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Home My WebLink AboutA001 - Council Action Form dated February 14, 2006 ITEM # 011 '- a�2 "' )-,3 DATE 02/14/06 COUNCIL ACTION FORM SUBJECT: AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ZONING MAP FOR THE UNIVERSITY IMPACTED AREA BACKGROUND: For the past three years, the City of Ames has been carrying out sub-area planning for the University Impacted Area to assure that further development to intensify land uses in the University Impacted Area is compatible with the existing desirable characteristics of this neighborhood. Proposed Zoning Amendments. Much of that sub-area planning effort was to establish mandatory standards for building size, height, placement, exterior materials, entrances, and in some districts, building form, windows, and landscaping. To implement these standards, the following amendments are proposed to the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map: • Creating a Campustown Service Center zoning district (CSC), separate from the current Downtown/Campustown Service Center district, with specific standards for this Campustown area (see "Proposed Zoning Map" and new "Campustown Service Center" zoning text). This is still a base zone and constitutes the zoning regulations for this district. The text amendment further establishes a new name for the zoning district in the Downtown area, "Downtown Service Center District" (DSC), but the standards of this district will not change at this time. • Reconfiguring the current University Impacted overlay zoning district into two districts, the East (O-UIE) and the West University Impacted District (O-UIW), with specific standards for each of these areas. (See "Proposed Zoning Map" and new text for each of these districts). These are overlay zones, so the areas within are also subject to the regulations of the base zone: mostly Residential High Density with some Residential Low Density at the west side. These changes do not alter the uses of properties within the areas being rezoned, although the height restrictions may limit the maximum of intensity of those uses that can be achieved on any one parcel, much as parking requirements do. Previous Approvals. Previously, the City Council has approved the Sub-Area Plan for the University Impacted Area and several changes to the Land Use Policy Plan. That approval established the standards that are proposed now as part of zoning text amendments, although the text amendments are more specific than the Plan in some cases. Ownership, Location, and Size of Land Area Proposed for Rezoning. The land area proposed for rezoning (see attached "Rezoning Map") is generally south and west of the Iowa State University main campus and is generally bounded by Beach Avenue, Greeley Street, Knapp Street, Storm Street, the alley north of Arbor Street, Lettie Street, Wilmoth Avenue; the properties on the north side of Lincoln Way east of Wilmoth; the properties on the west side of Howard Avenue and Hillcrest Avenue; the properties on the west side of Campus Avenue; and the properties on the north side of Oakland Street. The area of subject property totals approximately 150 acres. Ownership of these parcels includes several hundred people and entities, who have all been notified of this action. Jurisdiction, Land Use, LUPP Designation and Zoning. The subject area is all within the City and is currently used for commercial purposes, multiple-family residential uses, or a combination of the two, and for detached single- and two-family residential uses. The area also includes several large churches and various governmental uses. The "Existing Land Use Policy Plan Map," shows that the land use designation here are Downtown Services Center at the core, surrounded by High-Density Residential, which is in turn surrounded by Low-Density Residential land use. The "Existing Zoning Map" shows that the current zoning follows these Land Use Policy Plan designations, with the exception of Neighborhood Commercial along a portion of West Street and some scattered Government/Airport zoned properties. Other than replacing the Downtown/Campustown Services Center zone with a new Campustown Services Center zone with the same boundary, the proposal does not change these zoning designations. The entire area is also included in the current University Impacted Area overlay zoning designation, which this proposal removes and replaces with two overlay designations: the East University Impacted District and the West University Impacted District. Infrastructure/Public Facilities/Emergency Response. As the proposing rezoning does not change the primary uses of the area, there is no impact on existing infrastructure, public facilities, or emergency response capabilities. Land Use Policy Plan (LUPP). The Land Use Policy Plan changes that the Council approved on December 20, 2005 clarified the City policy that the University Impacted Area serves as a transition area between the Iowa State University Campus and the single-family neighborhoods to the south and west. It consists of a core area with commercial uses on the first floor and residential uses above, with the highest residential densities and the greatest building height of the area. These densities and building heights step down from this core area to the south and west. The Land Use Policy Plan also incorporates the Sub-Area Plan for the University Impacted Area to provide specific guidance for new development in this area to be compatible with the existing characteristics. The proposed zoning amendments implement these policies. Recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Commission. At its meeting of January 18, 2006, with a vote of 4-2, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map amendments for the University Impacted Area with the modification that the maximum building height in the northeast fringe of the East University Impacted Area be 45 feet. 2 ALTERNATIVES: 1. The City Council can approve the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map amendments for the University Impacted Area. 2. The City Council can deny the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map amendments for the University Impacted Area. 3. The City Council can approve the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map amendments for the University Impacted Area with modifications. MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: It is the recommendation of the City Manager that Alternative #1 be adopted. Alternative #1 is a recommendation that the City Council approve the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map amendments for the University Impacted Area. This action implements the land use policies for the University Impacted Area that requires new development to be compatible with the existing characteristics that make this area an asset to the community. Attachment 3 c € J (ait id �t U Ln [( I vy IN, LO f t € ar 3AV HOVT3311"M OWN N s �r t '< F . .., 3A`d HSV m Q. \ Q w Y� J 0 \F\ l r a ,�, V^ / \ t i • • \ ��G�.,,�r�yvv�„en ems....• '�� pal �. 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