HomeMy WebLinkAboutA007 - Memo to City Council from Planning and Housing dated May 16, 2012 ' Memo
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TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Steve Osguthorpe, Planning &Housing Director
DATE: May 16, 2012
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCE—ALTERNATE LANDSCAPING
STANDARDS FOR AUTO AND MARINE C RAFT TRADE USES
A proposed ordinance adopting alternative landscaping standards for auto and marine craft trade uses
was presented to the City Council on May 8, 2012. This was one of three proposed text amendments
requested by Wilson Toyota to facilitate expansion plans for the dealership, and which could also
facilitate a proposed new dealership by the Deery Brothers along Highway 30. The Council acted on
two of the requested amendments (i.e., parking lot striping and integrated site plan subdivision
provisions) but continued the alternative landscaping provisions to the May 22 meeting in order for staff
to:
1. Prepare a hypothetical site plan showing how an auto dealership site would be landscaped under
the current code requirements versus the proposed alternative standards, and
2. Contract the remaining auto dealerships in Ames to receive feedback on the proposed ordinance.
Staff is working on development of the hypothetical site plan requested by the Council. Staff will then
invite all auto-dealer representatives in the city to attend a meeting where the plan and proposed
alternative standards will be presented and car dealer input will be sought. Staff will not be able to have
these tasks complete in time for the May 22 meeting. Staff is therefore requesting that this item be
continued to the June 12, 2012 meeting.
SO\clh