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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA014 - Letter from Holly Fuchs, questions about Design Guidelines and Standards V Holly Fuchs 806 Brookridge Ave. Ames, IA 50010-5835 515/233-2140 515/231-8996 cell fuchs@iastate.edu Dec. 14, 2004 Ames Mayor and City Council Members Ted Tedesco tedjoanie@aol.com Russ Cross russcross@financial.wellsfargo.com crosswind@mchsi.com Steve Goodhue st.goodhue@fabg.net st.goodhue @ isunet.net Matthew Goodman matthew@smilesandgyros.com matthewgoodman@mmchsi.com Riad G. Mahayni rmahayni@isunet.net Daryle Vegge dvegge@sauer-danfoss.com Sharon Wirth sharonwirth@yahoo.com Ames City Hall 515 Clark Ave. Ames, IA 50010 Re: Design Standards for the Northeast Gateway (O-GNE) Zoning District Dear Mayor and Members of the Ames City Council: I have some questions about a few of the Design Guidelines and Design Standards proposed for the Northeast Gateway (O-GNE) Zoning District which I would like answered and a few editing suggestions. 1. Regarding Standards for Overall Design, the Ketelsen Marsh, section (8) (e) (i) c, a. what guarantees the storm water management plans will be implemented? b. what guarantees that problems other than pollutants draining into the marsh will be addressed, e.g. the marsh runs dry after the regional commercial area is built? 2. Regarding Standards for Signage and Lighting, Section (18) (i), why are "lighting fixtures to be of a type (such as halogen or metal halide) to ensure true-color at night and ensure visual comfort for pedestrians" rather than low-pressure sodium which is preferred lighting near astronomical facilities? See the 2002 Lighting Handbook on www.darksky.org. * 3. Regarding Standards for Signage and Lighting, Section (18) n, why are "Light levels ...limited to 150, 000 lumens per acre..." with exceptions for entrances, etc. when Flagstaff has a limit of 100,000 lumens per acre? I would recommend replacing 150,000 lumens with 100,000 lumens, the same as Flagstaff's. Even with the same standard as Flagstaff's, Ames will have more light than Flagstaff for it is about 6,000 041214 p. 2 feet lower which means a denser atmomsphere and more scattering of light. Also our observatory is at the same height as the proposed mall rather than at least 260 feet higher as at Flagstaff. ** www.darksky.org says 50,000 lumens/acre is comparable to IESNA recommended practice for low activity level general parking facilities (IESNA=Illumination Engineering Society of North America). 4. Re (16) Standards for Building Design, is there not some way to encourage Energy Conservation when the buildings are built? This was an important issue in the Focus Groups and was reflected in the Steering Committee's Shared Interest #7. There are a few editing changes I recommend: (5) capitalize "master" (10) (a) -- reword so the antecedent to "these" is clear ("pathways, roadways, and pedestrian areas", I think, but maybe it is "buildings, open space and plantings"); clarify "nuisances". (17) include a phrase that was included in the immediately preceding version but was left out of this one, "but not dominant over its architectural features". Otherwise (18) (a) does not follow. (17) last paragraph: put the colon after "will" rather than after "that", in order to make the person correct for "reinforce", "provide" and "enhance". Sincerely yours, Holly Fuchs *The Steering Committee's Shared Interest #4 B stated in part "The best technical knowledge and most protective accepted standards will be employed to protect the night sky and the biology of the Ketelsen Marsh..." The proposed standard was not in the Steering Committee's Guidelines nor was it in the first draft by Ames City Planners. It first occurred in their second draft, the Oct. 20, 2004 version. I would suggest replacing (18) (i) by "Exterior lighting fixtures are to be low-pressure sodium to protect the night sky and the biology of Ketelsen Marsh." **The web site www.darksky.org recommends in their Table. 4.2 Maximum Total Outdoor Light Output Standards, a cap of 200,000 lumens/acre for commercial and industrial urban zones with both residential and commercial use, and high levels of nighttime activity. Their recommended cap for Dark Sky Preserves, areas close to major active astronomical research facilities, where preservation of the darkest night time environment is a priority, is 12, 500 lumens/acre. 100,000 lumens/acre is a compromise between the two.