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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA027 - Email from Kathryn Strasburg dated February 8, 2005, regarding site development plan "Strasburg, Kathryn" To <dvoss@city.ames.ia.us> - <KDarula@ Hach.com> cc 02/08/2005 06:40 AM bcc Subject City council meeting 2/8/05 Dear Ms. Voss, I will be unable to attend tonight's city council meeting. I did want to send my written testimony regarding the proposed change to the site development plan in Somerset that would allow the property located at Stange Road, Northridge Parkway and Aspen Road to be changed to commercial. I am a resident of 2824 Buckingham Court in Somerset. I am very excited about the proposed commercial development of this property and believe it to be a much better plan than the original apartment buildings. Please encourage the Council Members to vote in favor of this change because it will be a great asset to the residents of Somerset. Thank you. Sincerely, Kathryn Strasburg Somerset Resident 232-6616 Feb 08 05 05: OGp Supt Office 515-2G8-GG33 p. 2 JNI�O O` EDUCATIONAL SEIRVXCS, CENTER d UO /! Fn CRAWFORD SCHOOL L� 415 STANTON AVENUE; d Angs,IA 50014-777331 515,268.6600 FAX 515.268.6633 February 8, 2005 Ames City Council City it Hall 515 Clark Avenue Ames,IA 50010 Dcar City Council Members, The Ames School Board discussed the proposed amendment to the Major Site Development flan at our meeting on February 7, 2005. We do not oppose the change, although we are sorry to see the loss of the single-family home sites. We ask that the Council consider a recommendation that the commercial development planned for that site be compatible with a potential elementary school site. Most businesses currently in that area would be welcome neighbors and might even add to the educational possibilities for our students. We would prefer, however, that a bar, liquor store:, adult hookvtore, or other non-child-friendly businesses not be placed in that location, Thank you. J/V Gail Jdf(nston School Board President sd AN EouAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ®PRINTED ON RLCYCLED PAPER Eric C Jensen/COA To Cindy L Hollar/COA@COA rF 02/01/2005 04:45 PM cc :........:........ ....... bcc m. Subject Fw: Somerset Zoning Amendment -----Forwarded by Eric C Jensen/COA on 02/01/2005 04:45 PM----- "Bing Wall" <bingwall@thrivingcouples.co To ejensen@city.ames.ia.us m> cc 01/27/2005 09:37 AM Subject Somerset Zoning Amendment Dear Mr. Jensen, Thank you for informing us of the new proposal to expand the commercial district in Somerset. We are unable to make the zoning meeting and wanted to register our support. We've lived in Somerset for 5 years and moved here because we love the mixed neighborhood with different types of housing and commercial together. All around the country people are moving toward getting away from suburban sprawl, back to neighborhoods where you can walk to the store and don't have to drive. These types of neighborhoods are springing up all over the Twin Cities and the residences are going for a premium because the attraction of access to markets close to home. Retirees are moving in droves to these types of neighborhoods in Florida and other places because of the lure of not having to drive everywhere. Iowa has been slow in adopting this trend. This is why we feel fortunate to live in one of the only new developments in the state that is offering this. We've felt from the beginning that the commercial area was too small in the original Somerset development plans and are excited to see that it is expanding. This will be a tremendous boost to our neighborhood and Ames in general. We are grateful to the city planners and leaders in Ames to have the foresight to bring neighborhoods back to new development. We count ourselves fortunate to live here. Sincerely, Bing and Mary Sue Wall 2516 Bristol Dr. Ames, Iowa Residents of Somerset since May, 2000 ;4wumC a 6q,Y'45 January 27, 2005 i of Ames Planning and Zoning Commission TO: City g g CC: Eric C. Jensen, Planner FROM: Lauren Grouws 2510 Eaton Avenue RE: Somerset rezoning of the property generally located at Stange Road,Northridge Parkway, and Aspen Road As a concerned citizen of 2510 Eaton Avenue, I wanted to express my views on the plan to rezone the property, generally located at Stange Road, Northridge Parkway, and Aspen Road, from residential to commercial property. By rezoning this property it will cause the value of my property and surrounding properties to decrease. It is known that the closer your property is to commercial property the less it is worth. One main reason we purchased this property is location, far enough from commercial property and surrounded by neighbors. This commercial part was not part of the planned community that we bought our home in. The proposed"Town Center West Commercial" would also increase traffic to the area, which already has a steady flow of traffic. I take the bus to get around Ames and see residents in the area having a hard time crossing the road to get to the bus stop. Bringing more businesses to the area will only increase the difficulty of crossing the street. The community was built to encourage the use of trails and open spaces. With the additional traffic that this would create, I am concerned about safety. In my opinion, the variety of businesses in the area are plentiful and nothing more is needed. Please take these concerns into consideration and keep the property as residential, as it was meant to be and sold to us when we bought our property originally. Sincerely, Lauren Grouws RECEIVED JA N 2 8 2005 DEPT. OF PLANNING CITY OF AMES,&y A OUSING