HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated March 28, 2000 ITEM # 35 b
DATE 03/28/00
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING ON ZONING ORDINANCE MAP AND MOTION TO
APPROVE AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ZONING ORDINANCE MAP ON FIRST
READING.
ACTION FORM SUMMARY: The City Council is being asked to approve the map of the
new zoning ordinance. This new zoning ordinance is the culmination of over seven (7)
years of work by a large number of people throughout the entire City. This zoning map has
been reviewed extensively by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.
Through the course of this review, a number of changes have been made to reflect the
zoning philosophy of the City. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the zoning
map at their meeting of February 16, 2000 and have recommended that the zoning map
be approved.
Staff is recommending that the zoning map be approved.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Ames began the work necessary to create the new zoning ordinance in the fall
of 1997. Beginning in the fall if 1999, a significant amount of time and attention has been
devoted to creating the zoning map that is now being requested for approval by the City
Council. The proposed zoning map will replace the existing zoning map in its entirety.
Extensive review of this map has occurred on the part of both the Planning and Zoning
Commission and the City Council. The public was provided an extensive opportunity to
review and comment on the proposed map using a series of zoning map displays that were
located in strategic places throughout the community. Numerous changes have been made
to the map as a result of the public involvement in reviewing the proposed map.
From early November of 1999 until early January, the City Council provided an opportunity
for individual citizens to suggest specific changes to the zoning map based on individual
requests. In many instances these requests were accommodated. In some instances the
requests by individual property owners have not been incorporated into the proposed map.
In all instances, the request by property owners was heard and given thorough
consideration by the City Council.
ANALYSIS:
The proposed map represents a graphic illustration of the new zoning ordinance as it
relates to individual properties in the city. The proposed zoning map, like the zoning
ordinance text, is a very extensive and comprehensive effort. It is difficult to summarize
all of the features that are illustrated on the map, but the following listing represents some
of the most significant aspects of the proposed zoning map.
• The inclusion of large amounts of government owned land into the zoning district that
is now applicable to these areas of the City that is the Special Government/Airport
Zone.
• The large amount of land area that is zoned Residential Low Density (RL) that is a
result of collapsing several previous zones into one low density zone.
• The proposed overlay zones that include the Single-Family Conservation Overlay
Zone, the University Impacted Overlay Zone, and all of the areas that were
previously zoned PUD that are now zoned Planned Residence Zone (F-PRD).
• The large amount of area that is zoned Highway Oriented Commercial.
• The small amount of area that is zoned Residential Low Density Park Zone
(Manufactured Housing).
Although it is not easily detectable by looking at the zoning map, the City Council should
also recall that great effort was devoted to minimizing the creation of "non-conforming
uses".
With the advent of the new GIS technology, it is possible for staff to perform a wide range
of analysis that is related to the zoning map. The map that is being proposed for approval
to City Council has been created using GIS technology and is relatively easy to modify in
the event changes are made.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the proposed zoning map at their meeting
of February 16, 2000 and has recommended that the City Council approve the zoning map,
as proposed.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. The City Council can approve an ordinance adopting the zoning map as part of the
adoption of the new zoning ordinance for the City of Ames.
2. The City Council can decide to not approve the ordinance that will adopt the zoning
map as part of the approval of the new zoning ordinance for the City of Ames. If the
City Council does not adopt the zoning map, the zoning ordinance text should not
become effective until the map is approved.
3. Upon completion of the required public hearing, the City Council can refer this
ordinance back to staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission for additional
review and recommendation.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
This action represents the culmination of six months of very focused work on the creation
of the zoning map and over seven (7) years since the beginning of the revision to the Land
Use Policy Plan. The zoning map, along with the zoning text, represents a new era of
zoning administration for the City. Many features have remained similar to the past, while
many features are new. It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council
adopt Alternative #1. This action will approve the zoning map on first reading. This
ordinance must be approved by the City Council in two additional readings and published
in its entirety before the zoning map is put into effect.
COUNCIL ACTION:
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