HomeMy WebLinkAboutA037 - Council Action Form dated December 14, 2010 ITEM # 33
DATE: 12-14-10
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT OF CAMPUSTOWN URBAN REVITALIZATION PLAN
BACKGROUND:
The Campustown Urban Revitalization Area and Plan were established because the
rehabilitation, conservation, redevelopment and economic development of this area are in
the interest of public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Ames. Currently, the
Plan provides for tax abatement for renovation or new construction that reduces slum and
blight, provides structured parking, or reuses historic buildings, while also increasing
underrepresented retail uses or adding brick to facades. The Criteria Matrix is used to
guide City Council decisions regarding tax abatement.
The ten-story residential building at 111 Lynn Avenue, within the Campustown Urban
Revitalization Area, is subject to a City requirement that certain types of existing buildings
install fire sprinkler systems to improve public safety (see attached Location Map). When
establishing this requirement, the City Council approved a policy to provide abatement of the
property taxes if installing the fire sprinkler system, along with any other improvements, adds
more than 5% to the value of a building. City Council is now being asked to revise the
Campustown Criteria Matrix to implement this policy for 111 Lynn. A proposed revision to the
Campustown Criteria Matrix is attached. The revision makes it clear that tax abatement
requires either renovation or new construction or a required retrofit fire sprinkler system in an
existing building.
If the revision is approved, then after completing improvements including the required sprinkler
system the owners of 111 Lynn will apply for tax abatement. Council will review that request in
its annual review of tax abatement in February. Staff is not aware of any other buildings in the
Campustown Urban Revitalization Area that will be eligible under this criterion.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. The City Council can approve the proposed changes to the Campustown Urban
Revitalization Plan.
2. The City Council can approve alternate changes to the Campustown Urban
Revitalization Plan.
3. The City Council can refer this item back to staff for additional information.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Substantial investment is being made to improve safety for residents and visitors of 111
Lynn. The proposed revisions to the Campustown Urban Revitalization Plan will allow for
tax abatement when those improvements are completed according to the City Council's
policies. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council
adopt Alternative #1 approving the proposed changes to the Campustown Urban
Revitalization Plan.
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0-iteria for Sprinkler Retrofitting
Who is a fi,gib,le for the larognam?
Owners of properties of pre-existing high-rise buddings,donnitonies, institations. and residences
w th occupants who have in;practicak evacuation capabilities wit.1 be eligible for this tamx
abatement program. The deEnitions,of these categories are ar follows:
]=listing Hi -Rives. Buiidir-gs ha-gi g occupied door.located more than 75 feet above
the lowest level of ire department a-ehacle access.
Institutiouv. Buildings housing more than 16 persons on a'? --hour basis to be cared&r
or pros-ded a super-s%ed emmonment because of their phy-s cal or meutal c dit an
loginhospitals-,,,,,,1. homess,aid assisted living fa i ies_
lsrbit t 1 gaire l B gs with 16 or more dwelli' units ofwhech eiglst are
occupted by one or more persons who have an in atrea evacuation capability.. The fire
chief or his her designee,shall have the authority to determine whether a persons an
occupant with an evacuation capabilimy as aforesaid,and to conduct a timed
evacuation dnU to deters a the extent to which an apartment building may contain
occupants with such,impaired evacuation capabilitaea.
Dormitories- Abui in which sleeping accommodations are provided x more than.
16 persons-, who are not related lay n2a=ae or ca,,.:ten¢,;,,; . in one room or a:aeries of
closely associated room:,with or without meals.
What t,° a oaf impravemenr must be accomplished?
In carder to al, ;°for the Tax Abatement Program,the pioper c-amer-roust install,an
International Buil " g Code5lutsmational Fire Code(2003) compliant sprinkler system..
Hoer lone is the aba teirrent incentive available
In order to be considered for the tax,alwernent prapran the nistallation of Code compliant
spider systens.roust be completed prior toOctober 1, 2G11.
What improvements -"U be eligible for t ra:abatement'
For e:�st' bail m, -,,ta, abatement be grh-en for the i tallatibn of sprin ter.system in
accordance with Section 403.2 of the 2003 International Bui:ldine Code:and Section 9,03 of the
03 Iuternational Fire Code and for any other ira ro-,i•eznents that are made as part of the same
c°onssstrrrction prote ct where the value has been increased by at least 5 a.