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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA042 - Letter from Max Porter regarding zoning for property at SE corner of West Streeet and Howard Avenue +R o a � To: Members of the Ames City 4 FEB � � Mayor Ted Tedesco Ames City Staff CITY CLERK CITY OF AMES,IOWA From: Max Porter Re: new LUPP for property at vicinity of SE corner of West St. and Howard Ave. At the Jan. 116, City Council meeting, there apparently was a lot of confusion as to a possible change in the drawing of lines separating the zoning along West St. and Howard Ave. After calling a couple of City Council members, it became obvious that the council members were not clear as to the wording of the motion for which they voted. The issue was the single family houses on Howard Ave. We believe that our property at 2916, 2920, and 2926 West St. must stay in the high density zoning as recommended by the City Staff on the map for the LUPP. Further, the adjoining property at 224 Howard should be included since there was a 14' error that existed between 224 Howard and both the 2920 and 2926 West St. properties. This error led us to eventually purchase the 224 Howard property in order to correct the situation. Furthermore,the abandoned alley on the South side of 224 Howard has now been straightened out in the City records(at our expense and time delay). Due to these errors, 224 Howard should be included with 2926 and 2920 West St. We understand that some individuals may want some of the other residential property on Howard zoned to a lower density than designated in the"University-impacted" area of the LUPP. However, since our properties on these above addresses on West St. border a commercial zoning (both present and proposed zonings), we believe that the transition of high density in between commercial and the lower level residential is appropriate and is consistent with the map of the LUPP and is consistent with the Staff recommendations. In checking the city records, we learned that all the properties on the east side of Howard between West St. and Lincolnway are non-owner occupied. Thus, no owner is occupying any properties affected by the proposed high density residential zoning that was proposed in the map of the LUPP that was distributed. We feel for all these reasons above that perhaps a misunderstanding has occurred for our properties located at the SE corner of the intersection of West. St. and Howard. Also,when the staff was phoned as to our representation as to a possible agenda item on Jan. 11 for our properties,we were informed that our properties would be discussed at the Jan. 25'meeting to see if we could go ahead with our plans under the old zoning procedures. Therefore, no one was at the Jan. I Vb meeting to address our viewpoint. Furthermore, incorrect testimony was given on Jan. I Vh as to the usage of our properties. For example, 2916 West property contained a log book indicating all tenants back to the early 1930's showing the multi-family occupancy. We feel W 60-some years of apartment rental is long enough to establish its use. Anyone who moved into the neighbor after that time did so knowing full well that the use of the property is multi-family. The use recommended in the LUPP map in the University-impacted area is consistent with this long-time usage of our properties. Therefore,we respectfully request that the City Council clear up the confusion for drawing the zoning lines by including my properties as prescribed in the Stars distributed LUPP map, i.e. make the properties high density residential (RIT). Submitted by: UL Max P rter Monica Porter 1707 Amherst Dr. Ames, Iowa 50014