HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Revising Zoning Regulations Pertaining to Site Plans ORDINANCE NO. 3051
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE
CITY OF AMES, IOWA, BY REPEALING SECTION 29.49 AND
SUBSECTION 29.25(3) THEREOF AND RE-ENACTING THE SAME
FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING ZONING REGULATIONS
PERTAINING TO SITE PLANS; REPEALING ANY AND ALL
ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE
BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa, shall be
and the same is hereby amended by repealing Section 29.49 and Subsec-
tion 29.25(3) and re-enacting the same to read as follows:
"Sec. 29.49. SITE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.
(1) Statement of Intent. It is the intent and purpose of this
Section to:
(a) Establish specific procedures which enable the City
Government to plan for and review proposed
development/redevelopment of property within the
R-3, R-4, G-C, C-C, H-M, and G-I zoning districts;
(b) Provide approval procedures for both minor and major
site plans;
(c) Insure the orderly and harmonious development of
property;
(d) Promote the most beneficial relationship between uses
of land;
(e) Provide for orderly and efficient circulation of traffic
within the development and throughout the City;
(f) Ensure that the proposed development/redevelopment
is within the capacity limitations of public facilities
and services;
(g) Ensure adequate provision for surface and subsurface
drainage; and
(h) Provide for suitable screening of parking, truck
loading, refuse disposal, and outdoor storage from
adjacent properties.
(2) When Required. Site plans shall be submitted, reviewed,
and approved by the City prior to the issuance of a permit
for all development or redevelopment of any lot, tract, or
parcel of land in any of the zoning districts referenced in
Section 29.49(1) . No site plan, as defined in this Section,
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shall be required for the development or redevelopment for
a single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling in any zoning
district.
(a) Minor site plans shall be required for all development
or redevelopment where all the following conditions
are met:
(i) The development or redevelopment does not
require the provision of any additional parking
spaces;
(ii) The development or redevelopment does not
increase the rate of storm water runoff as
determined by the Public Works Department;
and
(III) The development or redevelopment does not
exceed 150 square feet of area as calculated
from exterior dimensions of the structure(s).
(b) Major site plans shall be required for all development
or redevelopment that is not defined in Subsection
29.49(2)(a) .
(3) Procedure. An application for site plan approval for all
development or redevelopment shall be submitted to the
Department of Planning and Housing and shall meet the
following requirements:
(a) Applications for site plan approval shall be made on
forms as provided by the City;
(b) Site plans shall be submitted in accordance with the
schedule as prepared by the City;
(c) A minimum of 4 copies of minor site plans and 10
copies of major site plans containing all required
information shall be submitted; and
(d) The required review fee, as established by the City,
shall accompany the application for Site Plan Approval.
(4) Submittal Requirements. Submittal requirements for major
and minor site plan approval shall be as follows:
(a) Submittal information for a minor site plan shall be
drawn on a plan sheet no larger than 24" x 36" and
shall include the following Information:
(i) Date of preparation and north arrow;
(ii) A scale no larger than 1" = 10' and no smaller
than 1" = 100';
(iii)Legal description and address of the property;
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(iv) Name and address of the owner of record of the
property, the applicant, and the name of the
person(s) or firm preparing the site plan;
(v) Zoning designation of property to be developed
or redeveloped;
(vi) Location and size of existing utility services
including water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer,
gas services, electric services, telephone
service, plus all existing or proposed fire
hydrants;
(vii) Property lines with dimensions to the nearest
tenth of a foot;
(viii) Location of all existing structures including
setback distance from property lines. Indicate
exact exterior dimensions of existing buildings,
entrances, number of dwelling units, and
square footage by type of use;
(ix) Location of all proposed structures and/or
additions to existing structures including
setback distance from property lines and
distance between other structures. Indicate
exact exterior dimensions of proposed buildings,
entrances, the number of proposed dwelling
units, and square footage by type of use;
(x) Location, grade and dimensions of all existing
paved surfaces and of all abutting streets;
(xi) The complete traffic circulation and parking
plan including the location and dimension of all
existing and proposed parking spaces, loading
areas, entrance and exit drives, curb cuts,
pedestrian walkways, transit access and transit
stops, bicycleways and storage areas, dividers,
curbs, islands, and other similar parking and
drive improvements;
(xii) Existing and proposed location of all outdoor
trash and dumpster areas and method(s) of
screening such areas;
(xiii) Location and type of all existing and proposed
signs, and of all existing or proposed lighting
on the property which illuminates any part of
the required yard;
(xiv) Location of existing trees 6" or larger in
diameter, any rock outcrops, landslide areas,
springs and streams, and other water bodies,
and any areas subject to flooding;
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(xv) Location, amount, and type of any proposed
landscaping fences, walls, or other screening as
required by the Zoning regulations; and
(xvi) Soil tests, traffic impact studies, utility
capacity analysis, and similar information if
deemed necessary by the Department of Plan-
ning and Housing to determine the feasibility of
the proposed development.
(b) Submittal information for a major site plan shall be
drawn on a plan sheet no larger than 24" x 36" and
shall include all information contained in Section
29.49(4)(a) plus the following information:
(i) Existing and proposed contours at an interval
not to exceed two feet provided that at least
two contours shall be shown;
(ii) A complete storm water management plan
including grades and/or elevations, direction of
surface flow, detention and retention areas,
outlet control structures and devices, and storm
water calculations supporting management
design;
(iii) Where applicable, elevation views of existing and
proposed structures from all directions.
(5) Design Standards. When acting upon an application for site
plan approval, the City will rely upon generally accepted
site planning criteria and design standards. These criteria
and standards are necessary to fulfill the intent of the
Zoning Ordinance, the Land Use Policy Plan, and are the
minimum necessary to safeguard the public health, safety,
aesthetics, and general welfare. These criteria and design
standards include:
(a) The design of the proposed development shall make
adequate provisions for surface and subsurface
drainage to limit the rate of increased runoff of
surface water to adjacent and downstream property;
(b) The design of the proposed development shall make
adequate provision for connection to water, sanitary
sewer, electrical, and other utility lines within the
capacity limits of those utility lines;
(c) The design of the proposed development shall make
adequate provision for fire protection through build-
ing placement, acceptable location of flammable
materials, and other measures to ensure fire safety;
(d) The design of the proposed development shall not
increase the danger of erosion, flooding, landslide, or
other endangerment to adjoining or surrounding
property;
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(e) Natural topographic and landscape features of the site
shall be incorporated. into the development design;
(f) The design of interior vehicle and pedestrian circula-
tion shall provide for convenient flow of vehicles and
movement of pedestrians and shall prevent hazards to
adjacent streets or property;
(g) The design of outdoor parking areas, storage yards,
trash and dumpster areas, and other exterior features
shall be adequately landscaped or screened to mini-
mize potential nuisance and impairment to the use of
adjoining property;
(h) The proposed development shall limit entrances and
exits upon adjacent streets in order to prevent
congestion on adjacent or surrounding streets and in
order to provide for safe and orderly vehicle move-
ment;
(i) Exterior lighting shall relate to the scale and location
of the development in order to maintain adequate
security and while preventing a nuisance or hardship
to adjacent property or streets;
(j) The proposed development shall ensure that dust and
other forms of air pollution, noise disturbances, odor,
glare, and other nuisances will be limited to accept-
able levels as prescribed in other applicable State and
City regulations; and
(k) Site coverage, building scale, setbacks, and open
spaces shall be in proportion with the development
property and with existing and planned development
and structures, in adjacent and surrounding proper-
ty.
(6) Approval Process.
(a) Minor site plans -- upon receipt of fully completed
site plan documents, the plan will be reviewed by
staff of the Department of Planning and Housing and
the plan will be:
(i) approved as presented;
(ii) approved pending modifications; or
(iii) denied.
(b) Major site plans -- upon receipt of fully completed
site plan documents, the plan will be reviewed by
staff of the City and. the plan will be:
(i) approved as presented;
(ii) approved pending modifications; or
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(iii) denied.
(c) Upon approval, a building permit may be issued.
Any person aggrieved by a decision to approve or
deny a site plan may appeal to the Zoning Board of
Adjustment whereupon the Board shall decide the
matter anew.
Sec. 29.25. GENERAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (G-I)
(3) Application for Zoning; Permit. Whenever any person
proposes to develop/redevelop any tract or parcel of land in
the General Industrial District, he/she shall submit a
request for site plan approval to the Office of the Depart-
ment of Planning and Housing. The Director shall approve,
approve with modifications or deny the request. upon
approval or approval with modifications, a building permit
may be issued. Upon denial, an appeal may be made to the
Zoning Board of Adjustment. The City Planning staff will
assist the applicant with the preparation of the application
which shall include the following information, as applicable:
(a) A site plan which meets the requirements and stan-
dards of Section 29.49.
(b) Use Analysis. A use analysis report shall be pre-
pared by the applicant and shall include, for evalua-
tion by the staff, the following:
(i) approximate number of employees.
(ii) approximate utility needs and effect upon
existing systems, e.g. : water service, sanitary
sewer service, electricity, storm sewer, solid
waste disposal.
(iii) possible nuisance factors and means for
alleviating those factors, such as: noise, odor,
smoke, dust or fumes, vibration, heat."
Section Two. Any and all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict
herewith are repealed to the extent of such conflict if any.
Section Three. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from
and after its passage and publication as required by law.
Adopted this 13th day of June _ 1989
Nancy Dionig', City Clerk Paul Goodland, Mayor
0107
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