HomeMy WebLinkAboutA003 - Council Action Form dated June 27, 2000, Part 1 ITEM # ,1
DATE 06/27/00
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE
ZONING ORDINANCE, REGARDING ADDING ARCHITECTS IN ADDITION TO OTHER
PROFESSIONS AS PREPARERS OF SITE DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
ACTION FORM SUMMARY: A text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance is being
proposed to include architects, as well as civil engineers, land surveyors, and landscape
architects as professions that may prepare site development plans.
Approval of the Zoning Ordinance text amendment is recommended.
BACKGROUND:
The new Zoning Ordinance that went into effect on May 1, 2000, specifies who may
prepare a site development plan in Section 29.1502(2)(d)(i). This section of the Ordinance
limits the plan preparers to civil engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects.
Licensed architects were not included as a profession that may prepare a site development
plan. When this omission became known, a number of architects have requested that the
architecture professional also be included in the list of professions that may prepare a site
development plan. It has been a long time practice in this community that architects have
prepared site plans. Therefore, a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that includes
architects as site plan preparers has been prepared by staff for approval by the City
Council, regarding this matter. Note: in the previous Zoning Ordinance there was no
requirement that site plans be prepared by professionals.
The existing text reads as follows:
"(i) Site Plan. The applicant shall provide copies of a site plan, in such number as
required by Section 1502(2)(c), drawn to scale on a sheet not to exceed 24" x 36",
prepared by a Civil Engineer, a Land Surveyor, or a Landscape Architect, and
certified as "substantially correct" by a Professional Engineer, or Land Surveyor,
licensed by the State of Iowa, showing the following information as of the date of the
application: . . . "
The proposed text amendment is as follows:
"(i) Site Plan. It is the intent of the City to insure that site plans be prepared with
a high degree of accuracy and insure proper coordination of the site plan
development and review responsibilities, which serve to facilitate compliance with the
requirements of the city. To accomplish this intent, the applicant shall provide copies
of a site plan, drawn to scale on a sheet not to exceed 24"x 36", prepared by a Civil
Engineer, a Land Surveyor, a Landscape Architect, or an Architect. The site plan
must be certified as "substantially correct' by a Professional Engineer, Land
Surveyor, Landscape Architect, or Architect, licensed by the State of Iowa, showing
the following information as of the date of the application: . . . "
ANALYSIS:
The current provision in the Zoning Ordinance requires that only civil engineers, land
surveyors, and landscape architects prepare a site development plan. This position was
based on the belief that these professionals were most capable in their expertise and
knowledge when it comes to land matters related to locating property corners, mapping
topographic contours, preparing storm water management plans, familiarity with
infrastructure, easements, and other land related issues. However, it has been the practice
for a long time that architects also prepare site development plans, and they have a
general knowledge about these matters and often consult with other land professionals.
Therefore, it is reasonable that licensed architects be included in the list of professions that
may prepare site development plans.
The critical points that the ordinance provision is attempting to accomplish are:
• A high degree of accuracy in the preparation of the plan; and
• Coordination between the variety of design professionals that are involved in
the development of the site and the review staff of the City.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION:
The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed this proposed text amendment at their
meeting of June 7, 2000 and recommended approval.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. The City Council can approve the text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to include
architects as one of the professions that may prepare a site development plan.
2. The City Council can decide not to approve the proposed amendment to the Zoning
Ordinance to include architects as one of the professions that may prepare a site
development plan.
4. Table action on the amendment and refer the proposed Zoning Ordinance text
amendment back to City staff for additional information.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended that Alternative #1 be adopted. This is a recommendation to amend
the Zoning Ordinance text to allow architects, in addition to civil engineers, land surveyors,
and landscape architects, to prepare site development plans.
Attachment
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