HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Letter from HWS Consulting about Floor Area Ratio (FAR) HWS Consulting Group
223 S.Walnut Avenue,Suite D
Ames, IA 50010
515.232.1103•Fax: 515.232.1141
hwsames@hws.com
Solutions Through Service
September 21,2006
Honorable Mayor and City Council
515 Clark Avenue
Ames,Iowa 50010
RE: Proposed Todd& Sargent Building—2905 SE 5th Street
Dear Mayor and City Council:
Please consider the following as you review the Zoning Ordinance as it relates to City Staffs review of
the site plan application for the proposed Todd & Sargent Building at 2905 SE 5th Street. More
specifically, the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) requirement for office uses within the General Industrial (GI)
Zone.
HWS is currently providing site planning services for the Todd & Sargent site. Additionally, I have
personally been involved with projects that constructed buildings on four other sites within the Ames
Community Development Park. Based on my previous experience, design of the Todd & Sargent site is
very much in keeping with other buildings and sites within the development. Parking areas, landscape
features, open space, and accommodation of storm water are all similar to previously developed sites. For
this project, the minimum FAR requirement of 0.35 would result in a building and site that are not in
keeping with the surrounding area.
In evaluating Zoning Ordinances of other cities, the FAR requirement is generally applied as a means to
control overbuilding on sites. It is almost universally stated as a"maximum FAR", not a minimum. To
apply a minimum FAR seems to contradict the current trend of lower impact development that provides
more green spaces and impervious areas. It also seems to contradict the City's Land Use Policy Plan,
which states on page 58 of Chapter Two,
"General Industrial It is recommended that general industrial activities be limited in their scale and
location. The intent is to minimize their impact on the community's current land resources and
infrastructure.
Uses. All future general industrial should involve mostly smaller scale activities. Light assembly and
other low impact uses are recommended."
We respectfully ask you consider removing the minimum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) requirement for office
uses within the General Industrial(GI)Zone.
Sincerely,
HWS CONSULTING GROUP INC.
J,.,.4 419-,;-,
Scott A.Williams.P.E.
Office Manager
6
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