IOWA CITY
Lone Tree and Hills are emerging as potential housing destinations in Johnson County.
Preliminary findings by the consultant group CommunityScale on a housing study of unincorporated areas and small cities in Johnson County indicated that 950 housing units will be needed in those areas over the next 10 years at the same time that larger cities in the country grow rapidly.
“The number one thing is water, the number two thing is sewer,” longtime Supervisor Rod Sullivan said during the Board of Supervisors June 25 work session. “Lone Tree has invested water and sewer. I’d love to see Lone Tree grow.
“Hills put in millions of dollars into having public utilities,” Sullivan said. “I’d love to see Hills grow.”
Lone Tree has positioned itself for growth, said Jeff Sauser, a consultant with CommunityScale.
“Lone Tree has water, so that’s one less thing the developer has to provide,” Sauser said. “That helps Lone Tree compete. It can’t quite command the same prices as other places, but the cost of development is lower there, too, so it allows it to level the playing field a little bit.”
CommunityScale hosted a public meeting last Thursday night in Hills to discuss the study.
“We’re going to give them the help that they ask for,” said Josh Busard, Director, Johnson County Department of Planning, Development and Sustainability.
Statistics show that the number of housing units that are owned is far bigger than rentals in non-metro areas in Johnson County. Rentals total about 1,500 with nearly 10,000 homes that are owned. The quickest rising population is 65-and-over.
To get more younger residents, the study shows, there would have to be more available rentals.
As the Board considers recommendations for future growth, it may also update its current plan that is used to guide zoning and building.
“Josh (Busard) needs direction, policy wise, in terms of what we do,” Sullivan said. “Policies are built around where we want to go and then they just implement them.”
Grants & Programs
During its June 27 formal session, the Board approved Hunger Relief Grant agreements of nearly $100,000, including $62,000 with CommUnity Crisis Services.
The Board also approved more than $300,000 in Juvenile Justice Youth Development Program contracts, including $70,229 with Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County and $70,000 with United Action for Youth.
Strategic Planning
Eleven were appointed to the Strategic Plan Committee, including Supervisors Rod Sullivan and Lisa Green-Douglass.
The project will also include hiring a consultant and is expected to be completed by early 2026.
Joining Sullivan and Green-Douglass on the working committee are Rachel Zimmermann Smith, County Attorney; Brad Kunkel, County Sheriff; Julie Persons, County Auditor; Lindsey Jones, HR; Josh Busard, Planning, Development and Sustainability; Lynette Jacoby, County Social Services; Fiona Johnson, County Ambulance; Paola Jaramillo Guayara and Adam Finken, County staff.
Board Action
The Board approved a $449,225 change order with Avaap for Workday Implementation Services (digital software) at county offices.
The Board approved a job description for Health Promotion Specialist in Public Health.
Next meeting:
The Board’s next formal session is at 9 a.m. July 3.
Lone Tree, Hills, housing, CommunityScale, Johnson County, Rod Sullivan