HomeMy WebLinkAboutA004 - Email correspondence dated September 8, 2014 Page 1 of 1
Quarry Estates Subdivision
Erwin Klaas
to:
bobanncamp@aol.com, %20gloriabetcherwardl@gmail.com, %20GartinForAmes@gmail.com, %
20pforazem@gmail.com, %20nelson.ames@outlook.com, %20mg@ftghtingburrito.com, %
20amber.corrieri@gmail.com, lvilla@iastate.edu, dvoss@city.ames.ia.us, council@amesnews.net
09/08/2014 05:15 PM
Cc:
Wolfgang Oesterreich, Jim Pease
Please respond to Erwin Klaas
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Dear Mayor Campbell and Council:
I have long advocated for development of properties next to Ada Hayden Heritage Park on the north and west with
the provision that they be designed as Conservation Subdivisions or more appropriately named Low-Impact
Developments (LIDs). I was pleased that the city chose to place an overlay requirement on this area at the time of
annexation. LID developments allow for better management of storm water runoff through native prairie plantings
rather than direct expulsion of water through storm sewers. This practice allows water to be infiltrated into ground
water which maintains ground water flows and nutrient removal. LIDs require enough green space (30-40 percent of
the land area)to accomplish this. Dedicating this amount of green space requires the platting of smaller lots and
higher densities on the parts that are developed. LIDs are becoming popular solutions as cities deal with storm
water runoff and flooding that causes flooding.
Quarry Estates is being developed on land formerly owned by Bob Jensen. Jensen was the only landowner who
cooperated with the Story Soil and Water District in 2002 to put conservation practices on his land to reduce soil
erosion. Several grass waterways were installed with federal cost share money. I hope that these areas are used to
establish the bio-swales in the new subdivision if possible. New grading should be kept to a minimum.
The proposed Rose Prairie on the west was originally designed as a LID. The delay in developing that property has
resulted in years of poor water quality entering the park because of a lack of conservation practices with row-crop
agriculture. Developers who own this land have been unwilling to require their renters to use conservation practices.
I hope that a LID on the Rose Prairie property will be forthcoming in the near future. Every effort should be made to
require the property to the south of the Rose Prairie tract be developed as a LID when it is annexed. It too is being
currently farmed with a lack of soil conservation practices. Consequently, the constructed wetlands that treat surface
water runoff from the lands on the west boundary of the park are being stressed and their life-span reduced because
of siltation.
Also, the north boundary of the park has never been marked. I think the city or the developer will re-survey this
boundary and mark it adequately so that residents, park managers, and park visitors will know exactly where that
boundary is located. This applies not only to Quarry Estates but to the entire park boundary.
I am sorry that I will not be able to attend Council meeting on Tuesday evening as I will be out of town. If you have
questions, please feel free to contact me by phone or email.
Ery Klaas
President, Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park
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