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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA011 - Resolution No. 20-619 adopted November 24, 2020 1 RESOLUTION NO. 20-619 RESOLUTION AMENDING THE PLAN CRITERIA OF THE EAST UNIVERSITY IMPACTED AREA FOR THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA WHEREAS, on September 22, 2020, Council unanimously agreed that a sunset date was appropriate for the East University Impacted Urban Revitalization Area(URA); and, WHEREAS,the East University Impacted URA was established in 2006 and over 36%of the Greek Houses in the URA have taken advantage of the program in the past ten years; and, WHEREAS, the City Council has determined the goals of the program for revitalizing the area have been met; and, WHEREAS,the sunset date is proposed for April 1,2024,which will allow for pending or potential projects to have an opportunity to still move forward given the longer timeline needed for advance planning, budgeting, and fundraising that is relied upon to execute these projects; and, WHEREAS,as directed by the Council,staff contacted each property owner of the 37 Greek Houses within the East University Impacted URA, so their input could be received,and there were not any comments received relating to any upcoming projects that would be impacted by the proposed change; and, WHEREAS, the new Ordinance will show an expiration date of April 1, 2024, and all projects seeking tax abatement must be completed prior to the expiration and approved for award prior to expiration; however, projects already determined to be eligible for tax abatement will continue to receive tax abatement consistent with the chosen schedule for abatement and in accordance with state law; and, WHEREAS,also on September 22,2020,the Council determined that the current criteria that allows for both new construction and additions to be eligible for abatement conflict with several policy directions of the City and directed that the criteria be revised; and, WHEREAS, eliminating new construction as an eligibility criterion restores tax abatement to the 2018 criteria for additions only; and, WHEREAS,supporting additions is an incentive to encourage and support reuse of buildings or adaptive reuse of Greek houses (some of which are likely to be historically and architecturally significant); and, WHEREAS,the proposed criteria will allow construction of a new Greek residence on a site that has been recognized by Iowa State University as part of the Greek residence system,and which has an approved Minor Site Development Plan and Demolition approved by the City Council,both of which have to be approved prior to April 1, 2021; and, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the revised Criteria for the East University Impacted URA is approved as follows: -The building is an existing or former residence recognized by Iowa State University as part of the Greek residence system, and which, following rehabilitation 70% of the area of the existing exterior walls of the structure will remain. -Construction of a new Greek residence recognized by Iowa State University as part of the Greek residence with an approved Minor Site Development Plan and demolition approved by the City Council prior to April 1, 2021. ADOPTED THIS 24'day of November, 2020. Diane R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Betcher Seconded by: Gartin Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Martin Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 24`h day of November, 2020.