HomeMy WebLinkAboutA003 - Council Action Form dated January 7, 1997, Item 23b ITEM#:
DATE: 01/ 7/97
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONCEPT OF COMPATIBILITY
STANDARDS FOR THE CENTRAL AMES AREA AND DIRECT THAT THE CITY
ATTORNEY INCORPORATE INTO THE APPROPRIATE ORDINANCE.
ACTION FORM SUMMARY: Compatibility standards have been prepared for the
moratorium area defined as the Single-Family Conservation Overlay District (SFCOD).
These standards, prepared with the assistance of a Citizens Task Force, will be
incorporated into the Single-Family Conservation Overlay District ordinance.
The Planning and Zoning Commission and staff is recommending that these
lCompatibility Standards be approved by the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
The Land Use Policy Plan, that has been approved by the City Council in "Draft", calls
for the development of a Conservation Overlay District, which is to include
Compatibility Standards (Page 38). These compatibility standards are to guide the
design integration of new development (intensification or multiple-family) with the
existing pattern of development. Compatibility standards are to address at a minimum
the scale, height, rhythm, and style of new development in the area.
The City Council appointed a Citizens Task Force to assist staff in the preparation of
these standards. The Task Force included property owners from the moratorium area
who are home owners, landlords, and a representative from a general citizen
perspective. The Task Force met on three occasions and developed a series of
Compatibility Standards that are to apply to the Single-Family Conservation Overlay
District, which is the moratorium area north of the Downtown area.
ANALYSIS:
An in-depth analysis of the area was conducted to determine the overall patterns of
building placement, building setback, building height, building separation, and other
distinctive patterns in this area of the City. From this analysis, the compatibility
standards were created, which address the following areas of general building design.
Parking area placement on the lot;
Alley access requirements;
Street tree replacement requirement;
Solid/Void Ratio;
Roof pitch;
Dormer requirement;
Window orientation;
Entrance requirement;
Porch/stoop requirement;
Building facade orientation requirements;
Lot width requirement;
Building width requirement; and
Building Height requirements.
In terms of the structure of the regulations that will apply to the moratorium area, these
compatibility standards will be incorporated into the Single-Family Conservation Overlay
District. Therefore, property in this area of the city will be guided by a layered system of
regulations that include the following:
Base zoning regulations (R-3, R-4 currently);
Single-Family Conservation Overlay District regulations (applicable to the
moratorium area); and
Historic Preservation Regulations (applicable to only those properties that
are in the Historic District).
A graphic is attached that illustrates the overall structure of the regulations in this area
of the city. Additionally, a complete copy of the report that explains the entire process
of developing the standards is attached.
STAFF COMMENTS:
These Compatibility Standards reflect the patterns that have been identified in the
moratorium area and will serve to better guide the development of multiple-family
development in this area of the city. This approach to guiding development is
established in the "Draft" Land Use Policy Plan and is seen as an alternative to
previous efforts of rezoning this area like what would occur with the request to rezone
the area to R-2. The members of the Task Force believe these Compatibility Standards
are an accurate reflection of the development patterns that exist in this area of the city.
Staff believes that these standards should be incorporated into the Single-Family
Conservation Overlay District regulations as part of the overall approach to guiding
development in this area of the city.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed this request at their meeting of
December 18, 1996 and recommended that these compatibility standards be approved
and incorporated into the Single-Family Conservation Overlay District regulations.
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A -
ALTERNATIVES:
1 . The City Council can approve the Compatibility Standards and direct that these
standards be incorporated in the Single-Family Conservation Overlay District
regulations.
2. The City Council can decide to not include these Compatibility Standards in the
Single-Family Conservation Overlay regulations.
3. The City Council can approve the Compatibility Standards with modifications and
direct that the standards be incorporated in the Single-Family Conservation
Overlay District regulations.
4. Action on this request can be postponed and referred back to City staff for
additional information.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended that Alternative #1 be adopted. Alternative #1 is an approval of the
Compatibility Standards, which will direct that the compatibility standards be
incorporated into the Single-Family Conservation Overlay District regulations. Further
the City Council must understand that the adoption of Compatibility Standards is
contingent upon adoption of regulations for the Single-Family Conservation Overlay
District (SFCOD).
Attachment
h\bpo\caf\sfcod.107
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