HomeMy WebLinkAboutA003 - Council Action Form dated April 28, 2020 ITEM: 38
DATE: 04-28-20
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT RELATING INDUSTRIAL PARKING
STANDARDS
BACKGROUND:
The City of Ames applies minimum parking standards to a wide range of residential,
commercial, and industrial uses within Section 29.406(2) of the Ames Municipal Code
(Zoning Ordinance Excerpt Attachment A). As the City looks to expand its Industrial Use
base, i.e. manufacturing use, it is appropriate to review our minimum parking standars in
light of trends related to automated processes and potentially fewer employees per
square foot of manufacturing space.
The current standards are based upon gross square footage of use, rather than the
number of employees. This is an appropriate method overall, especially when considering
speculative development and the goal of the City to support a diverse set of future users.
However, we also want to be able to accommodate unique operational aspects of larger
single-use businesses, such as Barilla, that could have much lower employee intensities.
Staff presented two options to Planning and Zooming Commission for its review and
recommendation. One option was to allow for deferral of construction of required parking
through a Site Development Plan review. The second option was to lower the required
parking requirement overall. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommends, and
staff supports, the following reduction in manufacturing parking rates.
Ames Municipal Code 29.406(2)
Industrial Service, Manufacturing and Production, Resource Production and Extraction 1
space/500 sf plus 1/space/company vehicle. For manufacturing uses exceeding 50.000
square feet, 1 space/1000 sq. ft.
ALTERNATIVES:
1 . Approve on first reading a reduction to the parking requirements for manufacturing
buildings greater than 50.000 square feet to a requirement of 1 space per 1 ,000
square feet of floor area.
This change is a reduction for manufacturing uses exceeding 50,000 sq. ft.
from 1 space/500 sq. ft. to 1 space/1,000 sq. ft.
2. Provide a direction on an alternative parking standard.
3. Decline to proceed with an amendment to the parking standards for manufacturing
uses.
I
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The proposed change is intended to provide more flexibility in parking requirements for
manufacturing uses that may have a wide variability in the number of employees involved
in their industrial process. It should be noted that for office components of a facility, a
higher parking standard would still apply, reflecting the higher employee counts for this
type of space. Staff believes adequate flexibility exists for smaller operations with the
current parking ratio, but larger plants would benefit from the reduced standard.
Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that City Council adopt
Alternative #1 to reduce the parking standard for manufacturing buildings greater
than 50,000 square feet to a standard of 1 space per 1,000 square feet of floor area.
Attachment A-Existing Standards
Sec. 29.406. OFF-STREET PARKING. (1)Applicability. The off-street parking requirements set
forth in this Section apply to all off-street parking uses, whether required by this Ordinance or in
excess of the requirements of this Ordinance; whether accessory to the principal use of a site, or
operated as a commercial enterprise.
(2) Required Parking Spaces. Off-street parking spaces must be provided in accordance with the
minimum requirements set forth in Table 29.406(2) below,for any new building constructed and
for any new use established.
(a) The off-street parking space requirement for a use not specifically mentioned herein is the same
as required for a use of similar nature.
(b) Whenever a building or use lawfully existing on the effective date of this Ordinance, May 1,
2000, is enlarged in floor area, number of employees, number of dwelling units, seating capacity,
or otherwise to create a need for an increase of 10% or more in the number of required parking
spaces, such spaces shall be provided on the basis of such enlargement or change.
(c) The Planning Director may reduce required parking for non-residential uses by 10% in order
to increase landscape area within parking lots that exceed 30 or more spaces. (Ord. 4312, 6-27-
17; Ord. No. 4329, 12-12-17)
(d) The Planning Director may approve a reduction of up to three required parking stalls to
accommodate a vehicular cross-access route to an adjoining property. (Ord. 4329, 12-12-17)
(e) The Planning Director may approve a reduction of required parking spaces for nonresidential
uses that have adequate vehicle parking, at a ratio of one parking space for every six Qualified
Bicycle Parking System spaces up to a maximum reduction of five spaces.
29.406(2) Industrial Parking Standards
Industrial Service, Manufacturing and Production, Resource Production and Extraction 1
space/500 sf plus 1/space/company vehicle.
Warehouse One (1)parking space per S,000 sq. t.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE
CITY OF AMES, IOWA, BY REPEALING PART OF SECTION
29.406(2) FOR INDUSTRIAL USES AND ENACTING A
REPLACEMENT SECTION 29.406(2) FOR INDUSTRIAL USES
THEREOF, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MODIFYING PARKING
REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL USES; REPEALING ANY
AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT; AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED,by the City Council for the City of Ames, Iowa,that:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa shall be and the same is hereby
amended by enacting a new Section as follows:
"Sec.29.406. OFF-STREET PARKING.
... (2) ...
PRINCIPAL LAND USE ALL ZONES EXCEPT DOWNTOWN AND CAMPUS-
DOWNTOWN AND CAMPUS TOWN
TOWN SERVICE CENTER SERVICE CENTER ZONES
INDUSTRIAL
Industrial Service, Manufacturing 1 space/500 sf plus NONE
and Production,Resource 1/space/company vehicle
Production and Extraction
For manufacturing uses exceeding
50,000 sf: I space/1,000 sf
Warehouses One(1)parking space per 5,000 NONE
sf
Section Two. All ordinances,or parts of ordinances,in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to
the extent of such conflict,if any.
Section Three. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and
publication as required by law.
Passed this day of ,
Diane R.Voss,City Clerk John A.Haila,Mayor