HomeMy WebLinkAboutA008 - Letter dated July 17, 2012 to Marrs Wealth Management DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & HOUSING
' 515 Clark Avenue,P.O. Box 811,Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515-239-5400♦Fax:515-239-5404
::........... sosguthorpe a eity.ames.ia.us
July 17, 2012
Mr. Craig Marrs
Marrs Wealth Management
208 Main Street
Aries, Iowa 50010
Re: Redevelopment Proposal for 313 5"' Street. Ames, Iowa
Dear Mr. Marrs:
Let me first express appreciation for your willingness to invest in our downtown by redeveloping the
old"Tribune Building at 313 5°i Street. As we discussed in our Kick-off Meeting with you on February
10, 2012, staff believes that the proposed renovation will be a positive change to the downtown. It
will be particularly good to see more residential development come into the downtown.
Residential development in the Downtown Service Center(DSC)zone does have some limitations.
Under the provisions of Table 29.808(2), "household living" is not allowed downtown "except in
combination with permitted non-residential use or uses, in which case Household Living shall be
located above the first floor." The term "household living" is defined in Table 29.501(4)-1 as
"Residential occupancy of a dwelling unit by a family,where the average length of stay is 60 days or
longer." A "dwelling unit" is defined as, "any building or portion thereof which contains living
facilities,including provisions for sleeping,eating,meal preparation and a bathroom. "Dwelling unit"
shall not include any hotels, manufactured homes, nursing homes, residential corrections facilities,
rooming houses, sororities or fraternities, or supervised group homes."(Section 29.201(64)).
The non-allowance of dwelling units on the first floor was addressed in our Development Review
Committee Comment letter to you dated February 27, 2012, which stated that "The zoning code
regulations for DSC are based on floor use, not access points; therefore residential use on the first
floor is not permitted."
You recently submitted a building permit application for your proposed redevelopment of the Tribune
Building, which included floor plans(dated,tune 20,2012). The floor plans indicate four residential
units, which will all be accessed from the second floor via a staircase on the back of the building.
I Iowever,portions of two units are located on the first floor of the building,including both bedrooms
and baths. Because these portions are not"located above the first floor",they are not permitted under
the provisions of Section 29.808(2), and may therefore not be approved.
If you disagree with this determination, you may appeal to the Zoning Board of Adjustment as
provided in Code of Iowa Section 414.12,and City of Ames Section 29.1508. Appeals to the Zoning
Board of Adjustment must be submitted in writing,and may be submitted directly to the City Clerk's
office. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call me.
Sincerely,
Steve Osguthome, 1CP
Planning & Housing Director
cc: William Talbot
John Lott