2017 Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Spencer, Iowa  2017  Comprehensive Plan

Policy 5.h. – Provide community and governmental support for the continuation of the existing industrial businesses and development of a diverse future industrial base to complement the local economy. Policy 5.i. – Continue to support ongoing economic development efforts of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, while at the same time considering and promoting local economic development efforts to meet the workforce, community and economic development needs of Spencer. Policy 5.j. – Support annexations of existing development or land that would support proposed future industrial and economic development efforts either adjacent to or within close proximity to the existing corporate city limits (see future land use/annexation plan). Policy 5.k. – Areas designated for future industrial development should receive zoning protection from encroachment of incompatible lesser land uses. PUBLIC & CIVIC LAND USES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES Civic and public land uses include properties such as municipal, utility, educational, religious, cultural, fraternal, medical, public safety, governmental, and other uses strongly vested with public or social importance. These land use types in the City of Spencer are situated upon more than 881 acres of land comprising 12.3% of the total land mass within the city limits. Civic and public land uses are generally light in their land use intensity relative to neighboring properties and have the flexibility to be scattered throughout residential and commercial areas in the community. Public and civic land uses are largely benign in their impact on surrounding properties being used in varying capacities. With that stated, some issues that are noted pertaining to especially larger civic or public land uses include increased traffic and congestion at predictable times. This is most often associated with public uses such as schools, churches, community centers, and facilities housing civic groups. While periodic increases in traffic flow are often acceptable when adjacent to many other land uses, periods of heavy congestion and safety issues should be addressed in the development of future land use policies regarding civic and public uses. When examining the Spencer land use maps, it becomes evident there are a couple of large tracts of land within the community identified as civic or public use. The largest tract of civic/public land use within the city limits is the nearly 300 acres of the Northwest Iowa Regional Airport. The second largest tract of civic/public lands within the city are the Clay County Fairgrounds and the Fair parking lots on the north side of West 18 th Street. Other notable civic and public land uses in Spencer include the Spencer Hospital campus, two cemeteries, the YMCA, Iowa DOT and Clay County maintenance facilities, many government buildings near the downtown district, several cultural, religious and educational buildings scattered throughout the community. Both the number of acres and percentage of land utilized for public and civic land uses is somewhat higher in Spencer than other similar sized communities throughout northwest Iowa. This is due primarily to the fact that Spencer has considerable number of acres within the city limits dedicated to public uses such as the airport, fairgrounds and many educational and government related uses.

144 | P a g e

NW Iowa Planning & Development