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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA005 - Excerpt from minutes of September 28, 2010 meeting Council Member Orazem said it was his interpretation when he reads the criteria that no alterations can be made to the house,including the landscaping.Ms.Betcher said that alterations can only be made that are within the design guidelines.Mr.Orazem said that friendsacquaintance of his were interested in the house,but found that the restrictions were so onerous that they felt they could not live there. Ms. Betcher said that whoever buys the house will be buying a local landmark, and as such, there will be restrictions on any changes on or to the property. Mr. Orazem asked how many people or agencies would have to approve the planting of trees on the property.Ms.Betcher said the purchasers would not be able to plant trees for privacy in the front of the property.They may be able to plant trees on the other side of the house. According to Ms. Betcher,Frank Lloyd Wright is known for the type of integrated design principle present in the Adams house. Mr. Orazem pointed out that Frank Lloyd Wright was not the designer of the house. Ms. Betcher acknowledged that fact; Burt Adams designed the house based on Frank Lloyd Wright's principles.Council Member Davis noted that the trending is there that allows for landscaping to be added.Ms. Betcher said that if the property were to be restored to its original date of significance, i.e., 1948 - 1958,the trees would not have been there. The trees would not have to be cut down, but it is not known if they could be replaced if something happened to them. Council Member Wacha said he had a philosophical objection to this. Rezoning the property preserves a lot of the request since most of the land will be parkland and won't be built upon. He said he didn't think the City should have accepted the house; he sees it as a liability. Mr. Wacha does not like the City getting into this type of agreement.He noted that the Adams's built a beautiful home,appreciated nature,and wanted to keep it exactly as it was so make the bequest to the City. Council Member Wacha said he did not like using zoning codes to state that the City will not allow a certain parcel to be changed because it was the owners' original wish. Counci Member Goodman disagreed and said there were people who chose to value the site as an historic piece of the community. It was the perspective of the Ames Historic Preservation Commission that this site has value to the community,and the City Council,at that time,agreed. Council Member Wacha said that it did not make sense to him to put such restrictions on a home that the City is attempting to sell. Council Member Orazem does not believe there will be willing buyers to basically be the "caretakers"of the property in question,but not be able to even plant a garden or a tree. Council Member Mahayni expressed his concerns over the design criteria as it is mostly focused on the house and not on the rest of the site. Mr. Orazem also raised the issue of enforcement of the covenants. Moved by Mahayni, seconded by Goodman, to defer action on the rezoning pertaining to the historic overlay until staff comes back with design criteria for the landmark.. Vote on Motion: 6-0. Motion declared carried unanimously. HEARING ON AMENDMENT TO SECTION 31.13 OF MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING DESIGN CRITERIA FOR LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 113 AND 1025 ADAMS STREET: The hearing was opened by Mayor Campbell. The Mayor closed the hearing as no one else asked to speak on this topic. 16 fiz Moved by Mahayni, seconded by Goodman, to refer back to staff to look at the design criteria for the landmark designation, particularly as it pertains to landscaping of an historic landmark and the site, as a whole. Council Member Orazem noted that,according to the staff report,no changes can be made to the house or the land. He recommended that"Attachment H"be very specific as to which changes will require approval and who will have to approve of the changes. Council Member Mahayni suggested that the staff contact Bob Harvey, who is an expert on historic landscaping, to assist them with the design criteria. Roll Call Vote:5-1. Voting aye: Davis, Goodman, Larson, Mahayni, Orazem. Voting nay: Wacha. Motion declared carried unanimously. HEARING ON PRECIPITATOR WIRE REPLACEMENT FOR ELECTRIC SERVICES: The public hearing was opened by Mayor Campbell. She closed same after no one came forward to speak. Moved by Davis, seconded by Mahayni, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 10-474 approving final plans and specifications and awarding a contract to USCC,Inc.,of Elizabethton,Tennessee, in the amount of$60,000, plus applicable sales taxes. Roll Call Vote:6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously,signed by the Mayor,and hereby made a portion of these minutes. HEARING ON 2010/11 ARTERIAL STREET PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS, (DUFF AVENUE FROM LINCOLN WAY TO 71H STREET): Mayor Campbell opened the public hearing. There was no one who asked to speak, and the Mayor closed the hearing. Moved by Goodman,seconded by Wacha,to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 10-475 approving final plans and specifications and awarding a contract to Manatt's,Inc.,of Ames,Iowa,in the amount of$601,858.19, subject to IDOT concurrence. Roll Call Vote:6-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously,signed by the Mayor,and hereby made a portion of these minutes. ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 5 AND ENACTING SIGN REGULATIONS AS SEPARATE CHAPTER 21: Moved by Goodman, seconded by Mahayni, to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO.4044 pertaining to the 2009 International Building Code with local amendments(Municipal Code Chapter 5)and enacting sign regulations as a separate Chapter 21. Roll Call Vote:6-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously,signed by the Mayor,and hereby made a portion of these minutes. ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 8: Moved by Goodman, seconded by Mahayni,to pass on third reading and adopt ORDINANCE NO. 4045 adopting the 2009 International Fire Code with local amendments (Municipal Code Chapter 8 ). Roll Call Vote: 6-0. Ordinance declared adopted unanimously,signed by the Mayor,and hereby made a portion of these minutes. 17