HomeMy WebLinkAboutA005 - Council Action Form dated March 28, 2006 ITEM # 3 /a*
DATE 03/28/06
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE URBAN REVITALIZATION PLAN FOR THE
NORTH SHELDON URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA AND FIRST
PASSAGE OF AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE NORTH
SHELDON URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA
BACKGROUND:
One of the goals for sub-area planning for the University Impacted Area is to conserve
architecturally and historically significant residential buildings where they occur within a
block. Because of the location of early off-campus housing and of the original Lincoln
Highway, the Sub-Area Plan identified Sheldon Avenue, from Lincoln Way north to
Hyland Avenue, as one likely location of buildings of historic significance.
As the City continues to identify and document such historical and architectural
resources and establish appropriate preservation policy, partial property tax abatement
could encourage the adaptive reuse of buildings in the Sheldon Avenue corridor with the
potential for historic significance. The North Sheldon Urban Revitalization Area (see
map, Attachment A), would provide tax abatement under the following criteria:
• The building on the site was originally built before 1941;
• 70% of the area of existing exterior walls of the structure will remain; and,
• Original or historic materials and designs are preserved and/or restored.
This incentive would be available for any improvement to a qualifying property that adds
more than 5% of the existing building value. The Historic Preservation Commission will
advise the City Council on whether proposed improvements meet these criteria.
Recommendation of the Planning and Housing 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 North Sheldon Urban Revitalization Area and
adopt the Urban Revitalization Plan for North Sheldon.
2. The City Council can deny the establishment of the North Sheldon Urban
Revitalization Area and not adopt the Urban Revitalization Plan for North Sheldon.
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 North
Sheldon Urban Revitalization Area and adopt the Urban Revitalization Plan for North
Sheldon. This new Urban Revitalization Area would support investments that preserve
and reuse the buildings in these areas that are most likely to be architecturally and
historically significant. Conservation of such resources is one of the City's policies for
the University Impacted Area.
These actions will serve as an interim measure to 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.
Attachments
2
ATTACHMENT A
'Draft' Urban Revitalization Plan
North Sheldon Area
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Legend
North Sheldon Urban Revitalization Area
Prepared by the Department of Planning and Housing 2/24/06