HomeMy WebLinkAboutA004 - Memo from Janet Payeur to Mayor and Council dated April 20, 2022 Voss, Diane
From: Janet Payeur <jbpayeur@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 10:06 PM
To: City Council and Mayor
Subject: 802 Delaware Ave proposed townhouse rezoning
[External Email]
Dear Mayor and Ames City Council Members
I am unable to attend next week's Ames City council meeting due to a family emergency in Texas, but I wanted you to be
aware of my feelings on the proposed rezoning of 802 Delaware Ave from residential low density to residential medium
density.
I live at 800 Delaware Ave. and I was able to attend the Ames Zoning Commission meeting on 4/6/22 and voiced my
disapproval of the proposed 6 -two story townhouses on this small 3/4 acre lot. If the standard for medium density is 6
townhouses/acre, I don't understand how building 6 townhouses on 3/4 of acre meets this definition. Maybe I have
misunderstood the criteria.
It has been a wonderful green space for numerous wildlife over the past 30+ years since I have lived here. There are 5
ranch style duplexes across the street from me and this lot (west side of street). There are not enough parking spaces for
the occupants of these duplexes and the overflow ends up on the east side of the street in front of my house and 802
Delaware. Delaware Ave is a very busy street with increased traffic from school buses, snow route and entrance to
Spring Valley houses cutting though to North Dakota Ave. Since Delaware Ave is a snow route, parking is only allowed on
the east side of the street.
At the zoning meeting, Ruth Hulstrom commented that building 6 - 2 story modern townhouses, would change the
character of the neighborhood since the current neighborhood consists of ranch style single family houses and duplexes
at the south end of Delaware. There are multiple 2 & 3 story apartments at the north end of Delaware near Ontario where
this development would fit right into the current area.
Justin Dodge (Hunziker developer) indicated at the zoning meeting that these units would be rental and not individually
owned as first was proposed in 2020 when this rezoning issue came up. He indicated that they were building them to
attract young families, but most of the lot will be taken up with buildings and concrete. He did not indicate any amenities
young families would b i other areas f own.
that yo g e interested in this area as opposed to of e eas o t
I believe that Ames is overbuilt with apartments and the ISU student population has decreased over the last 5 years. This
street needs more single family housing to attract young families. I do not look forward to more noise, trash, traffic and
parking issues, all of which building townhouses/apartment would bring to this part of the neighborhood if this rezoning
was changed. I am disappointed that Ames government feels the need to fill every green space with a building just to
increase taxes on this parcel.
I would appreciate your support in not allowing the rezoning of this lot. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Janet Payeur
800 Delaware Ave
Ames, IA 50014
515-708-1355 cell
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