HomeMy WebLinkAboutA016 - Ames Smart Grown Position on Commercial Development East of I-35 Ames Smart Growth Position on Commercial Development East of 1-35
As chairperson of ASG, it is important to remind council members that
even though some Smart Growth members participated in the Overlay
Zoning process, ASG does not support the development of commercial
properties east of 1-35. We question the conclusion that this proposal is
the best choice for expanding retail offerings in Ames. We are concerned
by
inadequate analysis of relative economic and environmental impacts on
our existing city and business districts; unrealistic marketing study and
tax revenue projections; and poorly specified and changing developer
plans.
The current push to rezone east of 1-35 cannot be justified by uninformed
demands for "Pottery Barn or Olive Garden". Council should be making
decisions that improve, not degrade, the quality of life of our residents
and should be spending infrastructure dollars with this in mind. Sprawling
land use patterns of the past several decades in our nation seem to often
fail this critical test. In the case of Ames, it does not make sense to allow
Mr. Wolford's vaguely drawn proposal to drive our land use planning
decisions.
Ames Smart Growth believes it would be wise to go back to the drawing
board and take a closer look at commercial development alternatives.
More time efficient "charrette based" approaches, such as those
discussed at our December 3 rd seminar, make this feasible. Rumors
about the sale of North Grand Mall may soon become reality. The north
Ames business district, the underdeveloped Lincoln Center in downtown
and numerous other locations of vacant commercial acres deserve closer
examination. Expansion at some of these locations may better protect
the integrity of Ames. Increasing commercial land by 300 acres, as
proposed in this rezoning, will have major impacts on existing business
districts. These impacts deserve careful study.
Mr. Wolford's proposal should be put on hold. The changing character of
retail markets, Jordan Creek and its implications, and renewed interest in
our own downtown also point in this direction. Community discussions
surrounding this issue over the last two years have raised everyone's
concerns about quality of life and what makes a community truly
attractive. It is time to take on these issues more directly.
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