Cedar Rapids (Iowa) City Council on Sept. 12 approved a measure that will allow Cedar Rapids Country Club to build the new racquet facility. Neighbors who fought the project are calling the decision “bad politics,” accusing council members and the mayor of playing favorites. Supporters of the project, however, praised council for hearing everyone’s feedback.

Cedar Rapids (Iowa) City Council on Sept. 12 quickly passed a third and final ordinance amendment to make way for the Cedar Rapids Country Club’s controversial plans for a new inflatable outdoor tennis court, Iowa News Now reported.

Neighbors who fought the project are calling the decision “bad politics,” accusing council members and the mayor of playing favorites. Supporters of the project, however, praised council for hearing everyone’s feedback, Iowa News Now reported.

Club + Resort Business has previously shared stories about this issue.

Country cub member and neighbor Todd Barker dismissed his neighbors’ concerns over the contentious proposal to put up the new outdoor tennis court.

“You have a lot of self-appointed experts on anything from drainage, to parking, to CRCC governance and operations, all the way to ethics, and I’m not going to refute some of the outlandish claims and comments made by some of the objectors,” Barker said.

Ryan Cherkowski told city council he’s spent around 40 hours advocating against the project over the last year and a half as the country club’s closest neighbor.

“28.8 feet from my property lane. Neighbors next to Walmart get more concession to parking compared to what we’re getting,” Cherkowski said.
The adopted amendment updates the city’s zoning regulations to allow the country club to move forward with its plan, modifying the conditions and site plan for the property, Iowa News Now reported.

“To permit outdoor tennis courts and a seasonal temporary structure as requested by the Cedar Rapids Country Club, the option of the ordinance on its third reading has been moved by Councilman Dale Todd, seconded by council member Overland,” Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said at council Sept. 12. “All those in favor say aye, those opposed say no — and the motion carries.”

The two “no” votes came from city council members Ashley Vanorney and Patrick Loeffler, Iowa News Now reported.

Vanorney issued a written statement to Iowa News Now on Sept. 12, addressing CRCC’s plans and neighbors who fought to keep those plans from moving forward.

“I am inspired by the neighbors who spent more than a year to organize and be heard in regard to the impact of the CRCC expansion plans on their neighborhood,” Vanorney stated. “They remained engaged and worked to earn several concessions. I did my best to represent the petition voices who included my friends, former classmates, and teachers who did not support this project in this last iteration. I hope that the CRCC will come to appreciate these engaged neighbors and work to improve their relationship with them as their plans move forward.”

Ann Poe and Marty Hoeger didn’t vote due to potential financial conflicts, Iowa News Now reported.

The five “yes” votes included O’Donnell, who was asked to recuse herself as a country club member, but didn’t since the council adopted new rules, Iowa News Now reported.

“In my opinion we took a gigantic step backwards by narrowing the definition of conflict of interest as financial gain,” CRCC neighbor Mary Tresnak said.

Some neighbors are calling it bad politics, after a first reading on this was postponed when a missing member would’ve resulted in a tied vote on the matter, Iowa News Now reported.

“So that the country club could get a revision done, and I think that was bad politics and should’ve been voted down, 3-3 tie,” Cherkowski said.

Meanwhile, others are praising the council for moving forward, Iowa News Now reported.

“And not just consider a project on whether you personally like or dislike some or all of it, or whether a few vocal people make outlandish comments to object to it,” Barker said.

A resident from the Kenwood neighborhood, who was at the meeting to talk about another issue, pointed out after council members voted that there’s already a tennis court at Elmcrest Country Club just a few blocks away from CRCC, Iowa News Now reported.

“Very interesting we’re looking at allowing folks to build another one, when if that was someone’s priority, they could actually probably just switch country clubs,” Devin MeHaffey said. “Seems the same thing, you know, 10 blocks, two country clubs. One’s got outdoor tennis but one doesn’t; could just go to the other one. I think it kind of highlights there’s two Cedar Rapids. One where people with means and rich folk get what they want, and other folks just get stuck making due with whatever they can.”