportunity to move the needle forward together.
