HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated April 27, 1999 ITEM # 9
DATE 04/27/99
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: MOTION APPROVING AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE NEW
SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS FOR THE CITY OF AMES
ACTION FORM SUMMARY: The proposed subdivision regulations that have been created
as part of the process of revising the Land Use Policy Plan and rewriting the zoning
ordinance and subdivision regulations, is complete. These regulations have been reviewed
by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council during their extensive review
of the regulations in 1998.
Staff is recommending that the City Council adopt the ordinance approving these
regulations.
BACKGROUND:
As part of the process to revise the Land Use Policy Plan, there has been a corresponding
effort to rewrite the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations of the City to more
effectively serve to implement the Plan. Much of the spring and summer of 1998 was
spent, by both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council, reviewing these
rewritten regulations. This comprehensive task was completed in January of 1999, with
the decision of the City Council relative to the density issue.
Since that time, staff has been conducting the editing work necessary to incorporate all the
changes that have come from this review. This editing work has been completed and now
the subdivision regulations are being brought to the City Council for approval. (The zoning
ordinance will be coming to Council after the Planning and Zoning Commission completes
their required recommendation function on the zoning ordinance.)
ANALYSIS:
The major changes that are embodied in the subdivision regulations are listed as follows:
• Clear reference to the purpose of subdivision regulation from the Code of Iowa;
• Provision that no zoning and building permits will be issued prior to the approval of a
final plat;
• Clear reference to the applicability of the regulations in both Story and Boone Counties;
• Clear reference to other laws and plans of the City of Ames;
f .r
• Extensive series of definitions to be used in the administration of the regulation;
• Pre-application conference requirement to include general project review and
classification of the subdivision as a major or minor subdivision;
• Major subdivision process that includes two steps for approval, in addition to the
pre-application conference, instead to the three steps that are currently required;
• Minor subdivision process that includes a one step approval process, in addition to the
pre-application conference;
• More precise time frame for recording the approved final plat;
• Clear reference to the requirement filing subdivision improvement plans with the Public
Works Department, prior to the start of construction;
• Street tree landscaping requirement in residential subdivisions;
• Wider right-of-way requirement for major streets;
• Narrower right-of-way requirements for minor streets;
• Sidewalk and bikeway requirements;
• Reference to the Capital Investment Strategy of the City in relation to paying the costs
for larger water and sewer mains and street infrastructure;
• Underground electric distribution requirement;
• Clear storm water management standards;
• Erosion and sediment control requirements; and
• Computer Aided Design Drawing submittal requirement for preliminary and final plats.
On April 15, 1999, a briefing meeting was held with area land developers and design
consultants who are involved in the subdivision process. The purpose of the meeting was
to announce that these regulations would be soon adopted by the City Council, and also
to go over the regulations with these individuals to create a degree of familiarity. Several
changes were suggested as a result of this presentation that staff agreed with. These
changes have been made.
As stated earlier, these regulations have been reviewed by both the City Council and the
Planning and Zoning Commission as part of the comprehensive review that occurred in
1998. The Planning and Zoning Commission has approved these subdivision regulations
as a result of taking action on selected items as they were reviewing the regulations. Staff
is now recommending that these subdivision regulations be approved
ALTERNATIVES:
1. The City Council can approve the subdivision regulations as proposed.
2. The City Council can decide to not approve the subdivision regulations as proposed.
3. The City Council can approve the subdivision regulations with modifications.
4. The City Council can refer this issue back to staff for additional information.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative #1.
This action will approve the subdivision regulations, as proposed, and enable the
administration of these regulations with respect to all subdivisions that are proposed after
these regulations become effective.
COUNCIL ACTION:
Attachment
CHAPTER 23
SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
Division I
General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Statutory Authorization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purpose, Application and Variance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Enforcement and Penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Validity, Severability and Effective Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Relationship to Other Laws and Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Repealing Clause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Division II
Definitions and Rules of Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rules of Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Division III
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pre-Application Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Major Subdivisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Minor Subdivisions Final Plat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Improvement Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Approval, Recordation and Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Division IV
Design and Improvement Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Site Design Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Residential Subdivision Landscaping Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Streets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WaterSupply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sanitary Sewers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electric Distribution and Street Lighting Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Storm Water Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Improvement Guarantees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .