HomeMy WebLinkAboutA003 - Memo dated March 12, 2018 from Planning regarding City Council meeting date with Commission Action Form Ames
Memo
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TO: Diane Voss, City Clerk 3 2018
FROM: Eloise Sahlstron, Planner CITY CLERK
CITY OF AMES. IOWA
DATE: March 12, 2018
SUBJECT: Zoning Text Amendment for Public Art in the Front Yard
The Planning and Zoning Commission took action on the above-mentioned amendment to the Zoning
Ordinance at its meeting of March 7, 2018.
The City Council will be reviewing this proposed amendment at its meeting of April 10, 2018.
I have attached a copy of the Commission Action Form dated March 7, 2018.
Please contact me at extension 5400 if you have any questions regarding this agenda item.
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Attachment
S:\Planning.Dep\PLAN_SHR\Council Boards Commissions\PZ\Letters&Memos\2018\memo to cleric for ZTA for Public Art in the Front Yard 3-7-18.doc
ITEM: 8
DATE: 03/07/18
COMMISSION ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT RELATING TO PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION
IN SETBACKS
BACKGROUND
On January 9, 2018, the City Council directed staff to prepare a text amendment to
allow for placement of public art in setbacks in coordination with Public Art
Commission (PAC) approval. This action was in response to a letter from Pat Brown, who
is interested in creating an art corridor along South Duff Avenue. The intent is to promote the
location of publically visible art installations on private property, as a coordinated effort
between the City of Ames Public Arts Commission and local businesses.
Section 29.402 (2)(a) of the Zoning Ordinance, specifically identifies what is allowed to be
placed within (or project into) a required building setback. Front Yard setbacks are typically
the first 25 feet of a lot. Although the placement of statuary within a building setback is
permitted, it is as an incidental ornamental feature or landscape accent and the statuary is
limited to four feet in height. However, the Zoning Ordinance is currently silent regarding
Public Art. It does not include a definition of Public Art nor does it identify how it might be
located on private land. Adding an exception for defined Public Art installations will meet the
interest of the petitioner and allow for the City to manage the number and types of
installations.
PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS
These text amendments will allow interested property owners, the opportunity to participate in
the public display of Public Art on their property. Securing art easements for Public Art
display will be under the auspices of the City of Ames Public Art Commission and the City
Council.
As directed by the City Council, staff has prepared the following text amendments to
address this issue.
1) A definition of "Public Art" is added into the Zoning Ordinance:
See. 29.201.DEFINITIONS.
Except as otherwise defined in this Ordinance or unless the context may otherwise require,the
following words are defined for the purpose of this Ordinance as follows:
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(163A) Public Art means any works of craft or art in any medium that has been received by
the City of Ames Public Art Commission and reviewed against adopted and standardized
criteria approved and formally accepted for temporary or permanent installation in public
locations in or on publicly owned buildings, on publicly owned land, or in or on other
locations leased or provided to the City through donation, easement or other means.
2) Public Art is allowed to be placed within a building setback:
Sec. 29.402. SETBACKS.
(2) Extensions into Required Building Setbacks.
(a) Principal Buildings.
(ii) Full projections allowed. In addition to the minor projections listed in the
previous section,the following features are allowed to fully project into required
setbacks:
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q. Public Art when located within a public art easement accepted by the
City of Ames.
PROCESS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Staff envisions use of an "art easement" template for property owners to create easement
areas. The easement language will define specific terms of the agreement, such as artwork
selection, installation, access, maintenance, and termination of the easement.
Artwork may be offered for consideration by property owners or solicited by the PAC. Artwork
may only be utilized that has been approved by the PAC.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. The Planning & Zoning Commission can recommend that the City Council adopt the
proposed amendments regarding Public Art installation in setbacks.
2. The Planning & Zoning Commission can recommend alternative language for the
proposed text amendment.
3. The Planning and Zoning Commission can request additional information and defer
making a recommendation.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff believes that the proposed amendments are reasonable revisions to both define Public
Art and to accommodate the installation of Public Art on private property within setbacks,
when located within an art easement.
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The proposed changes are relatively straight forward. Implementation would be administered
in coordination with the PAC and City staff who would work directly with interested property
owners to obtain the required art easements and approve the installations. In some cases,
property owners may need approval of revisions to landscape plans to site artwork.
Therefore, it is the recommendation of the Department of Planning and Housing that the
Planning and Zoning Commission act in accordance with Alternative #1.
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