HomeMy WebLinkAboutA006 - Council Action Form dated May 12, 2015 ITEM # 54
DATE 05-12-15
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS REGARDING
SIDEWALKS, IMPROVEMENT GUARANTEES, AND STREET LIGHTS
BACKGROUND:
At the April 14, 2015 meeting, the City Council provided direction on proposed
amendments to the Ames Subdivision Regulations (Chapter 23 of the Ames Municipal
Code). In summary, the City Council:
• Directed staff that five-foot sidewalks be required for new development approved
after January 1 , 2015. (6-0 vote)
• To require lighting on perimeter streets at intersections. (6-0 vote)
• Require installation of improvements, including sidewalks, either within three
years of approval of the final plat or at the time of occupancy, whichever occurs
first. Street trees are exempt from the 3 year requirement with approval of a
deferral agreement. (6-0 vote)
Council additionally considered requiring installation of sidewalk on both sides of a
street in all zoning districts, including industrial subdivisions. However, that motion
failed on a 3-3 vote. The status quo remains of installing sidewalks on only one side of
an industrial street and sidewalks on both sides of all other streets.
Proposed Amendments
The following language summarizes the proposed text amendments.
The amendment to Section 23.403 (13) explicitly requires the installation of street lights
on interior streets as well as at intersections with existing perimeter streets for new
development. Preliminary plats approved prior to January 1, 2015 will be subject to the
previous requirements (streetlights installed only within subdivisions).
The amendment to Section 23.403 (14) requires a minimum of a five-foot sidewalk in all
zoning districts. Sidewalks are required on both sides of all streets, except within the GI
and PI zoning districts, which will require sidewalks only on one side of the street. The
amendment also requires sidewalks greater than five feet if needed to match adjoining
sidewalks. Four-foot sidewalks within preliminary plats approved prior to January 1,
2015 will be allowed to maintain the four-foot sidewalk.
And the amendment to Section 23.409 (4) will require financial security and installation
of all infrastructure (including sidewalks) within three years. A deferral for street trees
until occupancy of a building will be maintained.
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ALTERNATIVES:
1. The City Council can approve on first reading an ordinance to amend the City of
Ames Subdivision Code Chapter 23 of the Municipal Code to include changes to
Section 23.403 and 23.409 as reflected in the attached ordinance.
2. The City Council can decline to adopt the proposed amendments.
3. The City Council can refer the proposed amendments to the Subdivision Code back
to staff for specific further information or for further options.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMENDATION
The proposed amendments enhance consistency with ADA accessibility standards by
increasing sidewalk widths to 5 feet. They also clarify the requirements for the
placement of streetlights at intersections with streets adjacent to new subdivisions and
not just within the subdivision. In addition, it lengthens the time from two years to three
years in which all infrastructure needs to be installed. It will end the practice of deferring
sidewalks to occupancy of a house if it takes longer than three years for a house to be
constructed. Planting of street trees will be allowed to be deferred until house
construction
Based on the specific direction that the City Council gave to staff at the April 14tn
meeting, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council act in
accordance with Alternative #1, which is to approve the amendments to Sections
23.403 and 23.409 of the Subdivision Regulations as shown in the attached ordinance.
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