HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Commission Action Form dated January 7, 2004 ITEM # VII
DATE 01/07/04
COMMISSION ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS TO ALLOW
ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF MINOR LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS.
BACKGROUND:
Occasionally, staff receives requests for "Minor Lot Line Adjustments" from neighboring
property owners. These requests occur within the city limits, as well as outside the city
limits, within the City's two-mile jurisdiction area. An example of such a request was the
Rogers property, generally located northwest of the Ames' city limits, north of 199th Street,
east of North Dakota Avenue (see attached Plat of Survey). With this request, the property
owners own both existing lots (Lots 2 and 3 of Northwood Heights Subdivision, 2nd
Addition). The property owner's home is constructed on Lot 2. Lot 3 is currently
undeveloped. At this time, the property owners would like to sell Lot 3, however, a recently
constructed garage on Lot 2 is built too close to the existing lot line and does not meet the
setback from the lot line that separates Lot 2 from Lot 3. Therefore, the property owners
want to simply adjust the lot line so that the existing garage does not encroach on the
required setback. The property owners were proposing to do this through a Plat of Survey,
which would slightly relocate the property line separating Lot 2 and Lot 3, creating two new
parcels (Parcels C and D). However, the current Subdivision Regulations of the City of
Ames requires that this minor adjustment be classified as a Major Subdivision. A Major
Subdivision requires the installation of public infrastructure (streets, sewer, water, sidewalk,
street lights, etc.) when these improvements are not already present. The cost of these
improvements makes minor lot line adjustments, such as this one, nearly impossible for
property owners.
Currently, there is no provision in the City's Subdivision Ordinance allowing exceptions
from the Major Subdivision requirements for minor lot line adjustments. Many communities,
such as Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale, Clive, Des Moines, to name a few, do allow for
minor lot line adjustments in their Subdivision Regulations. Staff believes that a similar
provision should be included in the City's Subdivision Regulations, as well. Therefore, staff
is proposing the following text amendment:
23.301(5)(d) Staff may classify lot line adjustments of parcels of land between
owners of adjoining property as a Minor Subdivision, provided
that:
• the same number of lots or a fewer number of lots are
created as a result of the adjustment,
• the lots resulting from the adjustment meet the
requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and all other
requirements of the Subdivision Ordinance; and,
• such lot line adjustment is not contrary to the goals and
objectives of the Land Use Policy Plan, Transportation
Plan, Parks Master Plan, and any other applicable plan,
regulation, or ordinance of the City of Ames.
Staff believes that the inclusion of this provision in the Subdivision Ordinance will allow for
a less time consuming process for the property owner, staff, the Planning and Zoning
Commission, and City Council, in administering minor lot line adjustments.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. The Planning and Zoning Commission can recommend that the City Council approve
the text amendment to the Subdivision Ordinance allowing for minor lot line
adjustments.
2. The Planning and Zoning Commission can recommend that the City Council deny the
text amendment to the Subdivision Ordinance allowing for minor lot line adjustments.
3. The Planning and Zoning Commission can recommend that the City Council approve
the text amendment to the Subdivision Ordinance allowing for minor lot line
adjustments, with modifications.
4. The Planning and Zoning Commission can refer the text amendment to the Subdivision
Ordinance back to staff for further review and comment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended that Alternative #1 be adopted. Alternative #1 recommends that the
proposed text amendment to the Subdivision Ordinance allowing for minor lot line
adjustments be approved.
Attachment
S:\P&Z\Commission Action Forms\Text Amendments\Subdivision Regulations-Lot Line Adjustment-Text Amendment 01-07-04.doc
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