HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated May 24, 2011 ITEM # 22a-c
DATE: 05-24-2011
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH EXPANSION
BACKGROUND:
The First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Ames has been working with the City in
planning the expansion of their on-site facilities. As a part of this project, the following
separate actions need to be approved at this phase of the process:
1 . Approval of the Developer's Agreement
2. Vacation of an existing Pedestrian Easement
3. Approval of the sale of City land currently being used as Municipal Parking Lots
R & S
4. Approval of the Plat of Survey establishing the new parcels for development.
The dates of Public Hearing for Actions 2 and 3 were set at the May 10, 2011 City
Council meeting.
ACTION 1 — APPROVAL OF DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT:
The first step will be to approve the Developer's Agreement between the City of Ames
and the FUMC, which defines the purpose for the agreement and outlines the platting
and property transfer processes. Attached to this Council Action Form is a draft copy of
the agreement. Highlighted below are a few of the major issues covered in this
agreement.
First, one issue identified in the agreement is the amount and valuation of City property
needed to facilitate the FUMC expansion project. The total net land area to be sold to
the FUMC was found to be 5,583 sq. ft. with a valuation of $12.60 per sq. ft., which
totals $70,345.80 to be paid to the City. (See Section II 1 (a))
Second is an issue related to the completion of what is now Municipal Parking Lot S into
a whole, functioning City parking lot. In the agreement the FUMC agrees, at their sole
expense, to reconstruct the northern end of the City's lot as shown in the attached site
plan "Phase 1," which will be a new Municipal Parking Lot totaling 34 parking stalls.
(See Section II 6)
A third issue is the creation and administration of parking stalls along the eastern edge
of the proposed FUMC expansion for use by the Ames Public Library. The agreement
established a 5-year renewable easement for use of these parking spaces to facilitate
turning by the Ames Library Bookmobile in and out of their garage until such time that
the Library expansion project would move forward. At that time the Library will retain
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the use of one parking stall for a passenger car as shown in the attached site plan
"Phase 2." (See Section II 3. (a) to (e))
The fourth major issue outlines the platting process and the subsequent steps that will
need to take place to properly zone the new parcels for their proposed use. This
process includes the requirement for a Special Use Permit for the FUMC as required for
all developments by religious institutions. (See Section II 4 (a) to (d))
ACTION 2 -VACATION OF PEDESTRIAN EASEMENT:
At the May 10, 2011 City Council meeting, a report was presented regarding an existing
Pedestrian Easement located on Municipal Parking Lot S that will need to be removed
as part of this expansion project. It was created to meet the site requirements (public
sidewalk) adjacent to the commercial property owned by the FUMC. At that meeting,
City Council directed staff to move forward in working with the FUMC and establishing
the public hearing date for vacation as May 24, 2011.
ACTION 3 - SALE OF PUBLIC LAND:
Similarly to Issue 2, this step will be the official approval of the sale of land needed for
the proposed FUMC expansion. It was also presented to Council at the May 10, 2011
meeting and, likewise, staff was directed to establish the public hearing date as May 24,
2011 to sell the City for$70,345.80.
ACTION 4 - APPROVAL OF PLAT OF SURVEY:
The final issue will be to approve the Plat of Survey. In doing so, it will reconfigure the
existing four lots into two larger lots; see attached Plat. Once Issues 1, 2, and 3 have
been approved as shown above, the Plat of Survey will officially create the developable
lots necessary for the FUMC project to move forward.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. a) Approve the Developer's Agreement between the FUMC of Ames and the City of
Ames.
b) Approve the Vacation of the Pedestrian Easement located on Municipal Parking
Lot S.
c) Approve the Sale of Public Land to the FUMC of Ames as specified in the
Developer's Agreement in the amount of 5,583 sq. ft., totaling $70,345.80.
d) Approve the Plat of Survey.
2. Do not approve any of the proposed actions, and direct staff to continue to work with
the FUMC of Ames to find alternative solutions.
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MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The approval of the four actions described above will facilitate the proposed expansion
to the FUMC and reconfiguration of Municipal Lots R & S into a single public lot. Terms
proposed fairly compensate the public for losing use of the designated public land, and
attend to the needs of the adjacent Ames Public Library.
Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt
Alternative 1, thereby approving the Developer's Agreement between the FUMC of
Ames and the City of Ames, approving the vacation of the Pedestrian Easement located
on Municipal Parking Lot S, approving the sale of Public Land to the FUMC of Ames as
specified in the Developer's Agreement in the amount of 5,583 sq. ft., totaling
$70,345.80, and approving the Plat of Survey.
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