Davenport officials are considering new zoning laws which would restrict where a new gambling casino could be located within the city. A bill passed by the legislature gets rid of the requirement that state-licensed casinos sit on water, and the zoning rules proposed for Davenport would restrict a new casino to either Davenport’s downtown area or to within a mile of an Interstate highway.
Davenport officials also are in the process of developing minimum design standards for buildings in Davenport’s "downtown" area. Davenport’s city council is considering revisions in existing city ordinances and creation of a new board to oversee the new standards that’re being proposed. Some property owners in Davenport’s downtown, like Dana Wilkinson, says it’s the right approach.
Wilkinson says it’s about creating a "good environment" in downtown Davenport. But other property owners, like Rob Egger, aren’t enthusiastic. Egger predicts the new ordinance will add time to the process of developing projects in downtown Davenport. It’ll make downtown projects more expensive, too, according to Egger, who is a contractor. A lawyer, a realtor, a contractor, and an architect would be among the people appointed to the proposed oversight board, if Davenport Alderman go through with the plan.