HomeMy WebLinkAboutA003 - Letter from ISU, parking needs Office of dw Vice ft"ident
IOWA STATE UNWERSITY FoT business and finance
OF SQ]ENCE ANt) TECHNOLOGY 1350 Beardshrar Hall
Anws,Iowa 50011-2038
515 29+6162
FAX p5 294-1&3j,
June 3,2009
Honorable Ann Campbell and City Council
City of Ames
515 Clark Avenue
Ames 1A 50010
Re: Reduction in Off Street Parking Requirements for 1010 Dickinson Avenue,
ISU Basketball Practice Facility
Dear Mayor Campbell and Council Members:
Iowa State University's strategic, plan includes providing quality cultural and athletic
events that engage the interest and support of a variety of constituencies. Athletic
programs are often the first university experience for many people and are attended by
individuals who travel to Ames from across Iowa and elsewhere. As the university's
athletic programs live
ave grown, however, it has become more difficult to schedule current
multipurpose facilities to meet user needs. In particular, the university has struggled to
schedule practices for the women's and men's basketball teams due to other athletic and
carrtpus groups needing to use the same facilities.
For this reason,the university welcomed Jensen Development Corporation, Ltd-'s offer to
donate to the university land near the intersection of Mortensen Road and South Dakota
and to construct on that land a new practice facility to be used by the university's
Nvomen's and men"s basketball teams. The construction is well underway and the parties
desire to complete it and formally transfer ownership to the university by the beginning
of the,fall semester in August to minimize disruption to staff and student-athletes,
The university is aware that Jensen Development Corporation, Ltd. has made a proposal
to the City of Ames regarding the amount of parking that must he available at the facility
and understands that if the city approves the proposal then no more than 72 parking
spaces would have to be available given the size of the facility. This number of parking
spaces would be more than sufficient for the university's needs. The daily users of the
basketball practice facility will include staff members and student-athletes of the
basketball teams, as well as sports medicine staff, an equipment manager, and student
managers. It is estimated that the maximum number of potential daily users is 59.
10
Honorable Ann Campbell and City Council
June 3,2009
Page')
However, a number of these individuals, particularly the students, do not have
automobiles on campus and will use other transportation to get to the practice facility,
including walking, taking the bus or car-pooling with others. In addition, individuals will
be using the facility at varying times; it is unlikely that all 59 individuals will be present
at any given time. Accordingly, the university does not fortis" that it will need more
than 72 parking spaces.
Very truly yours,
Warren R.Madden
Vice President for Business and Finance
cc: Julie Bright
Paula DeAngelo
Jamie Pollard
Steve Schainker