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Home My WebLink AboutA001 - Council Action Form dated July 13, 2004 G� ITEM # DATE 7/13/04 COUNCIL ACTION FORM SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP TO APPLY AN OVERLAY ZONE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE VICINITY OF THE INTERSECTION OF LINCOLN WAY AND WELCH AVENUE AND PROPERTY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF KNAPP STREET BETWEEN STANTON AVENUE AND ASH AVENUE FOR A TEMPORARY DEVELOPMENT MORATORIUM BACKGROUND: The City has been conducting a sub-area plan to determine how to further implement its policies for the University Impacted Area (UTA). On May 19, 2004, the Planning and Zoning Commission received a report on this sub-area planning that, among other findings, concluded that continued development could create serious incompatibilities with long-term consequences. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a temporary development moratorium on the entire University Impacted Area. On May 25, 2004, the City Council directed staff to prepare zoning regulations that would delay and defer development for certain specific areas within the University Impacted Area to allow sub-area planning to be completed and its implementation measures to be approved. The City Council is now being asked to apply such zoning regulations to specific portions of the University Impacted Area. Intensification has begun to change the character of the UTA. For example, there are now two buildings over 100 feet tall on Stanton Avenue. There is no provision that prevents such a building rising right from the back of the sidewalk within the north two blocks of Welch Avenue, the symbolic heart of Campustown. A significant expanse of blank wall and/or a garage entrance could intrude along this active pedestrian corridor. As another example, current zoning allows a 100-foot tall building on the north side of Knapp Street, directly across from a neighborhood of single-family detached homes for which City policy is to preserve its low-density residential character. There is no requirement for public review or input for any, such project. There are no standards to make it compatible with its surroundings. Once built, the community must accept the consequences of such projects for the long term. However, there are also significant consequences from any actions to delay development projects. Larger development projects require a great deal of lead-time and expense for securing land and planning. Steps the City takes to delay development could decrease or even prevent return on that: investment. Landowners and developers who have acted completely within the current regulations would then find themselves with rules changing in the middle of the process, after a great deal of money has already been spent. Given changes in interest rates and other complexities of financing and arranging large development projects, delays of several months might end certain projects completely. AREAS TO BE REZONED: This rezoning proposal applies a new overlay-zoning district to three areas: • The south side of Lincoln Way between Heyward and Stanton Avenues and both the east and west sides of Welch Avenue between Chamberlain Street and Lincoln Way. This is the center of the University Ilmpacted Area, its most active pedestrian, retail district and is considered by many to be the symbolic heart of Campustown. • The north side of Knapp Street for one half-block east of Hayward Avenue. This is an area of high-density residential zoning directly across the street from an area of low-density residential zoning. • The north side of Knapp Street between Stanton Avenue and Ash Avenue. This is another area of high-density residential zoning directly across the street from an area of low-density residential zoning. The City Council specified these areas in their action of May 25, 2004. EXISTING AND PROPOSED ZONING: The current zoning of the subject property is "DSCS" (Downtown/Campustown Service Center). This would remain as the base zone, whose standards would still apply to the subject property. The proposal is to establish by overlay a demolition and development moratorium, which would prevent demolition of a building and also prevent new construction that changes the size of an existing building for the period beginning upon enactment and publication of the ordinance and ending on January 1, 2005. RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION: By a 4-0 vote, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of the proposed amendment to the Zoning Map to apply an overlay zone for a temporary development moratorium on the subject properties within the University Impacted Area at its meeting of June 16, 2004. 2 ALTERNATIVES: 1 . The City Council can approve the proposed amendment to the Zoning Map to apply an overlay zone for a temporary development moratorium on the subject properties within the University Impacted Area. 2. The City Council can deny the proposed amendment to the Zoning Map to apply an overlay zone for a temporary development moratorium on the subject properties within the University Impacted Area 3. The City Council can approve the proposed amendment to the Zoning Map to apply an overlay zone for a temporary development moratorium within the University Impacted Area with modifications. 4. The City Council can postpone action on this proposal and refer it back to City staff for additional information. CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: It is recommended that Alternative # 1 be adopted, which is approval of the proposed amendment to the Zoning Map to apply an overlay zone for a temporary development moratorium on the subject properties within the University Impacted Area. COUNCIL ACTION: Attachment 3 All of Lot 5 and the Southern 30 feet of Lot 6, Beardshear's Addition to Ames,Block 2,in Section 9,T83N,R24W of the 5a'PM in Ames,Story County,Iowa. d And 2i0�S' �QR ��<� Beginning at the southwest comer of J P Duthie's S'Q Subdivision,said point being on the centerline of Knapp Street;thence easterly a distance of 1082.61 Iowa State University feet,more of less,along said centerline to the centerline of Ash Avenue;thence northerly along 0 said centerline a distance of 128.8 feet,more or �p less;thence westerly a distance of 278.55 feet,more r< or less;thence northerly 60 feet,more or less,to the northeast corner of Lot 4 Little's Subdivision; thence westerly a distance of 270.55 feet,more or less,to the northwest comer of Little's Subdivision, said point being the centerline of Lynn Avenue; thence southerly along said centerline a distance of 102.5 feet,more or less;thence westerly 167.5 feet, more or less;thence northerly 110 feet,more or less to a point on the north line of Duthie's Subdivision; thence westerly 180.5 feet,more or less,along the said north line of said subdivision;thence southerly a distance of 56 feet,more or less;thence westerly a distance of 204.91 feet,more or less,to the west line of said subdivision,said point being on the CHAMBERt9�Rtl�Tq,■■... centerline of Stanton Avenue;thence southerly _._.,, I_ .. along said centerline a distance of 113.5 feet,more or less,to the point of beginning.All in the 5t°P.M., Ames,Story County,Iowa. And Beginning at the northwest comer of the NE%4 of HUNT ST Section 9 T83N R24W of the 5 h P.M.,Ames,Story County,Iowa;thence easterly a distance of 221.9 r T7 feet,more or less,to a point on the centerline of Stanton Avenue;thence southerly a distance of 107 feet,more or less,along said centerline;thence ■ westerly a distance of 141.9 feet,more or less; thence southerly a distance of 84.8 feet,more or -ST a.■'s •a less;thence westerly a distance of 80 feet,more or less,to a point on the east line of the NE'/4 of the i NW'/4 of said Section 9;thence southerly a distance i of 69.4 feet,more or less,along said line;thence westerly a distance of 12 feet,more or less;thence n southerly a distance of 40 feet,more or less;thence 1 D easterly a distance of 12 feet,more or less,to a Dpoint on the east line of the NE%4 of the NW 1/4of said Section 9;thence southerly along said line a LITTLE-ST distance of 174 feet,more or less,to the southeast comer of Lot 5,Beardshear's Addition;thence west a distance of 223 feet,more or less,along the south line of said Lot 5 to the centerline of Welch ,,... DONALD Avenue;thence north along said centerline a distance of 10.9 feet,more or less,to the centerline of Chamberlain Street;thence westerly along said centerline a distance of 161.5 feet,more or less; Rj[ thence northerly a distance of 93 feet,more or less; thence westerly a distance of 60 feet,more or less, iT;OR to the southwest comer of Lot 30 of Auditor's Plat Block 3,4,and 5 Beardshear's Addition and Walter's Subdivision;thence northerly a distance of 60 feet,more or less,along the west line of said lot; thence easterly a distance of 6.55 feet,more or less, Zoning Moratorium along the north line of said Lot 30 to the southwest ■ ■ Moratorium Boundary corner of Lot 28 ofsaid subdivision;thence Interim Development Regulations �.■■■■� ry northerly 184 feet,more or less;thence westerly a University Impacted Area distance of2l l.6 feet,more or less,to apoint on the centerline of Hayward Avenue;thence northerly 0 500 1 000 a distance of 129 feet,more or less,along said Feet , centerline to the north line of said Section 9;thence east along the north line of said Section 9 a distance Prepared by the Department of Planning and Housing of 649.35 feet,more or less,to the point of Map Prepared: 06/08/2004 beginning.