Big Cedar Mega Site developers seek zoning change to expand opportunities

Developers of the Big Cedar Mega Site in southwest Cedar Rapids are hoping a new zoning designation will allow them more flexibility in recruiting potential large-scale development opportunities. The proposal would rezone two parcels comprising the 890-acre Big Cedar Mega Site, Iowa’s first certified Mega Site, which lies within the larger, 1,391-acre Big Cedar Industrial Center, established in 2016 and generally bordered by Edgewood Road SW, 76th Avenue SW, Fairfax Road and the Union Pacific Railroad. The 890-acre portion of Big Cedar proposed for rezoning was certified in October 2018 as Iowa’s first Mega Site, a designation for major industrial development sites indicating that major utility services are already in place and basic land surveys have been completed. Heather Dee, manager of real estate and right of way for Alliant Energy, said the Big Cedar Industrial Center is owned by two of Alliant’s subsidiaries, Iowa Land and Building and AE Growth and Development, both of which operate separately from Alliant’s rate payer divisions. Under the proposal, unanimously recommended for approval July 6 by the Cedar Rapids Planning Commission, the two parcels comprising the Mega Site – one currently zoned for agricultural use, the other for light industrial – would both be rezoned as general industrial, a designation more suitable for the large-scale operations being pursued for the site. “As part of their marketing of the site, (the developers) came to us and asked if they could switch to the (general industrial) district, because it would expand the number of uses permitted for them to market the site,” said Cedar Rapids zoning administrator Seth Gunnerson. Regarding potential traffic impacts in the area, Mr. Gunnerson noted that the city recently completed a substantial traffic study encompassing the entire industrial area in southwest Cedar Rapids to gauge future infrastructure needs, and noted that a separate traffic study would be required as part of any formal Mega Site development proposal. To date, no developers have emerged with plans to locate within the Big Cedar Industrial Center. The Cedar Rapids City Council will consider the rezoning proposal at its meeting July 25.