HomeMy WebLinkAboutA005 - Council Action Form dated March 28, 2006 ITEM #
DATE 03/28/06
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE URBAN REVITALIZATION PLAN FOR THE EAST
UNIVERSITY IMPACTED AREA AND FIRST PASSAGE OF AN
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE EAST UNIVERSITY IMPACTED
URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA
BACKGROUND:
The recently approved zoning amendments establishing the East University Impacted
Overlay District include provisions to discourage demolition of Greek houses in this
area, unless it can be shown that there is no economic return from adapting the existing
building. This zoning provision recognizes that its concentration of Greek houses makes
this neighborhood distinctive from the other parts of the University Impacted Area.
The proposed East University Impacted Urban Revitalization Area (see map,
Attachment A) would provide partial property tax abatement as an incentive to
encourage and support adaptive reuse of Greek houses. The abatement would be
available under the following criteria:
• The building is an existing or former residence recognized by Iowa State University
as part of the Greek residence system; and,
• 70% of the area of existing exterior walls of the structure will remain.
This incentive would be available for any improvement to a qualifying property that adds
more than 5% of the existing building value.
Recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Commission. At its meeting of May 18,
2005, with a vote of 5-0, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the
City Council initiate this new Urban Revitalization Area and criteria for eligibility.
Recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission. At its meeting of May
23, 2005, with a vote of 6-0, the Historic Preservation Commission recommended that
the City Council initiate this new Urban Revitalization Area and criteria for eligibility.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. The City Council can establish the East University Impacted Urban Revitalization
Area and adopt the Urban Revitalization Plan for the East University Impacted Area.
2. The City Council can deny the establishment of the East University Impacted Urban
Revitalization Area and not adopt the Urban Revitalization Plan for the East
University Impacted Area.
3. Action on this request can be postponed and referred back to City staff for additional
information.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt
Alternative #1, which is a recommendation that the City Council establish the East
University Impacted Urban Revitalization Area and adopt the Urban Revitalization Plan
for the East University Impacted Area. This new Urban Revitalization Area would help
preserve the distinctive characteristics of this neighborhood by encouraging the
adaptive reuse of the buildings, some of which are likely to be historically and
architecturally significant. These actions will help protect potential resources, while the
community researches the resources and considers establishing local historic districts,
National Register Historic Districts, and other conservation policies for west Ames. After
several years, when that work is completed, these Urban Revitalization Areas and Plans
can be changed to reflect the findings and decisions of that process.
Under this proposal, the approximately seven, smaller properties with non-Greek
multi-family residential uses would not qualify for tax abatement, although the proposed
new zoning would allow their demolition. If area structures were built on any of these
properties, that structure would need to comply with the proposed mandatory design
standards. Staff believes that these standards are sufficient to assure that new
construction will be compatible with the existing neighborhood, which is Council's goal
and policy for this area. Therefore, tax abatement is not necessary for these non-Greek
residences.
Attachments
2
.� ATTACHMENT A
'Draft' Urban Revitalization Plan
East University Impacted Area
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Prepared by the Department of Planning and Housing 2/24/06