The City of Waverly Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council rezone the former Irving School site (parcel ID 0903283003) from R-2 (low‑density residential) to R-3 (medium‑density residential) to allow construction of two‑ to four‑family horizontally attached units.

Commissioners said the change would align with the city's comprehensive plan and could make the site more attractive to developers. Connie Tobin, planning and development specialist for the City of Waverly, told the commission the city owns the property and that it is customary for a property owner to apply for rezoning in anticipation of selling it; she said council members indicated they would prefer to enter into a development agreement with a future developer to retain influence over design and compatibility with the neighborhood.

A conceptual plan produced by the University of Northern Iowa, shown to council on Aug. 25, illustrated about 13 units on the site and prompted commissioners and council members to say the layout could fit the surrounding neighborhood and provide a variety of owner‑occupied housing types. Supporters at the meeting argued rezoning now gives developers clear expectations about allowable uses and site standards before a proposal comes forward.

One commissioner opposed recommending the rezoning, saying the city should not change zoning until a private developer expresses interest in buying and building on the property. That commissioner said the property could simply be marked for sale and left under current zoning until an interested buyer appears.

After discussion, the commission took a roll‑call vote and the motion to recommend approval passed. The recorded votes in the meeting transcript show one member voting no and the remaining members voting yes. The commission's recommendation will move to the City Council for final action.

The commission and staff discussed next steps should council approve the rezoning: staff said the city would solicit developer interest and pursue a development agreement to set design principles and other terms the city wants honored by a purchaser. No specific developer, sale price, or tentative development agreement terms were presented at the meeting.

The rezoning discussion was on the record and concluded with the commission's recommendation to council; council action and any development agreement would be separate, subsequent steps.